2026/07/19 by Bella Choo · 1 voice
Social Sciences · Psychology · #Disability Rights and Representation #Family and Disability Support Research #Healthcare innovation and challenges
paper · doi:10.1177/00420980261464483
openalex publication_date 2026/07/19 · openalex created_date 2026/07/20 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/20
In the densely-populated city-state of Singapore, encounters between people with and without disability happen in close proximity and high frequency, setting the scene for deeper exploration of the role of non/encounters in shaping urban care. To do so, this paper draws on a thematic analysis of interviews and ‘go-along’ ethnographic observations with 18 caregivers of persons with autism, spotlighting three caregivers’ narratives. Using the term ‘non/encounters’ to emphasise the importance of both encounters and non-encounters as well as their relational nature in shaping experiences of urban care, this article demonstrates ways in which co-users of urban spaces can play a role in sharing care responsibilities alongside familial caregivers. In uncovering the intangible structures of social norms and past memories that shape non/encounters beyond their immediate moment of occurrence, this article informs how urban care can be experienced and achieved. Firstly, I illustrate the role of research in constituting and facilitating caring encounters. Next, I detail caregivers’ experiences of exclusionary encounters within ableist spaces, while exploring the possibilities of care within repeated encounters. Influenced by past negative encounters, I elucidate caregivers’ desire for non-encounters to minimise experiences of exclusionary encounters. Drawing from urban studies, disability and care research, this article emphasises the importance of a disability perspective in conceptualisations of urban care. Consequently, this paper contributes to urban care literature by demonstrating the conceptual relevance of non/encounters in a non-Western context, positioning care as a shared responsibility of the urban citizenry.