Young onset Parkinson's disease (YOPD) challenges futures as it is often seen as not fitting in with life courses, self-identity and relationships with others. The aims of this presentation explores the way those living with YOPD imagine their future as they project their bodies into futures. Throughout the interviews we discussed their concerns for the future along with how their visions of the future was changed and challenged. With this being said, participants suggested there is room for creating new narratives beyond chronic illness and disability to inform new ways of being. 

Plain Language Abstract

This presentation is about people with Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a disease that affects movement. Getting Parkinson’s disease before you turn 50 years old is called Young Onset Parkinson’s disease.

We talked to 22 people with Young Onset Parkinson’s disease. 

We asked them what they thought about their future.

The people told us how they thought their future had changed. They talked about what they would not be able to do in the future. Sometimes people did not want to think about their future at all.

We think that people might be able to create new, hopeful ideas about their futures.

We will tell you about these ideas.