disabled in america

DISABLED IN AMERICA

Rob Crawford 2009

Did you know that October is Disability Awareness Month ?*

* So, what should I be aware of?

In spite of significant political changes providing people with disabilities greater independence and opportunities for greater participation in American society…

Changes in public attitude about disabilityhave followed at a slow pace in response.

Disability plays a role in how peopleview & treat each other in society.

American culture places high value on self-control, free will, individual responsibility & expects one to exert self-control over their behavior.

American culture is driven by always being

BEST

SUCCESSFUL

WINNER

RIGHT

SO, MAYBE THIS EXPLAINS OUR DIFFICULTY IN ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS OR HELP?!

These values coupled with ignorance have led to a public view of disability as a sign of character flaw-whether of the person or of the family.

Photo courtesy of DRSPAM @ FLICKR

Erroneous views create prejudicial attitudes, which often result in exclusion of the individual by the community (or even by the family).

The stigma of disability

Stigma defined:

“Being characterized as deviant, flawed, limited, undesirable, or not measuring up in some way.”

Major contributors to stigma

GUILT

BIAS

A stigma becomes attached to the individual or the entire family, while at the same time elevating temporarily able-bodied persons* allowing them to justify rejecting, neglecting, or even eliminating the disabled.

* at least in their own mind

What are some core societal beliefs about disability?

SINFUL &CURSED

Based as they are on misinformation, these attitudes about disability and the disabled reflect fear, embarrassment, guilt, anger, prejudice, or lack of caring.

SICKNESS

These lead to equating disability with something negative or wrong—a valuation which easily attaches to the individual.

BROKEN

So that the disabled person is seen as negative, diseased, incomplete, unworthy of living, or someone to be ignored or discarded.

IS BEING DIFFERENTTHAN YOU MEAN I AM DISPOSABLE?

IS BEING DIFFERENTTHAN YOU MEAN I AM DISPOSABLE?

C’mon, Tell me what

you really think!

This is not to suggest a nationwide effort of “disability profiling”

You are not allowed to be disabled, do

you understand me maggot?

Photo courtesy of BxMafiaX/R_LEE_ERMY.jpg

But Americans with Disabilities are not considered a minority class or part of a recognized community

They can too easily become “The Other”

A principal element of subjugation of a minority group is the assumption of biological inferiority by the majority.

While other minority groups have succeeded in invalidating this theory

The physical, mental & behavioral differences of people with disabilities have perpetuated the perception of subordinate status.

For Americans with disabilitiesdisrespect is common, tolerance of it varies, true understanding and acceptance are uncommon outside of personal or family experience

We also have our own identity issues.

For example, some of us don’t acknowledge or identify themselves as disabled.

They view themselves as a separate culture.

Others “declare” their status in a political manner and refer to themselves as disabled persons.

In this view, it is the environment and society that create the condition of disability.

To change this external limitation is to confront that system of control- similar to the Women’s Rights, La Raza, and Black Power movements

The largest segment of this group look at themselves as a person with a disability.

This “person first” language stresses the individual value & humanity of each individual

who happens to also have a condition/s creating functional limitations in certain environments and situations.

Disability stereotypes and public mythology notwithstanding,

in nearly all situations, for real people living with disability it is not something you overcome, change, or cure….

it is managed by many coping and compensatorystrategies.

Consider the balancing act necessaryto be a part of the community rather than be apart from it.

THE “SIMPLEST” TASKS PRESENT BARRIERS*

*This is some of that disability awareness stuff

THE “SIMPLEST” TASKS PRESENT BARRIERS

How do you dial the phoneif you don’t have hands?

THE “SIMPLEST” TASKS PRESENT BARRIERS

How do you dial the phoneif you don’t have hands?

Reach the phone w/ Muscular Dystrophy & are in a wheel chair?

THE “SIMPLEST” TASKS PRESENT BARRIERS

How do you dial the phoneif you don’t have hands?

Quickly & accurately process the instructions if dyslexic?

Reach the phone w/ Muscular Dystrophy & are in a wheel chair?

THE “SIMPLEST” TASKS PRESENT BARRIERS

How do you dial the phoneif you don’t have hands?

Quickly & accurately process the instructions if dyslexic?

Touch the germ-infested phone if you have obsessive compulsive issues?

Reach the phone w/ Muscular Dystrophy & are in a wheel chair?

To be Disabled in America is a challenge for most people.

We are not superheroes for finding ways to do what other people take for granted

We have just learned how “to play hurt”

A few other things to know about us…

Item: If disability were a country

Item: If disability were a country

It would be the 3rd largest behind China and India with 750 million people

Item: If disability were a state in the US

Item: If disability were a state in the US

It would be the largest in the country with 56 million residents

Item: If disability were a brand

Item: If disability were a brand

It would be a consumer segment of $250 Billion dollars

Item: If disability were a political party

Item: If disability were a political party

With an estimated 37.5 million eligible voters, disability rights is an emerging brand of identity politics.

So… Red or Blue, we’re pretty much nationwide.

And whatever our differences may be about the nature and experience of being disabled in America

There is growing recognition that our values and desires for quality of life and fair treatment are unifying forces for change

Photo courtesy of DRSPAM @ FLICKR

Where we are viewed as whole human beings, not human beings with holes in them

We invite you to help build a world that will solve for others what we have struggled with so much ourselves

Find a way to get involved andcontribute to the national dialogue about being Disabled in America

Rob CrawfordEmail: lifedevelopmentinstitute@gmail.comImages from Istock Photo and Microsoft Clipart except where noted