Reframing Disability

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REFRAMING DISABILITY FROM PAT HOL OGY TO CAPA BILITY The way we see things is also the way we do not see things

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Reframing Disability. From Pathology to Capability. The way we see things is also the way we do not see things. Past to the present. History Different ideas (perspectives ) Different behavior (responses) Contextual (societal) factors Changing dominant interests/influences - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Reframing Disability

  • REFRAMING DISABILITYFROM PATHOLOGY TO CAPABILITYThe way we see things is also the way we do not see things

  • PAST TO THE PRESENTHistoryDifferent ideas (perspectives)Different behavior (responses)Contextual (societal) factorsChanging dominant interests/influencesReflects ideas/behaviorNew knowledge produces new perspectives Creates new responses/behavior

  • PERSPECTIVES OF DISABILITYFour perspectives developed over timeAll four seem to exist in the presentReflected in societal responsesPerspectives reflect ideology/knowledgeHow disability is definedIdentification of problemSolution to problemShaped by what we believe to be true

  • DEFECT -> DEVIANCE -> DIFFERENCE -> DIVERSITYTwo perspectives have long historyDominant interests/influencesReligion - Supernatural/MoralisticScience - MedicalTwo perspectives are relatively newDominant interestsCapitalism - Economic/EnvironmentalGroup Identity - Civil Rights/Independent LivingAll reflected in basically two Models of Disability

  • MODELS OF DISABILITY Medical Model (Defect -> Deviance -> Difference (-))Person is problemResponse is individual and personalPerson is passive/needing help of others (dependent)Professionals authority/gatekeepersExamples of responses/behaviors?

  • Social Model (Difference (+) -> Diversity)Society creates the problemResponse is systemicFocus on participation, responsibilityExperts are people with disabilities, has control of life Examples of responses/behaviors?

  • The following gives a comparison of specific aspects related to the two models

    Medical (Individual) ModelSocial (Rights) Model

    Personal Tragedy Theory

    Social Oppression Theory

    Personal Problem

    Social Problem

    Individual Treatment

    Social Action

    Medicalization

    Self-Help

    Professional Dominance

    Individual/Collective Responsibility

    Expertise

    Experience

    Individual Identity

    Collective Identity

    Care

    Rights

    Control

    Choice

    Policy

    Politics

    Individual Adjustment

    Social Change

  • Majority of world stigmatizes DisabilityNo one wants to be considered disabledAbleism pervasiveUnrecognizedDisability becomes invisibleBarriers and bridges to changeWhat hinders, what helps?More to come.

  • REFRAMING DISABILITYFROM PATHOLOGY TO CAPABILITYFrom Defect and Deviance to Difference and Diversity

  • BARRIERS TO REFRAMINGAbleism Construction of beliefs, processes and practices based on the perfect, species-typical self/body considered to be essentially and fully human. (Campbell, 2001:44)Creates patterns of discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping Not as well understood Unknown, unrecognized and underestimated Inherent in what we take for grantedEnvironment built for average abilitiesSocial structure of helping less fortunateSends messages to everyone

  • CONVEYING OVERT MESSAGESDesignArchitecture, Products, Services, etc.

    Blind person walking into staircaseComputer screen with webpageSUV type taxi cab

  • CONVEYING COVERT MESSAGESMicro-aggressions

    Example of a poster of a failed attempt of awareness program. It says to take a picture of someone in a wheelchair for a prize.

  • Denial of IdentityIt is so great to see you outNo part of life is normal or like mine. Only thing I see is your disability.InfantilizationLet me do that for youYou are not really capable. I know how to do this better than you.PatronizationYou are so inspiringParticipating in regular activities seen as feat

  • Second Class CitizenWe dont have many people with disabilities come here but when more do, we will make our place more accessibleRights to equality denied because one is considered to be bothersome, expensive and a waste of time, effort and resourcesCartoon of very steep ramp. Man says Ive had a ramp installed with sneer on face.Cartoon of 4 men, one in wheelchair. One man says Sorry Joe, We cant get you a cab. leaving the man in the wheelchair left behind.

