Disability identity: Exploring narrative accounts of disability.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To review a type of narrative identity, disability identity, which is a potentially important topic concerning the social psychology of disability. Disability identity entails a positive sense of self, feelings of connection to, or solidarity with, the disability community. A coherent disability identity is believed to help individuals adapt to disability, including navigating related social stresses and daily hassles. Attention to disability narratives will enable rehabilitation psychologists to develop detailed theories and plan empirical investigations aimed at exploring the psychosocial applications of disability identity. METHOD: We examined six narratives (e.g., articles, chapters, books, blogs) written by people with disabilities in order to identify excerpts illustrating disability identity. RESULTS: Using themes drawn from disability-identity research (i.e., communal attachment, affirmation of disability, self-worth, pride, discrimination, personal meaning), we categorized excerpts from the narratives. CONCLUSION: By highlighting positive aspects of disability identity, the study of disability narratives can inform persons with and without disabilities about how individuals live with disabilities. We discuss reasons rehabilitation researchers and practitioners should consider disability identity and narratives in their respective efforts.