Folklore and Disability: An Important—and Too Often Overlooked—Factor in Global Health and International Development Efforts

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, I argue that the field of folklore and folklorists can—and should—make more of a contribution to global health and international development efforts and should be more involved in conversations about social justice and human rights. Drawing on my invited comments at the webinar sponsored by the Fellows of the American Folklore Society entitled “Interrogating the Normal: Folkloristic Engagements with Disability,” held on March 25, 2022, I provide some examples of research that my colleagues and I have undertaken where we have brought folklore and oral history approaches to disability-related global health and international development initiatives. I discuss how this knowledge has broadened our ability to ask and answer important questions. Based on my own experience, applied folklore can provide insight and generate new questions that can improve the lives of persons with disabilities. I encourage folklorists to seek out and undertake future collaborations with researchers and community groups working to improve health and well-being around the world.