Marjolein Dennissen

159 Appendices Appendix 3: Continued Discourse Illustrative quotes We should not organize drinks, because I can drink a beer at home, but we should make sure that we create a knowledge sharing platform. We combined this with a second thought: uh.. women within [the organization] are very active with a women’s network (..) where women of different levels get together and notify each other of jobs, support… each other… (…), so I thought: we could do that too by making the pink network a sort of network club. So we anticipated on two things very central: knowledge sharing and network, and now we are seen as a professional network. (Peter) But the problem does not seem to be that big... And I also think, but that is because I am pragmatic in those things, that if you come to work with a pink feather boa, you do not get that promotion because you wear that pink feather boa, but because you do not behave conformingly. And that is a statement that I proclaim ever since I became chair [of the LGBT network], and because of that there are a few people who do not like this with me, because they think that I howl with the wolves.. but I want to initiate a club out of strength, a network club, a knowledge club, instead of having a few pitiful boys in the corner, we have to get them out of there. (Peter) Discourses of ability and empowerment Learning & development’ is the development of skills. Empowerment is to believe in what you are doing. And empowerment is also to surprise, actually it is purely to surprise. To suprise: what are your qualities and ‘oh I did not know I could do this’. But also to surprise the organization, by showing what people with a disability are capable of doing. So my empower-aspect is often aimed at ‘power’, to show that this is something where you can powerfully present yourself. (Tim) And I also think that it is.. uh.. a very good.. uh.. thought to evaluate people on what they can do, so on their work capacity, instead of rejecting people on what they cannot do anymore. I think that is a very good thought. But then you do have to make proper arrangements. So, uh.. I think that some stitches have been dropped [i.e., mistakes are made] in that, or so to speak.(Andrea) So we are, ‘we’, as a group, very frightening to say it like that, but, the people with disabilities have already come out of the woods, so to speak, and are allowed to participate in a, well, worldly existence, but now you actually see the next step. And I have the sense that that is a very gradual emancipation of that group. And now it is expected, well, just participate. But is it also: why would we keep pampering those people [with a disability], that is just not right for those people, it is not right for society, in fact it is not right for nobody. So just let them participate. (..) And there are also people who are already participating, so they are just normal people. (Simon) Discourses of possibilities and organizational change [The Disability Network] The network that focuses on possibilities instead of disabilities. (Mail signature Tim)