19 Descent Research Paper

In order to share my personal philosophy of special education, the first priority is to explain the definition of disability that I am working from. In their book, Exceptional Learners, authors Hallahan, Kaufman, and Pullen define disability as an inability to do something, a diminished capacity to perform in a specific way; an impairment (2015, p.4). This definition is important because of the objective nature it presents for those with disabilities. Nowhere in the definition does it say how to treat people with disabilities, whether it is rude to stare, or to what degree a person should be pitied. The definition explains how a disability simply is an inability to do something. People with disabilities are people. They are normal. They simply have challenges

“There's nothing more debilitating about a disability than the way people treat you over it.”( Solange Nicole) In today's God abandoning society there are many people voicing about equality. There are feminists, those against racism, those against homophobia, and those opposed to everything. Each group seems to have people standing up for them. Although when it comes to a group of cripples there's not many that can do the standing. Ableism: Discrimination in favor of able-bodied people. While many people don't know that word, or do not believe such a thing exists, there are many things proving that it does. It is easy to get caught up in life and not realize the difficulties people have, especially ones that could be easily fixed, just by

In the United States today, there are over fifty-one million disabled adults and children. Throughout our nation’s history, we have not allowed the best treatment and care for these numerous citizens. But, in the recent past, the government has passed laws, made exceptions, and thoroughly tried to provide accommodations to these people with special needs. While this is true, America, as a whole, still views this group as strange or different. Even though this is exceptionally normal, it is not correct. The United States needs to be opened up to the truth about their fellow American citizens. The people of America ought to understand that these disabilities affect not only those who are disabled, but that it affects the family and friends

In the two articles, “Becoming Disabled” by Rosemarie Garland-Thompson and “The Disremembered” by Charles Leadbeater, both authors write about the differently abled throughout society. Garland-Thompson and Leadbeater both want the differently abled community to be treated more appropriately in society by delivering evidence through depicting a specific audience and providing details of their own personal lives to better the differently-abled community.

Individuals with disability have had a long history of maltreatment in America. From being thought of as possessed individuals in need of exorcism, targeted for heinous experiments, unknowingly sterilized, being labeled imbecile, feeble minded, and retarded, to being shipped off to state schools or mental asylums, those with disabilities were given no consideration as a valuable and able to contribute member of society. In a speech to congress, Frank Bowe, a highly educated deaf-man highlighted this claim by stating, “we are not even second-class citizens, we are third-class citizens” (Bowe, F. 1977--need citation), and Jim Cherry (2001) furthered the ideal in his words, that prior to “1970 we [disabled citizens] had no right to education, to employment, to transportation, to housing, or to voting. There were no civil rights laws for us, no federal advocacy grants. Few people looked beyond our medical needs” (Cherry, J.L, 2001 http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/0701/0701cov.htm). Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 attempted to fundamentally change how disabled people were reguarded.

Remember the story I told you a few minutes ago? How would you feel if you were the person that used that word in front of Mary Kate? We, as a society, need to agree upon a new common definition for the word retarded. Because of the previous negative connotation with the word, the new definition needs to highlight the positives of the persons who are disabled. According to “R-word Pledge” in November 2015,” But, even when the r-word is not said to harm someone with a disability, it is hurtful. Because of this, Special Olympics, Best Buddies and the greater disability community prefers to focus on people and their gifts and accomplishments, and to dispel negative attitudes and stereotypes.” (R-word.org). In my opinion, we should replace the word retard with intellectual disability. Mental retardation was what doctors, psychologists, and other professionals used to describe people with significant intellectual impairment. Therefore, the word has the same meaning but intellectual disability has a more positive connotation. By using plain and simple style of language, people will understand why the negative connotation needs to be

Introducing her topic, Mullins demonstrates her argument with a word-for-word definition of “disabled,” from a 1980’s thesaurus, which she believes perfectly represents how a vast number of people from today’s society view those with disability. To further support the idea, she pulls a far more recent definition

Looking into other sets of media such as in cartoons on the television or in the newspaper showcase the issue and the phenomenon of discriminatory language becoming the norm. Such jargon includes “idiot”, “dumb”, “crazy”, “insane”, and “moron”; all words which have had a history in labeling different disabilities. Archaically, “idiot” indicated a mentally handicap person; “dumb” was originally indicative of a mute; “crazy” of someone mentally deranged or their mind was slipping. These words have been used in such derogatory ways since their invention that they have become normal insults thrown at people who do not even show any true signs of being mentally handicap, deranged, or even mute. These words have become standard issue in the English language and reinforce misconceptions perpetuated by the

