Beyond the Gaze: Portrayal of Disability and Identity in the Narrative Landscape of Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

It is a subject of debate that the contemporary period is witnessing an unparalleled level of acceptance and endorsement for individuals with disabilities. This era marks a greater awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities. Over the years, there has been a significant increase in the number of publishing outlets that focus on disability titles, as well as a surge in the popularity of Disability Literature (both Fiction and Non-Fiction), particularly from the 1990s onwards. It has created a much-needed space for disabled individuals to articulate their experiences and has also brought in a wider audience. As a result, novels and plays featuring protagonists with disabilities or themes related to disability have become increasingly prevalent. The literary and cinematic points of view have also been changing positively to create self-sufficient characters, who are not prisoners of their disability, instead they establish that it can be used to their advantage. Eric Lindstrom's novel Not If I See You First delves into the intricacies of disability and the pervasive issue of societal devaluation faced by individuals with disabilities. The protagonist, Parker Grant, who is blind, navigates a world that often underestimates her abilities and diminishes her worth based on her disability. From Parker's perspective, the novel illuminates the challenges of living with a disability in a society that frequently overlooks or marginalizes individuals with disability. This paper through the lens of Disability Identity theory traces how Parker's characterization defies stereotypical portrayals of blindness as a limitation, instead, it presents her as a complex individual whose blindness shapes her identity and worldview. She has been portrayed as an individual whose identity is not confined within the constraint of her disability. Parker’s character also challenges the devaluation that people with disability face when she decides to join her school’s track team.