Imagining the future of the CPN, together: Points of consensus (so far)
Shared understandings from one-on-one conversations
"Bricolages de l'été" by Isaszas is marked with CC0 1.0.
For those of you who have been following our updates of the last 5 months, you know that we have had a series of one-on-one discussions with some of you to refresh & re-imagine the future of the Critical Physiotherapy Network.
We discussed both vision and activities of the CPN through these conversations, and what people hoped or proposed for consideration for the future. Today, I share points of consensus in those conversations.
What started as a handful of critical physiotherapy scholars scattered around the world developed a vision that remains meaningful ten years later. We heard that this vision remains meaningful to people and an important ongoing guide for the future of whatever the CPN becomes:
The Critical Physiotherapy Network will strive to challenge contemporary physiotherapy theory and practice by:
Actively exploring the world beyond the current boundaries of physiotherapy practice & thought
Challenging physiotherapy to critically examine its position on alterity & otherness, abnormality, deviance, difference & disability
Recognising & problematising power asymmetries inherent in physiotherapy practice, particularly where they marginalize some groups at the expense of others
Developing a culture & appreciation for the exploration of all views that deviate from conventional thought & practice in physiotherapy
Actively embracing ideas that promote thinking against the grain/challenging in physiotherapy
Being open to a plurality of ideas, practices, objects, systems & structures that challenge contemporary physiotherapy practice & thought
Promoting critically-informed thinking, encouraging ideas from diverse disciplines uncommon in mainstream physiotherapy, including anthropology, the arts, cultural studies, critical theory, education, geography, historiography, quantum physics, humanities, linguistics, philosophy, politics, sociology & others
Providing a space for ideas that promote a more positive, diverse & inclusive future for the profession.
For those questioning the status quo of the profession, coming together around this vision created a community – some even said family – where people could explore ideas that are out of bounds of physiotherapy in the present.
Those who were most involved found a group of close peers with whom they could have robust conversations and generate new understandings of problems. For those who were newer to the Network, this community was an important beacon that they are not alone.
The success of the Network was driven by this mutual commitment to openness to the vision of an otherwise physiotherapy in concert with the varied activities that allowed for connection: courses and Salons, collaborative writing, and the books published (the open access Manipulating Practices: A critical physiotherapy reader and Mobilizing Knowledge in Physiotherapy Critical Reflections on Foundations and Practice).
Not one person thought the vision needed to change, but perhaps new openings to critical physiotherapy practice, education, and leadership could be forged in the future. Many (MANY!) excellent ideas were shared in that regard.
What’s next?
On other topics, we saw some important differences of opinion. We will keep working through these and bring them forward for dialogue.
Our commitment: Given the importance of connection for all those of us who value this community, we will create opportunities for group discussions to talk more about future directions, to find where there is interest and energy. We also want to find who is ready to contribute to new initiatives, big or small. If a network only works via relationships, working together to create and host activities and opportunities for connection (even in time-limited ways) is essential.
On a more personal note, having these conversations was energizing and meaningful for me. I am like others in missing the chances to connect and am also committed to creating new opportunities to do so.
So stay tuned for announcements about how to connect into group conversations, and we hope to talk with you soon.