The debate surrounding the term in which to identify a person with disabilities continues to be a subject for deliberation in the academic and political world. Some believe classifying a group of people as “handicap” carries a negative undertone which refers to the term “cap-in-hand” or more specifically refers to the term, “beggar” (Bryan, 2014, p. 102). Askjan.org recommends instead of referring to the individual as a “disabled person” rather state they are a “person with a disability” ("Disability Etiquette Tips," n.d.). Using the proper vernacular is important and shows the person dignity and respect. In either case, people with disabilities still encounter societies ills of being

What was your reaction to the last word? Did you say “abled” or “enabled”? Or did you hesitate and say, “Ummmm?” I’m not present to see your reaction, but here’s the difference between the first four words and the last word. At an elementary level, opposites are engraved in our learning. Therefore, the reaction is automatic and takes little thought. However, as a society, the term “disabled” is not engraved in our psyche; and if it is, there is a chance it is a negative perspective on those with disabilities. We’re not taught how to view or define

“One billion people, or 15% of the world’s population, experience some form of disability”(Disability Inclusion). People with disabilities make up a large percentage of the population and yet many are not able to live life like an average human being because they are not treated the same when they enter or try to enter the workforce. Unequal treatment can be seen in many areas. For example having a disability can affect a person's financial stability. This is because when disabled people try to enter the workplace the chances for them getting hired are extremely low, in rare occasions disabled people get hired yet they are paid very little compared to others, also they suffer discrimination.

People have a desire to be seen and heard. When one thinks of their wants and ambitions, they think of what they feel is best for them. The intellectually disabled community have gone without being seen and their voices not heard for decades too long. The intellectually disabled community desire to be seen in social events, inclusion in education and in the workforce. This is an injustice to them that needs to be recognized and addressed. The intellectually disabled community have succeeded far greater when included in programs and social events that are designed for their success. The inclusion of the intellectually disabled community is important because without it their rights to live successful lives is taken away.

Prior to the course, Perspectives on disability, my understanding of disability was a fundamental, concept of disability, in which I knew it existed, and also have seen and interacted with people considered to have a disability. I never took a deep look at all the social and political factors that exist within the spectrum of disability. This course has allowed me to examine all aspects of disability, which has changed my view and approach of what a disability is and how it is viewed. "Historically, disability has been viewed fundamentally as a persoal tragedy, which has resulted in diasbled people being seen as objects of pity or in need of charity. They have been subject to descriminatory policies and practices in which the predominant images of passivity and helplesness reinforced their inferior status"(Barton 4). Uncovering the framework of disability, by studying the historical, soicial political and educational standpoint, I see the intricacies in which gives me a greater understanding and awareness of the topic.

You see it all the time in the news, racism and prejudice against people of different skin colors; perhaps the Ferguson protests in 2014, caught your attention. However, there is a type of discrimination that you rarely see the news, and it’s just as common. Ableism: discrimination against disabled people in favor of able-bodied people. It’s not just in social settings such as seeing someone in a wheelchair and treating them like they can not do anything for themselves. Rather, it’s in the places most do not see or ever care to look, such as in the work field or at school. For example, we always take for granted the stairs we use while people with wheelchairs struggle. The double standard between able-bodied and disabled people is ever-growing. Employment issues are prevalent and not noticed by everyone, people with mental illnesses or learning disabilities tend to be taken advantage of far too often.

Throughout history, people with disabilities have always been victimized. The bible tells many tales of people who were disabled. In these stories, they were referred to as “crippled” (Charles 31). The stereotype of disability has evolved from people being referred to as “crippled” to “Disreputables”, which were people used as entertainment in the middle ages (Charles 34), then to “Waste Humanity”, which were people that were sterilized and killed because they were deemed unfit to live in the mid 1900s (Charles 38-39). This gives insight to the evolution of a problem that is just recently being addressed. Today, calling people crippled, disreputables, and waste humanity is considered dehumanizing. People in communities were not properly educated or prepared to deal with people who were mentally or physically different. Awareness was brought