  • OTHER MANIFESTATIONSPolicyQualificationsStandardizationProgrammaticSeparatismLack of accessibilityEmploymentJob descriptionsFull-time for benefitsWhat else?

  • VALUES UNDERLYING ABLEISM?IndividualismIndependenceSelf-sufficiencyAthleticismPhysical fitnessResponsibility for ones healthHelping othersless fortunateGood intentionsFairnessNo special treatmentWhat else?

  • INVISIBLE KNOWLEDGE CHANGE IN THE WINDWhat is the ratio of those who acquired a disability and those who are born with one?5 out of 6 (83%)Out of 69.6 million families in the US, how many have at least one family member with a disability?20 million (28.7%)Approximately how many people in the US have a disability?49 53 million

  • Who were the first athletes to participate in organized sports for those with physical disabilities?Disabled veterans after WWIIWhat four sports in the 2012 Olympics included an athlete with a physical disability? Track, Oscar Pistorius, South Africa, double amputeeArchery, Im Dong Hyun, South Korea, visual impairmentTable Tennis, Natalia Partyka, Poland, no right armDiving, Chris Colwill, United States, hard of hearing

  • Sonia Sotomeyer, the newest Supreme Court judge, has what disability?DiabetesTom Cruise and Whoopie Goldberg have what disability in common?A learning disabilityWhat Pixar animated film featured at least two characters with disabilities?Finding Nemo

  • Abby and Brittany, is a cable show about who?Co-joined twinsWhat invention led to our current ability to communicate through texting on cell phones?The Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) I. King Jordan became the first Deaf president of Gallaudet University after what event?Deaf students staged a strike and closed the university down in 1988Jerrys Orphans are known to opposed what annual event?Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon

  • ADAPT is an organization originating in Denver. What did ADAPT stand for when first started?Americans with Disabilities for Accessible Public TransportationWhat set of access principles were created to be applied to the built environment?Universal DesignWhat was the first law to focus on the civil rights of people with disabilities?Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504What concept emerged in the 1970s that promoted systemic change for people with disabilities?Independent Living

  • Little known signs of changeUniversal DesignUD for Learning/TeachingIndependent Living CentersDifferent than other disability agenciesDisability RightsSection 504ADA and AmendmentsDisability StudiesDisability CultureMore to come

  • REFRAMING DISABILITYFROM PATHOLOGY TO CAPABILITY

    From Adaptation to Revolution

  • AND SO IT BEGINSIt is an historical fact that the privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily. We know, through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Our [disability rights] movement won my right to live independently, to work productively, to gain access to public places, to receive reasonable accommodations, and to obtain protection from discriminationIt offered me a positive, disability-affirming identity. It taught me pride. Paul Longmore

  • TRANSFORMATIONContext of late 20th CenturyWars and Polio epidemic Created large population of people with disabilitiesExpanded access to higher educationCivil Rights/Feminist movement Recognized discrimination based on human characteristicAcademic critique of racism and sexismCreation of ethnic studies and women studies

  • SYNERGYPeople with disabilities influenced by higher educationHad to adapt for successPuzzle pieces start to come togetherMajor forces for reframing disability emergeUniversal (Inclusive) DesignIndependent Living CentersDisability RightsDisability Studies

  • UNIVERSAL (INCLUSIVE) DESIGNRon Mace (1941-1998)Polio at age 9 (1950)Wanted to be an architectTold he could not make it through program by dean at North Carolina StateAccommodated by familyBegan his career in early 1970s Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University

    Picture of Ron Mace

  • Personal to PoliticalPrinciples for accessible designEnvironmentsCommunicationsProductsInstructionInvolved with first accessible design standardsBegan to change physical environmentPuzzle piece: Did trainings with Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) for access required by Section 504Universal design concept expanded beyond physical

