Ep. 17 - The Medicalization of Disability, Part 1: Therapy

Disability has a long, painful history of medicalization. In this two-parter, the Disabled Standard explores some of the ways medicalization affects the real life of disabled people in the modern day. In part one, Harper and Shruti discuss therapy, including the problems with the system, the importance of autonomy, and ways improvements can be made.

Shruti shares their experiences with physical therapy and medical intervention as a physically disabled person of color. She discusses the impact childhood physical therapy has on her development and her agency, as well as her decision to stop physical therapy and her outlook on future therapies. Harper also shares her experience with language therapy at her specialized learning disability school, and how this therapy was done in a better, more disability-centered way than most interventions.

Listen wherever you find your podcasts and stay tuned for part two: diagnosis.

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