Barbara Gibson - 30 DoS - Day 21

Tell us a little about her current work and study, especially how she thinks and practices herself critically?

I am a Professor at the University of Toronto in Canada, where my research focuses on how disability is theorised, understood, and addressed in rehabilitation. I draw on critical disability studies and post-human theories to explore the possibilities for reimagining PT and rehab through an ‘ethic of openness’. These ideas are explored in my book, Rehabilitation: A post critical approach. My teaching focuses on developing critical reflexivity and anti-oppression lenses with physiotherapy students within our ‘SPEC’ Curriculum (Social, political, ethical and cultural dimensions of health).

How would you like the critical physical therapy community to develop in the next few years?

I am a huge supporter and fan of the CPN, which over the years has been my home for connecting with other critical PTs and related scholars and students. It’s exciting how our numbers keep growing and how the field is expanding. The word is out as the broader PT community is exposed to critical work and its potential.

How would you like the profession of physical therapy to develop in general?

To aid the expansion of critical physiotherapy research and teaching, it would be wonderful if the CPN continued to develop ways for CPN members to connect and share their work.