From "Immobility" to "Constrained Mobility": The Social Support System and Mobility Justice for People with Disabilities in the United States—A Case Study of Domestic Labor Scenes in the Film Child of Deaf Adults
Abstract
Although the U.S. social support system for people with disabilities has made progress in terms of legislation, it often fails to translate into substantive justice in action, perpetuating a systemic state of "immobility" in many cases. This study employs a critical case analysis of domestic labor scenes in the film Child of Deaf Adults (2021) to explore the mechanisms for transitioning from "immobility" to "constrained mobility." Using textual analysis and theoretical application, it examines the roots of immobility found in the interaction between policy implementation gaps, economic structural barriers, and dependent family roles. The findings indicate that micro-level practices, such as family "letting go" and the pursuit of individual "constrained mobility," are crucial for breaking dependency cycles. It is concluded that public policy must shift from a model that compensates for individual deficiencies to one that eliminates structural barriers, particularly through enhancing information accessibility, targeted economic support, and family empowerment. This study contributes to the refinement of policies in this field by applying a mobility justice perspective to the understudied realm of domestic labor.
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