Disability and aging: Towards new strategies, spaces and practices within an emerging complex political field in Austria
Ursula Naue, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Political Science, University of Vienna, Austria
Abstract
Over the last years disability policy in Austria has started to develop as a separate policy field in new political spaces with new actor groups who introduce new strategies. On the one hand, this development is based on the well-established fact that disability policy cannot solely be regulated within health and social policy, but also concerns several other important policy fields which have to be taken into account when dealing with disability policy. On the other hand, disability groups could thereby position themselves as important actor groups, bringing in their expert knowledge concerning disability issues. At the same time, new policies with regard to aging were introduced due to the changing demographic structures. At present, Austrian policy makers fail to establish a more profound focus concerning the interrelation between disability and aging. Yet, disabled people have, for some time, pointed to the disabling aspect of aging in connection with disability. In trying to build coalitions of argumentation with other groups of society, disabled people point to several aspects of life which do not only affect disabled people. One of the main themes in this context refers to barrier free access to different spheres of life. This newly emerging strategy of disabled people aims at making society aware of the advantages and benefits for larger parts of society and emphasizing that non-disabled people could be just temporarily non-disabled. This strategy shows that the current practices of Austrian disability policy work within a societal context which still mainly perceives disabled people as the 'others' which need help and care. But nevertheless, this new strategy may change this perception of disability, as it reflects new spaces of policymaking in the context of the concept of governance. To involve disabled people in and to include their knowledge into policymaking on the issue of aging may bring about an additional argument for changing disability policy in Austria, as it may question the present politics of care and subordination and may lead to a more effective politics of dialogue, participation and involvement. At the same time it addresses - with focussing on aging and disability in its interrelation - an important current and future aspect of several policy fields which shows the importance of bringing together those policy fields for being able to face the challenges of the future. Therefore, the connection of disability and aging issues indeed creates a complex emerging political field. These issues can only be answered in taking into account the knowledge and expertise of disabled people. The proposed paper will discuss the above mentioned aspects of disability and aging within the Austrian socio-political context, focusing on the development of the two policy fields and trying to draw a picture of possible future developments.