Dr. Darla Schumm, Associate Provost and Professor of Religious Studies at Hollins University in Virginia, visited Conrad Grebel University College in early February. She was the 2023 Rodney and Lorna Sawatsky Visiting Scholar. During her time at Grebel, she gave lectures in several graduate classes, spoke at a Faculty Forum, and attended the weekly Chapel service alongside staff and students.

Well-respected in her field, and visually impaired herself, Schumm’s lecture “The Power of Misfitting: Disrupting Sinner, Saint, and Super Crip Controlling Images” provided valuable insight into the intersections of disability and religion. She uses Patricia Hill-Collins' concept of controlling images, or negative stereotypes, to prompt reflection about how religious communities perpetuate, produce, and reinforce the idea that people with disabilities are inferior.

“If your faith was stronger, you would be healed,” is often said by those who view people with disabilities as sinners. This is perpetuated by Christian Gospel, as Jesus often heals people from illness and disability. Disability is then interpreted as something that must be cured, instead of something to be celebrated. Schumm’s lecture further discusses how to interpret the narrative in a more empowering way.

Contrastingly, people with disabilities who have strong faith are seen as saints, or heroic sufferers. This feeds into a paradoxical identity for people with disabilities; viewing them as being heroic and inspiring, but simultaneously needing pity and care because of their suffering.

The sense of inspiration is shared with the image of a Super Crip. “The non-disabled world is saturated with these stories that focus on disabled people overcoming our disabilities, which reinforces the superiority of the non-disabled body and mind,” noted Schumm. “They turn individual disabled people who are simply leading their lives into symbols of inspiration.”

In turn, the problem of accessibility is then located within the individual. Schumm relocated the problem to the global community by proposing the concept of misfitting, effectively eroding the ‘us-them’ dichotomy. “Sometimes I misfit, sometimes you misfit—it equals the playing field. None of us fit in every situation,” said Schumm.

For example, a lecture with complex language may pose a challenge for university students with cognitive impairments. This accessibility issue can be solved by using simpler language—adjusting the environment.

Misfitting is simply an incompatibility between the world and body, solvable by accommodations. Schumm’s proposal is a refreshing perspective and approach that makes daily life more accessible for everyone.

As Schumm concluded, “Misfitting is not suffering. Misfitting is an opportunity to work collectively to find a better fit.”

Watch the complete lecture.

Written by Farah Jurdi