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Disability 10110/20/2021 As we launch Disabled Empowerment in Higher Education Month, it's important to talk about what disability means, how it is defined and discussed, and the basics people need to know. This thread will kick off #DEHEM21 by serving as “Disability 101”
What is disability? There is no easy answer to this question. It depends on what model you are using. The CDC defines disability as “any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world (participation restrictions)” This CDC definition of disability is consistent with the medical model of disability, which is one way of conceptualizing what it means to be disabled in society. The medical model of disability defines disability by what a disabled person lacks in physical and productive ability. We can see this reflected in the term “impairment” in the CDC definition. As a result, the medical model of disability conceptualizes the challenges faced by disabled people in society as a product of the disabled person’s reduced ability. For example, in the medical model, the issue is that a wheelchair user is not able to walk up the steps to a building, or that a blind person can not see a restaurant menu to read it. For these reasons, and more, many disabled people prefer the social model of disability. The social model of disability conceptualizes disability as the barriers disabled people face, because society is not accessibly designed. Under the social model of disability, the issue is not that the wheelchair user can not walk up the steps, but that there is no ramp or elevator to allow them access to the building. Using the social model allows us to remove the stigma from disability, and focus our effort on addressing societal barriers to access and equity for disabled people. An example of the social model of disability many allies are likely familiar with is the use of corrective eyewear, like glasses and contacts. Many people require glasses and contacts to perform everyday tasks like reading, writing, driving, and more. However, we as a society do not consider needing glasses a disability, because we have provided people who need glasses a societal accommodation. Glasses are widely available, affordable in comparison to many aspects of health care, and importantly, are largely no longer stigmatized in our society. With this appropriate accommodation, those who need glasses can participate in all aspects of our society in the exact same way as people with natural 20/20 vision. Because society often views disability through the lens of the medical model, many people often view disability as something to be seperated from personal identity, because disabilities are seen as bad, shameful, or somehow a “wrong” way of being human. This attitude towards disability as something to be corrected, rather than a part of a person's identity, can be seen in the way society expects us to overcome disabilities instead of making things accessible. An all too common example of this is inspiration porn. In considering the way we think about disability, and what it means to be disabled, it's also important to address the way we talk about disability. Disabled In Higher Ed (and DEHEM) use identity-first language, also terms disability-first language in some countries, because we view disability as a personal identity. Disability is a part of our personal identity, like any other identity. In the same way members of our team are women, and bisexual, and non-binary, and Black, we are all also disabled. We respect the right of every disabled person to identify in the way they feel most comfortable, and some disabled people do prefer person-first language. You should ask a person’s preference and/or notice how they refer to themselves. Person first language is the act of asserting personhood before condition or diagnosis. For example saying “a person with autism” rather than the identity first alternative “an autistic person.” The use of person-first language as the default among non-disabled people can perpetuate the idea that disability is something separate from the personhood of disable people by implying that a reminder of our humanity is necessary. Disabled in Higher Ed do not accept disability euphemisms from non-disabled people (e.g.) differently abled, etc… Many disabled people face ableism, which is defined as prejudice or discrimination against disabled people based on the idea that disability is a diminished state of being human. Ableism can take many forms, from assumptions and stereotypes, to policies and procedures, to the physical environments in which we live and work. The goal of #DEHEM21 is to bring attention to the institutional and interpersonal ableism faced by disabled people at all levels of higher education, and to work to address these systemic barriers for a more equitable academy Join us for our month of programming as we explore these themes through four core lenses: Intersectionality & Disability Identity, Accessibility & Allyship, Mental Illness & Minority Stress, and Marginalization & Accommodations. References
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