Conceptualizing DisabilityOctober 27, 2015

Discussion• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HSMq4j5idk  • How would you feel if you were Owen?• How would you feel if you were Owen’s parent?• How do you feel in your current role?

How would your reaction be different if Owen did not have Down syndrome?

Why?

What Does Disability Mean?• According to the Americans with Disabilities Act

(ADA), “disability” is a legal term rather than a medical one. The ADA defines a person with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. 

• How do you know someone has a disability?

What Does Disability Really Mean?

“Disability” is not objectively defined, but socially constructed. The existing social norms, rules and structures, and notions of health define what is deviant or constitutes a disability. What becomes a disability is the meaning that we attach to particular physical and mental characteristics.

? AGREE OR DISAGREE ?

Watch Your LanguageInstead of… Say…

Confined to a wheelchair or wheelchair-bound

Person who uses a wheelchair (wheelchairs don’t confine, they make people mobile)

Retarded Cognitive disability, developmental disability

Suffering from, stricken by, afflicted with, a victim of…

Person who has…

“The” disabled (or any disability) kids, handicapped

People with disabilities

Deaf and dumb Deaf, non-verbal

“Your” students “Our” students

Other Language that May be Viewed as Offensive…Why?• Courageous• Inspirational• Patient (to caregivers)• Birth defect• Normal, healthy, whole • Invalid

What is an Invisible Disability?

What kind of school performance would you expect from these students?

Invisible Disabilities• Also called “hidden disabilities.” Hidden disabilities

are physical or mental impairments that are not readily apparent to others… often cannot be readily known without the administration of appropriate diagnostic tests (USDOE, OCR, 2005).

• Many people with invisible disabilities choose not to disclose because of stigma

• Examples: chronic pain or fatigue, hearing impairments, sleep disorders, epilepsy, ADHD, autism, mental illness/psychiatric disabilities, learning disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, diabetes…• Psychiatric disabilities are the most common hidden

disabilities

To Disclose or Not To Disclose…?Disclose Don’t Disclose

Must disclose to get needed accommodations

Perceived as whining, attention seeking, or looking for favors

Is this even legitimate, or are you falsely seeking personal gain? Other people may not believe that you have a disability

People may not know that they have disabilities

Other reasons to disclose? Associated stigma for some disabilities; social and workplace discrimination

Stigma/not accepting some disabilities is greater in some cultural groups; familial and community shame

Would you disclose if you had an invisible disability?

JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN’T SEE IT, DOESN’T MEAN IT’S NOT REAL.