Periagoge
Concept
1 min read

Disability as a Way of Knowing

Understanding disability and disabled lived experience as a distinctive and valuable perspective that enriches knowledge, creativity, and understanding.

Juana
Why It Matters

Sor Juana's intellectual work was shaped by her specific social position and constraints; her perspective was not universal but particular and powerful. Similarly, disabled people bring distinctive ways of knowing the world—born from navigating systems not built for them, understanding embodiment and limitation deeply, and developing creative adaptation and resilience. Disability studies scholars, artists, and thinkers produce unique insights about access, justice, time, community, and human variation. Rather than erasing disability or treating it as mere obstacle, this concept honors disability as epistemology—a standpoint from which valuable knowledge emerges. Incorporating disabled perspectives enriches any field: medicine, ethics, technology, urban planning, psychology, and arts.

Helpful guides
Juana
Identity & Justice
Peri
Questions about Disability as a Way of Knowing?

Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.

Explored In These Journeys
Journey
The Examined Path Through Disability rights
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