April 15, 2009
Canadian Visiting Fulbright Scholar Michael Orsini to Speak at WOU
A 'Spectrum' of Disputes:
Autism Activism and the Contours of Biological Citizenship
Michael Orsini
Associate Professor
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Canada
Hamersly Library 107
Thursday April 30
1200 noon - 1:30 pm
This presentation sketches the contours of the contested terrain of autism/autistic activism, asking questions about how to conceptualize autism activism in the field of "health social movements", and about whether these forms of activism represent a form of continuity or rupture with other social movements organized around combating injustice. Drawing on Nikolas Rose and Carlos Novas's notion of 'biological citizenship', I explore three branches of the autism/autistic movement, each of which is linked in distinctive ways to a "political economy of hope". The first is parent-led advocacy efforts centered primarily on "curing" or "treating" autism, mainly but not exclusively focused on children. Many of these organizations cling to the notion of an "autism epidemic". A second branch is often associated with the notion of neurodiversity, and advances a disability rights-based model of autistic self advocacy and vehemently opposes those in the autism research community who are interested in 'curing' autistics or finding genetic explanations for autism. The third branch, while only loosely associated with autism, has been especially influential in the US, where there has been a wave of litigation related to the harms associated with vaccines.
Michael Orsini is currently the 2008-2009 Canada-US Fulbright Visiting Research Chair at the Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington. Autism is one aspect of his current research, which examines the policy influence of civil society actors in three areas: asthma, autism, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. He has previously explored a variety of issues including the consequences of a tainted blood supply, biological citizenship, First Nations governance, violence against women, and patient involvement in health policy.
This visit is funded by a Canadian Studies Program Enhancement grant from the Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada.
Sponsored by the Canadian Studies Interest Group at WOU
For more information, or if you have a disability that may require some accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact Dr. Robin Smith, Anthropology Department at (503) 838-8357, smithr@wou.edu.
Posted by smithr at 3:35 PM
Canadian Visiting Fulbright Scholar Michaeol Orsini to Speak at WOU
A 'Spectrum' of Disputes:
Autism Activism and the Contours of Biological Citizenship
Michael Orsini
Associate Professor
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Canada
Hamersly Library 107
Thursday April 30
1200 noon - 1:30 pm
This presentation sketches the contours of the contested terrain of autism/autistic activism, asking questions about how to conceptualize autism activism in the field of "health social movements", and about whether these forms of activism represent a form of continuity or rupture with other social movements organized around combating injustice. Drawing on Nikolas Rose and Carlos Novas's notion of 'biological citizenship', I explore three branches of the autism/autistic movement, each of which is linked in distinctive ways to a "political economy of hope". The first is parent-led advocacy efforts centered primarily on "curing" or "treating" autism, mainly but not exclusively focused on children. Many of these organizations cling to the notion of an "autism epidemic". A second branch is often associated with the notion of neurodiversity, and advances a disability rights-based model of autistic self advocacy and vehemently opposes those in the autism research community who are interested in 'curing' autistics or finding genetic explanations for autism. The third branch, while only loosely associated with autism, has been especially influential in the US, where there has been a wave of litigation related to the harms associated with vaccines.
Michael Orsini is currently the 2008-2009 Canada-US Fulbright Visiting Research Chair at the Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington. Autism is one aspect of his current research, which examines the policy influence of civil society actors in three areas: asthma, autism, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. He has previously explored a variety of issues including the consequences of a tainted blood supply, biological citizenship, First Nations governance, violence against women, and patient involvement in health policy.
This visit is funded by a Canadian Studies Program Enhancement grant from the Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada.
Sponsored by the Canadian Studies Interest Group at WOU
For more information, or if you have a disability that may require some accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact Dr. Robin Smith, Anthropology Department at (503) 838-8357, smithr@wou.edu.
Posted by smithr at 3:35 PM