Beyond Resilience: Deconstructing Disability and Social Barriers in the Life of Khadim Hussain

Abstract

This study examines the lived experience of disability through a critical analysis of the life of Khadim Hussain Sahito (1941–2025), a paralyzed individual who navigated social, economic, and cultural barriers in rural Sindh. Drawing on Critical Disability Studies and the Social Model of Disability, the research explores how disability is not merely a physical condition but a socially constructed phenomenon shaped by exclusionary structures, negative societal attitudes, and limited accessibility. Through a qualitative case study approach, the paper analyzes Khadim Hussain’s life as a narrative of resistance, resilience, and agency. While his determination, religious faith, and commitment to his children’s education enabled him to overcome numerous challenges, this study argues that his struggles were intensified by systemic neglect and social marginalization. Furthermore, the paper critically interrogates the dominant “inspirational” framing of disabled individuals, suggesting that such narratives often obscure structural inequalities. By situating Khadim Hussain’s life within a broader theoretical and cultural framework, this research contributes to literary and cultural studies by bridging lived experience with narrative analysis, highlighting the need to reconceptualize disability beyond individual resilience.

Keywords: Critical Disability Studies, Social Model of Disability, Lived Experience, Narrative Analysis, Disability and Society, Marginalization, Resilience, Pakistan