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“Vulnerable” Children in “Dangerous” Places: Learning Disabled Children in Outdoor Green Space

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Risk, Protection, Provision and Policy

Part of the book series: Geographies of Children and Young People ((GCYP,volume 12))

Abstract

This chapter explores the notion of risk as it is managed in the context of the facilitation of learning disabled children’s access to outdoor green space. This context is argued to be particularly fascinating in terms of the governance of risk to children as it draws a spotlight on a particularly “vulnerable” population interacting with a particularly “dangerous” space. The discussion in this chapter focuses on the concept of stigma, a central theme in the disability studies discourse. This chapter suggests that it is through stigmatized institutional and familial practices that learning disabled young people are prevented from engaging with urban green spaces, as a result of both intimidation and overprotection.

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Correspondence to Nadia von Benzon .

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von Benzon, N. (2017). “Vulnerable” Children in “Dangerous” Places: Learning Disabled Children in Outdoor Green Space. In: Freeman, C., Tranter, P., Skelton, T. (eds) Risk, Protection, Provision and Policy. Geographies of Children and Young People, vol 12. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-035-3_20

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