When the term disability is used, it has an emotion tied to it that is perceived as negative. This topic has taken huge leaps in terms of treating people with disabilities equally in our society, but we still need to continue to build. With saying that, it has been a long road to get where we are today. In the past people with disabilities have been brushed off as defective, inferior, or less than. In the early 1900s it was believed that people with disabilities were a menace, that they should be isolated from the general public because of their different needs. This led to institutions, residential programs, special schools, and education based on the labels that were put on them. Since then, the paradigms have increased significantly. Along the way there has been special classes, resource rooms, and sheltered workshops. Those were a step in the right direction on the path to fair treatment.
When thinking and learning about it further, is having a disability really that negative? I have had the great opportunity to be in a course that has taught me so much about people with disabilities. I have had my eyes opened up to how people with disabilities deserve to be treated just like anyone else. Goodley’s article states, “people with intellectual disabilities seek to be recognized as human”. As a human being, I think about how I would feel if I was treated as if I was less than or below someone else because of a disability I had. I would want to be a part of society just like everyone else. Just because a person may need assistance doing something, doesn’t mean they should be put down or made fun of because of it. People with disabilities can read, write, talk, feel, laugh, just like anyone else can. While reading an article online I came across a statement to start saying “this” ability rather than “dis” ability and it has changed the way I think when I hear the word disability. Everyone has an ability in their own way, some may be different than others, but in the end, everyone has their own unique ability.
Wow! I genuinely am thankful for when you quoted that statement about saying “this” ability rather than “dis”ability. For a long time, I struggled to view those who don’t fit the able-bodied norm as anything other than disabled. And I didn’t even realize I was doing this until this course. This course also revealed to me that I have such negative pre-conceived connotations of people who aren’t able-bodied because of the language that surrounds us. It is almost every day that I hear someone say “that’s crazy” or “you’re insane”. I’m super glad that you were able to identify these narratives that we tell ourselves and it’s comforting to know that I am not the only one learning. Keep up the good work, Curtis!
Thank you for the kind words Jerico, I most certainly want to continue building a strong foundation of knowledge. They way I look at it is, is that we never really stop learning. I am excited to further my learning on this topic.
Thanks for your well-written piece and for sharing your insight, Curtis! This kind of relates to societal norms, how the “norm” is that there is a negative connotation towards people who are not able-bodied. There is so much terminology that society uses to put down people. I appreciate how you wrote about people having “this ability” rather than “dis” ability!
In regards to your writing and creativity, your post kept me engaged throughout the whole read! Adding in outside articles made your post even better.
As educators, we need to take what was learned in ECS to the classroom setting. Our students and society as a whole need to build relationships and connections. The negative connotations people receive need to be erased. As you discussed “everyone has an ability in their own way, some may be different than others, but in the end, everyone has their own unique ability”. This quote is a perfect example of what to bring into the classroom setting.
Thanks for your post Curtis!