Margaret Keith ~Manager Taylor Yount ~ Special

Projects Consultant Student Disability Resources

CA State University Monterey Bay

Monday April 25, 2016

CHHs 260S:Including Disability in Social Justice & Health

• What is disability? What does it look like?

• Reflecting on Today’s Class Reading • Why is it important to include people

with disabilities in the social justice conversation?

• Facilitated Exercises• How YOU can be an effective ally and

reduce stigma in your field and in society?

Overview

What is Disability? • “Federal law and the university define a

‘disability’ … as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits or restricts the condition, manner, or duration under which an average person in the population can perform a major life activity…

such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, taking care of oneself, or etc.” ~ John Hopkins University (Office of Student Disability Services)

• Brain Injuries• ADHD• Physical Disabilities• Blindness/Low Vision• Deaf/ Hard of Hearing• Learning Disabilities• Medical Disabilities• Speech & Language• Psychological Disabilities• And more…

What does it look like?

• Physical or Mobility • ALS • Amyotroph

ic Lateral Sclerosis

STEVEN HAWKING

People with DisabilitiesWho are they?

• Blind or Visually Impaired • Congenital

blindness

RAY CHARLES

People with DisabilitiesWho are they?

• Deaf or Hard of Hearing • Hearing Impaired*many of those who are hearing impaired use American Sign Language (ASL) or use written language to communicate …**Hence need for ASL interpreters and for closed captions

BEETHOVEN

People with DisabilitiesWho are they?

• Autism Spectrum • Asperger’s Syndrome

• *use ‘spectrum’ to determine type of condition instead of ‘high –vs- low functioning’

ALBERT EINSTEIN

People with DisabilitiesWho are they?

• Learning Disabilities • Dyslexia

WHOOPI GOLDBERG

People with DisabilitiesWho are they?

• Chronic Illness • Fibromyalgia

MORGAN FREEMAN

People with DisabilitiesWho are they?

• Mental Illness • Depression

ROBIN WILLIAMS

People with DisabilitiesWho are they?

• Developmental • Down

Syndrome

LUKE ZIMMERMAN, JAMIE BREWER, & LAUREN ELIZABETH POTTER

People with DisabilitiesWho are they?

• What is Ableism ?“… a form of discrimination or prejudice against individuals with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities that is characterized by… • the belief that these individuals need to

be fixed or cannot function as full members of society”

~ Article: Castaneda & Peters, 2000

AbleismThe “-ism” that goes

unnoticed

Picture Reads:

“For some, it’s Mt. Everest… Help build more handicap facilities”

Ableism The “-ism” that goes

unnoticed

“Oppression becomes internalized oppression… when we believe the negative messages we receive about the group(s) to which we belong are real…When we take in these messages and turn them against ourselves and other members of our group(s), we become our own oppressor.” ~ Ann Jealous (Member of NAACP)

• *can relate to any person identified in an oppressed societal group

Internalized Oppression

Chart created by:Paul K. Longmore, Ph.D. (author and historian) and Dianne B. Piastro, (Syndicated Columnist)

“Unhandicapping” Our Language

• FOCUS on their abilities not their disabilities. • APPRECIATE the person first… don’t direct all

attention on why they are the way they are. • AVOID using the term “handicapped” (unless said

otherwise) …(e.g. “handicap” –vs- “blue” parking space)

• PREFERED to use “people with disabilities” or persons with disabilities…OR however that person wants to identify themselves *ask them what fits best

• LANGUAGE IS POWERFUL, but so are attitudes and behaviors

Disability Etiquette

• Video demonstrates Ableism and Disability Etiquette

• A group of people with disabilities were asked: • “What are some of the stupidest

questions you’ve been asked?” Here's what they had to say…

Inappropriate Questions to Ask a Person with a Disability

Textbook used for today's lesson

• Disability: A Diversity Model Approach in Human Service Practice• Second Edition• Romel W.

Mackelprang, Eastern Washington University 

• Richard O. Salsgiver, California State University, Fresno

Reflecting on Today’s Reading

• Medical Model: • Seen as people who need to be “fixed” not

accommodated for • Basic needs or costs such as special food,

mobility aids, assistive technology seen as “luxuries”

• Many insurances won’t cover these costs due to them being deemed “unnecessary to fix the condition”

Models of Disability

The Medical Model

• EXAMPLE: • AVERAGE Mobility

Scooter cost: over $2000 ! ** insurance does NOT cover such expenses… despite prescriptions from doctors… WHY?!!! Because …

“ it is unnecessary to F IX the condition”

Accommodations Are Not Luxuries

• Social Model: “It is not individual limitations, of whatever kind, which are the cause of the problem, but society’s failure to provide appropriate services and adequately ensure the needs of disabled people are taken in to account in its social organization.”

~ Michael Oliver (disabled British academic and author)

Models of Disability

The Social Model

• Video of Matlin voicing why including disability in Social Justice movements is so important

• Marlee Matlin … Famous Deaf Actress

Social Justice Pride for Disabilities

• Rehabilitation Act of 1973• Americans with

Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)

• Employment• Government entities

(education) • Public Accommodations

(business)

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA)

Path to social justiceDisability Legislation

• PART 1:• Confidentiality agreement• Pick someone you do not often work

with • Recall a memory of the first

interaction or experience with a person with a disability

• Be aware of what feelings or beliefs occurred during that experience

• Listen openly and kindly • Switch turns and repeat exercise

Interactive activity

• PART 2:• Facilitated discussion

of what occurred during the exercise

• What kind of misinformation, if any you think was received in that first experience?

• What were the most common feelings that arose?

Interactive activity

How to be the Best Disability Ally

• ASK if student needs help. Follow through.

• CREATE access to public events • ADA Event Checklist f

or CSUMB or Monterey County

• EXPECT people with disabilities to achieve.

• INSIST on accountability, in yourself & others…Hold people with disabilities to the same standard as others.

• UNDERSTAND your own fears about disability, vulnerability & asking for help.

• IDENTIFY what gets in your way about reducing ableism

How to be the Best Ally

• CSUMB campus: Student Disabilities Resources (SDR) at: https://csumb.edu/sdr

• Local office in Marina, CA

• Central Coast Center for Independent Living (CCCIL) at: http://www.cccil.org/

• Local office in Salinas & Capitola, CA

• Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) at: http://www.rehab.cahwnet.gov/

• Local office in Salinas, CA

Local Disability Resources

Monterey Bay

• Please, Feel free to express any questions, comments, or feedback at this time.

Any questions?

• Margaret – • Manager of SDR

• Taylor – • Special Projects

Consultant • SDR office:

• student_disability_resources@csumb.edu

• #: (831) 582 - 3672

• Any further questions or comments you would like to share?

• Please do not hesitate to contact us

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