Table of contents:
DECLARATION iiABSTRACT ivCONTENTS vLIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES xiiiACKNOWLEDGEMENTS xivCHAPTER
1: ABOUT THE THESIS 1Introduction 1Why is the topic important? 1Why am I interested? 3My
personal relationship with the study 5How does this thesis address the topic? 9Conclusion 11CHAPTER
2: CRITICAL SOCIAL GERONTOLOGY and the LIFECOURSE 13Introduction 13Defining the Lifecourse 13Theorising
the Lifecourse and Growing Older 15Researching the Lifecourse 21Directions in Lifecourse
Research 22Work and the Lifecourse 33Some Conclusions About Critical Social Gerontology
and the Lifecourse 37CHAPTER 3: DISABILITY STUDIES and the LIFECOURSE 40Introduction 40Defining
Disability 40Theorising Disability 45Researching Disability 52Directions in Disability
Research 55Work and Disability 57Some Conclusions About Disability and the Lifecourse 62CHAPTER
4: STUDY DESIGN 64Introduction 64Methodology 66Adaptive Theory as an Organising Framework
for this Study 66Narrative Enquiry and the Lifecourse 69The Narrative Researcher 73Ethical
Considerations 76Method 80Defining the Research Population 80Developing Research Tools 84Planning
and Consultation 86Pilot 88Gatekeeping 91Access 96Data Collection 98Analysis 100Using
N-Vivo 100Elaborative Techniques 103Emergent Theory 106Conclusion 106CHAPTER 5: THE
PARTICIPANTS 108Introduction 108Jenny, 64, hearing impairment 109Jill, 43, thalidomide
impairment 109Joseph, 60, partial paralysis of legs, arms, spine 110Kathryn, 55, arm
and leg impairment, heart and vascular problems 111Luke, 50, mobility impairment 111Mary,
52, reduced stamina and strength from Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME) 112Nathan, 58, mobility
impairment, scoliosis, heart problem 112Paul, 54, multiple impairments 113Richard,
61, severe mobility and spinal impairment 114Sarah, 59, mobility impairment, PPS 114Sheila,
66, mobility impairment, PPS 115Steve, 42, bilateral deafness 116Tom, 60, mobility
impairment, upper limb impairment, PPS 116William, 65, mobility impairment, PPS 117Conclusion 117CHAPTER
6: A CHANGING WORLD 119Introduction 119Descriptions of Impairment and Disability 120Growing
Older 124Physical Change 124Family Impact 129Changing Outlook 130Employment Across
the Lifecourse 132Education and Training 133Access Issues in the Workplace 136The
‘End of Work’ 142Financial Implications 146State Financial Support 148Person or Problem? 151Conclusion 155CHAPTER
7: MANAGING A CHANGING WORLD 156Introduction 156Managing Impairment and Disability 157Health 157Assistance
from others 160Assistive Devices 162Transport 163Interdependence 167Managing Employment 169Give
and Take 170Organisational Arrangements 172Occupational Health Services 174Making
Choices 177Managing the Life Course 182Growing Older 182Family 185Conclusion 189CHAPTER
8: MAKING SENSE OF A CHANGING WORLD 191Introduction 191Confidence 191Complex Emotions 198Reciprocity
and Mutuality 201Being in Control 204Independence 208Stoicism 211Silences 215Conclusion 218CHAPTER
9: CHANGING WAYS OF BEING ME 219Introduction 219Relationships 220Family 221Colleagues 225Roles
and ‘Ways of Being’ 229‘Ways of Being’: In the Family 230Being a mother 230Being a
father 232Being a Son/Daughter 234Being a sibling 235Being a husband/wife/partner 238‘Ways
of Being’: At Work 240…a Good Sport? 240…a loyal worker 240…a maverick 241‘Ways of
Being’: In the World 241“I don’t really think of myself as disabled.” 242“I’m the
sort of person who just gets on with things.” 243“I’m very independent” 243Growing
Older and Living With Disability 244A Changing Sense of ‘Self’ 246Conclusion 248CHAPTER
10: DISCUSSION of FINDINGS 249Introduction 249Everyday Lives 250‘Normal for Me’? 253‘Give
and Take’, Accommodating Behaviour and the Good Will Reserve 257Interweaving Discourses
of Difference and Wellbeing 262Stories and Narrative Reality 267Silences 269Conclusion 272CHAPTER
11: CONCLUSIONS 276Introduction 276Who is researched? 276Where does data come from? 284What
Can We Know? 288Observations on the Study 289Implications for Policy, Practice and
Theory 292Answering the Research Questions 295Conclusion 298REFERENCES 301APPENDIX
A: Participant information 311APPENDIX B: Planning and consultation 314APPENDIX C:
Data collection materials 323APPENDIX D: Pilot results 328APPENDIX E: Appeal to employers 333APPENDIX
F: Appeal through online sources 337APPENDIX G: Email participation 341APPENDIX H:
Node list 350APPENDIX I: Data confirmation with ‘Richard’ 355APPENDIX J: Participant
attributes (grid format) 366APPENDIX K: Socio-historical timeline 372 LIST OF FIGURES
AND TABLES Figure 1: Adaptive Theory as applied to this study 70Table 1: Sources Approached 93Table
2: Keywords used for NVivo text search 105Table 3: Participants by self-defined employment
status 147
Abstract:
Arising from personal experience and observations in employment, this thesis considers
the working life course experiences of people growing older with long-term physical
or sensory disabilities. It uses: work as a fulcrum to examine experience; the concept
of the life course to embed disability within the ordinary elements of everyday life;
and a social model approach to conceptualise impairment and disability. In addition,
Adaptive Theory is used as an approach to the overall study design to recognise both
researcher perspective and substantive theory in developing research instruments,
data collection techniques and analytical framework. The thesis begins with a research
and literature review which identifies some parallels and tensions between the disciplines
of Critical Social Gerontology and Disability Studies. Building on exploratory discussions
with disabled trade unionists, it then focuses on empirical research with 14 workers
aged 40-65, from a range of non-sheltered occupations and disabled by physical or
sensory impairments for at least 15 years. In-depth interviews about the intersection
of work, ageing and disability examine how each person manages the challenges and
opportunities encountered. The findings indicate how the impact of being disabled
across the lifecourse is not only structurally influenced and socially constructed
but also dynamically contextualised and interwoven into individual self-concept. In
moving away from a conventional focus on barriers, discrimination and oppression the
thesis demonstrates that a more nuanced approach to lifecourse experiences is fundamental
to understanding the process of growing older with a disability. In addition, by defining
and accessing participants as ‘workers’ rather than ‘older’ or ‘disabled’ people they
proved to be both ‘hidden’ and ‘seldom heard’ in the existing research and literature.
In parallel, therefore, the thesis also explores the research process itself by posing
questions about the nature of research both in Critical Social Gerontology and in
Disability Studies.
