Ableist constructions of time? Boys and Men with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Managing the Uncertainty of a Shorter Life

Thomas Abrams, David W F Abbott*, Bhavnita Mistry

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)
206 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper draws on studies carried out in Canada (2016-2018) and UK (2009-18) which explored the experiences of boys and men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Life expectancy with DMD has increased significantly and generations of men lead lives that many did not expect them to be leading. This paper searches our data to see if boys and men with DMD are supported to manage the precariousness of a life shorter than the ‘norm’. Our studies had focuses on transition to adulthood, gender, social care, interactions in rehabilitation clinics, and managing conversations about death. The paper discusses how respondents framed DMD within time and the life-course. Our analysis suggests that ableist assumptions about time make the management of a challenging disease such as DMD even more challenging. We found little evidence of boys and men being helped to think through how to plan for a life expectancy that kept shifting.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)48–57
Number of pages10
JournalScandinavian Journal of Disability Research
Volume22
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Mar 2020

Research Groups and Themes

  • SPS Norah Fry Centre for Disability Studies

Keywords

  • Duchenne muscular dystrophy
  • time
  • shorter lives
  • ableism

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