Subverting Ableist Binaries: An Analysis of the Confluence of Disability Studies and Blue Humanities in Toni Crowther's From Wheelchair to Water

Bodies are in a perpetual state of metamorphosis. The sudden onset of a disability, referred to as an acquired disability, alters all facets of a person’s life. In this regard, concepts such as fluidity and instability that remain central to the discipline of blue humanities call for its intersection with disability studies, questioning, for instance, the permanence of the able-bodied/disabled dyad. With reference to the memoir From Wheelchair to Water by Toni Crowther (2019), this study attempts to examine the ways in which intersecting both disciplines helps subvert ableist binaries, thereby furthering inclusivity. Through her narrative, Crowther recounts how her passion for swimming gets affected by a life-threatening stroke, leaving her paralysed. The article focuses on how the aquatic environment surrounding Crowther becomes a liberating locale which empowers the disabled body to gain agency and overcome all forms of impediments.Keywords Disability Studies, Blue Humanities, Ableist Binaries, Fluidity, Agency