Crip Theory

A theoretical framework that reclaims the word "crip" (from "cripple") as a positive identity and analytical lens for challenging normative assumptions about bodies, ability, and disability. Rooted in disability studies and informed by queer theory, crip theory critiques compulsory able-bodiedness — the assumption that all bodies should conform to non-disabled norms — and exposes how systems of power categorize bodies as normal or deviant. In HCI and accessibility, crip theory encourages designing with and for disabled people in ways that celebrate difference rather than seeking to normalize or "fix" disability.