Trapped in our past: The price we have to pay for our cultural disability inheritance

Abstract

The importance of culture in understanding cross-cultural phenomena is now widely acknowledged. This paper seeks to explore the impact of the Greek-Cypriot culture on constructing notions of disability which dominate popular culture and education. Since culture cannot be understood without the study of history, this analysis takes a historical character. The findings presented in this paper are part of a larger research project regarding the personal and political experience of disability in Cyprus during the period 1966-2004. This paper focuses on how the concept of disability was constructed in Cyprus through political, social, religious, and educational responses to disabled children and adults mainly during the period 1970-90. The relationship between culture and segregation, medicalisation and charity is analysed. The current turn towards inclusive rhetoric is also explained. The paper ends with a critical consideration of our cultural inheritance regarding disability and it draws the connection with non-inclusive practice currently taking place.