Constructing Disability after the Great War

Evan P. Sullivan's recently published book, Constructing Disability after the Great War, is an exploration of how Americans -- both civilians and veterans -- worked to determine the meanings of identity for blind veterans of World War I. Sighted Americans' wartime rehabilitation culture centered blind soldiers and veterans in a mix of inspirational stories. Veterans worked to become productive members of society, even as ableism confined their unique life experiences to a collection of cultural tropes that suggested they were either downcast wrecks of their former selves or were morally superior and relatively flawless as they overcame their disabilities and triumphantly journeyed toward successful citizenship. This talk draws on research from his book to highlight the experiences of a select group of blind veterans and what those veterans can tell us about the broader culture of American rehabilitation after World War I.