The “Really Disabled”: Disability Hierarchy in John Hockenberry’s 'Moving Violations'

Abstract

This paper explores a disability hierarchy present in John Hockenberry’s memoir, Moving Violations. Disability hierarchies are understood as the idea that some impairments are positioned as “worse” or more severe than others, and thus more deserving of stigma. I will examine the different ways a disability hierarchy manifests itself throughout Moving Violations in Hockenberry’s discussion of disabled people he has encountered. Finally, the problematic elements that arise from a disability hierarchy are discussed.