Further to Go

The Pervasive Use of Undesirable Models and Language in Research on Neurodivergence in Academic Libraries

Authors

  • Catharina Ochsner Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
  • Jesse David Dinneen Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/cais1889

Keywords:

academic libraries, disability, Neurodivergence, ableism, academia

Abstract

It has been suggested that LIS literature discussing neurodivergence uses undesirable models of disability and undesirable language despite growing advocacy for alternatives. We examine the models and language used in 44 works on neurodivergence and academic libraries and find that 95% of those works use undesirable language like patronising, person-first, and medicalised/deficit-focused language. The medical model is never explicitly used, but numerous works with no explicit model use medicalised/deficit-focused language. Although no works use explicitly ableist language, undesirable language is present even in works using the social model of disability. Recommendations for future research and practice are provided.

 

Plus à découvrir : L'utilisation répandue des modèles et langages indésirables en recherche sur la neurodivergence dans les bibliothèques universitaires

Résumé
Il a été suggéré que la littérature BSI portant sur la neurodivergence utilise des modèles d'handicap indésirables et du langage indésirable malgré la montée des revendications pour l'utilisation d'alternatives. Nous avons examiné les modèles et le langage utilisé dans 44 études sur la neurodivergence et les bibliothèques universitaires et avons trouvé que 95% de ces études utilisent un langage indésirable, par exemple du langage condescendant, centré sur la personne et médicalisé/axé sur le manque. Bien qu'aucune étude n'utilise du langage capacististe explicitement, du langage indésirable est présent même dans les études qui utilisent le modèle social des handicaps. Des recommandations pour de futurs projets de recherche et des pratiques sont données.

Mots-clés
Bibliothèques universitaires; Handicap; Neurodivergence; Capacitisme; Milieu universitaire

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Published

2025-05-23

How to Cite

Ochsner, C., & Dinneen, J. D. (2025). Further to Go: The Pervasive Use of Undesirable Models and Language in Research on Neurodivergence in Academic Libraries. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of CAIS Actes Du congrès Annuel De l’ACSI. https://doi.org/10.29173/cais1889

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