Agential Realism

A theoretical framework developed by physicist-philosopher Karen Barad that rejects the idea of pre-existing, independent subjects and objects, arguing instead that phenomena emerge through specific "intra-actions" between apparatus and matter. Applied to accessibility research, agential realism shows that the "aging body" or the "disabled user" does not exist prior to research — the apparatus of inquiry (interview protocols, hardware, institutional settings) actively produces the deficient user it claims to observe. The framework underpins calls for reflexive, non-extractive research practice.