  • DESIGNING FOR INCLUSIONEquitable Use - useful and marketable to people with diverse abilitiesFlexibility in Use - accommodates wide range of individual preferences and abilitiesSimple and Intuitive Use - easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration levelPerceptible Information - communicates information effectively regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilitiesTolerance for Error - minimizes hazards and adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actionsLow Physical Effort - can be used efficiently, comfortably, with minimum of fatigueSize and Space for Approach and Use - appropriate size and space for approach, reach, manipulation, and use

  • INDEPENDENT LIVINGEd Roberts (1936-1995)Polio age 14 (1953)After high school, went to community collegeApplied for financial support from VRDenied as too disabled to workApplied/admitted to UC-Berkeley in 1962 but deniedAdapted residence in on-campus health facilityFirst severely disabled studentNeeded assistance for daily living activitiesPicture of Ed Roberts

  • Personal to politicalOther students soon followPhysically Disabled Students Program at UC BerkeleyExpanded into Center for Independent Living 1971Berkeley one of most accessible cities Puzzle pieceLater became the VR director in CA 1975Created more ILCs in stateBerkeley-CIL major player in sit-in for Section 504

  • IL CENTERSDifferent than other service agenciesConsumer controlledCommunity basedAt least four key servicesPeer counselingIndependent living skills trainingInformation and referralSystem and individual advocacyAt least one in all statesImported idea to other countries

  • DISABILITY RIGHTSJudy Heumann (1949 - )Polio at age of 18 monthsNot allowed to attend local school until 4th gradeParents had to advocateGraduated from Long Island University 1969Inaccessible campusHad to rely on others for helpTold her goal to be a teacher was impracticalSuccessfully completed degree in teachingPicture of Judy Heumann

  • Personal to PoliticalDenied teaching licenseSued and wonFirst WC user to teach in NYStarted Disabled in ActionPuzzle pieceCo-Director of CIL in 1975Led protests for Section 504 regulationsCo-founded World Institute on DisabilityMultiple roles in disability at federal level

  • CIVIL RIGHTS WITH A TWISTRehabilitation Act 1973 Section 504 (public sector)Little attention by CongressFocus on program accessibility; physical access as neededFirst law to mandated involvement of people with disabilitiesAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 1990Lots of attentionStresses employment (Title I)Physical access guidelines, accommodationsPatterned after Section 504Twist: disability not neutral; needs to be recognized

  • DISABILITY STUDIESPaul Longmore (1946 2010)Polio at age 7Special education classes Encouraged by parents/teachers to attend Junior HighGraduated from Occidental College with BA and MADiscouraged from teaching and lack of financial helpAdapted by using his mouthEventually got dictaphone and transcriptionistDependent upon government supportPicture of Paul Longmore

  • Personal to PoliticalReceived PhD in 1984Wrote book about George WashingtonCould not receive royalties (unearned income)Burned book in protestSocial Security later changed rules (Longmore Amendment)Puzzle PieceBegan teaching at San Francisco State (age 46)Co-founded San Francisco States Institute for Disability Studies 1996Promotes disabled people as a minority group

  • AS AN ACADEMIC DISCIPLINEField dedicated to examination of disabilityAs social, cultural, and political phenomenonChallenges disability as an individual deficit or defectNo one definition of what it isInterdisciplinary/multidisciplinaryGenerally subscribe to minority group modelCovers diverse group of peopleNot without criticsPersonal experience sometimes ignoredMay not engage with other forms of sociopolitical oppression

  • WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?Great leaders do not create great movements. Great movements give rise to great leaders. . . No movement can exist without in this case millions of ordinary men and women asserting themselves to demand dignity and their rights. So thats what our movement is all about. Thats our past. Thats our present. Thats our future. Paul Longmore, July 2010

    Is the movement over? What will keep the movement going? Should we?Is identity important? Personal vs Group?How can higher education still be influential?What can you do to support the transformation?

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