Cj Newell

An End to Disabling Policies? Toward Enlightened Universal Service

This article argues that an enlightened, inclusive vision of universal service is possible by learning lessons from disability. Telecommunications policy has historically built in norms that needlessly exclude people who are regarded as having a disability and therefore being outside of the mainstream. Accordingly, universal service policies focus on availability and affordability of telecommunications services, rather than on their accessibility and functionality. The article shows how rethinking universal service through disability can lead to inclusive policies that benefit everybody.

Crippling Paralympics?: Media, Disability and Olympism

While clearly not intended to do so, the Paralympics and the notion of disability associated with them provides significant opportunity for ethical reflection on how far society has not come regarding disability. Yet, this opportunity to explore disability has rarely been taken up. Instead, the overwhelming representation of people with disability within mainstream media is found in portrayals of brave, elite athletes who overcome their disability. As has been suggested by earlier studies of media and disability, such media representations fit well within the established power relations which oppress people with disability in society. While there have been some changes and improvements, we contend that, overwhelmingly, the separation between the Paralympics and Olympics is not questioned, and that if the Paralympics are reported at all, disabling media representations still very much persist.

Disability, bioethics, and rejected knowledge

In this article I explore disability as far more than individual private tragedy, suggesting it has a social location and reproduction. Within this context we look at the power relations associated with bioethics and its largely uncritical use of the biomedical model. Within that context the topics of genetics, euthanasia, and biotechnology are explored. In examining these topics a social account of disability is proposed as rejected knowledge. Accordingly we explore the political nature of bioethics as a project.

The Business of Digital Disability

The paradox of disability and inclusive information technology is considered. If we are now possessed of greater knowledge about disability and design, why is accessible and inclusive technology so difficult to bring about? Is it because inclusive technology is not profitable, and so unattractive for businesses and unsustainable as an industry? Or is the answer more education and awareness? This paper seeks to reframe dominant approaches to disability, information technology, and policy, by offering a thesis centred upon the power relations of disability and the crucial role played by disabilitys cultural and social constitution. In explaining and testing the theory, we look at case studies from telecommunications, mobile phones, and the Internet.

Editorial comment: Disability, identity, and interdependence: ICTs and new social forms

Our ideas of identity, the body, dependence and independence, welfare and ability are undergoing rapid transformation; new social forms are emerging in which information and communications technolo...

The social nature of disability, disease and genetics: a response to Gillam, Persson, Holtug, Draper and Chadwick.

The dominance of the biomedically informed view of disability, genetics, and diagnosis is explored. An understanding of the social nature of disability and genetics, especially in terms of oppression, adds a richer dimension to an understanding of ethical issues pertaining to genetics. This is much wider than the limited question of whether or not such technology discriminates. Instead, it is proposed that such technology will perpetuate the oppression and control of people with disability, especially if the knowledge of people with disability is not utilised in bioethical debates.

Economic Rationalism and the Cost Efficiency of Hospital Chaplaincy: An Australian Study

SUMMARY Health care reform is also occurring in Australia and effects hospital chaplaincy programs. “Economic rationalism” is the philosophic foundation of this effort and its contrast with the values inherit in hospital chaplaincy are highlighted. Selected research results from the Australian system are described and the authors offer a perspective on the cost efficiency of hospital chaplaincy.

Disabled e‐nation: telecommunications, disability, and national policy

This article considers questions of technological change, innovation, and communication from a disability perspective. Using a critical social perspective on disability, we offer an Australian case study to analyse disability in national telecommunications policy. In doing so, we critique the systemic lack of incorporation of disability in national visions, policies, and programmes. Accordingly, we argue for a cohesive, and genuine commitment to incorporating disability considerations in all areas of information and communication technology policy and scholarship.

Clinical Pastoral Education and the Value of Empirical Research: Examples from Australian and New Zealand Datum

SUMMARY This article argues in favor of clinical pastoral education programs incorporating research methods as part of a standard neo-curriculum for the 21st Century. It suggests that the benefits of such a curriculum would be useful in scientifically validating and evaluating pastoral care practice at a ‘micro,’ ‘meso’ and ‘macro’ level. This argument is supported with the presentation of Australian and New Zealand descriptive statistical datum exploring the involvement of chaplains in patient bioethical decisions, staff bioethical decision-making and the involvement of chaplains on hospital institutional research ethics committees.

Abortion and health care chaplaincy in Australia

This paper summarizes the results gained from quantitative and qualitative research involving 327 Australian health care chaplains with regard to their involvement in abortion issues within the health care context. The findings indicate that approximately 20% of surveyed chaplains had provided some form of pastoral intervention to patients and/or their families dealing with issues of abortion and that approximately 10% of chaplains had assisted clinical staff with issues concerning abortion. There was found to be no-statistically significant difference with regard to the number of catholic chaplains compared with protestant chaplains or staff chaplains compared with volunteer chaplains involved in abortion issues. Analysis using the WHO Pastoral Intervention codings highlighted a variety of issues encountered by chaplains and the non-judgmental pastoral care used by chaplains when assisting those dealing with abortion. Some implications of this study with respect to patient and clinical staff support are suggested.