5th International Disability Studies Conference 2010 Lancaster University

Professional omnipotence and impotenceviewed in the ligth of disability history research

- especially in relation to people with

developmental disabilities

Birgit Kirkebæk, Dr. Pæd. Centre for Disability History Research Nordic Network on Disability Research VIKOM – Centre for Children with

multible disabilities

The power of the profession

The consultant doctors on the bridge Livø was established in 1911 as an island

institution for men who were diagnosed as ”morally deficient”

Placement on the island was an indefinite punishment for legally sentenced and a disciplinary arrangement for persons who could not be contained in regular institutions for mentally retardede because they escaped

A large stone and a small Livø-man

My memorial stone on Livø - the consultant doctor write On one hand, we find professional expertise

and self-worship On the other hand, the unique person as an

unseen phenomena overshadowed by the diagnosis typology

Arnhild Lauveng: The illness is not necessarily the most important thing about the person

A sense of joy and concentration

An old teacher conducting a small flute-playing group of pupils Sverker Belin: Relation before method Professional attitudes What happens to the mistakes in the

professional perspective?

Omnipotence and impotence The term omnipotence refers to the ”dress” of ethics

and competence, and scientific character that the profession wears

The term impotence refers to tge ”undressing” of the good intentions of professionals shown in disability history research

We act unethically when we marginalize, exploit, degrade and disrespect another human being and thereby act inhumane rather than professional

Disability history research The concepts refer to the front and backside

of interventions – to the relation between the good we want and the bad we do

It is only possible to learn of history if we are able to see violations in the past and present

Thank You for your attention !