A Writer And Social Critic

Disability has been a difficult topic of society for years. Many people find discomfort in the presence of the disabled and many feel pity for those who are disabled. Back in the 1800s, the disabled were perceived as unable to contribute to society, often forced to undergo sterilization, and forced into institutions and asylums (“A Brief History”). In fact, this treatment of the disabled and mentally ill has been persistent until somewhat recently, when the Civil Rights movement took place, and those with disabilities decided to take a stand for their rights. Although people with disabilities continue to face difficulties in finding jobs, legitimizing their opinion, having the right to vote, and choosing whether or not they receive or refuse

Society is driven by norms and obligations that leads us to having negative perspectives and attitudes toward disabled individuals. We have internalized the physical appearance has a social standard. When the physical differences are not conformed by members of society, individuals with those differences tend to be rejected. For example, in the movie “The Butterfly Circus”, Will was being treated almost like he was not human because he had no arms nor legs. In addition, members of society tend to associate disables as non-productive. According to professor Nanoch Liveh, “The level of societal development, the rate of unemployment, beliefs concerning the origins of poverty, and the importance attached to the nation’s welfare economy and security are all contributing factors affecting attitudes toward people with disabilities.” Not only, social norms

The amount of people who live with disabilities is a controversial number. Depending on what law and diagnostic tools used, a person may have a visible disability, or one that may lie beneath the surface of his or her appearance. Some people believe that the term “disability” is merely a label use to hold back, or prescribe helplessness. Meanwhile, individuals who have been properly diagnosed with disabilities struggle to maintain respect and acceptance every day. In plain language, there is a lot of misunderstanding between people with disabilities and those without. It is firstly important to get everyone on the same page regarding the definition of disability.

The social model of disability which views discrimination and prejudice as being embedded in today’s society, their attitudes and their surrounding environment.

Disability in a socio-cultural context can be defined as "a barrier to participation of people with impairments or chronic illnesses arising from an interaction of the impairment or illness with discriminatory attitudes, cultures, policies or institutional practices" (Booth, 2000). The traditional view of disability often focuses on the individual, highlighting incapacities or failings, a defect, or impairment. This focus creates obstacles to participation on equal terms since an individual who seems to lack certain capacities may not be able to attain autonomy.

The Policy Statement of the Union of the Physically Impaired against Segregation (UPIAS) is an early example of unity against socially created impediments to disabled peoples integration. It examines the frustrating reality that despite its capacity to do so, society still segregates, isolates and oppresses people living with disabilities. Further, the statement identifies key barriers creating limitations for disabled persons to fully participate in society and live with maximum possible independence and control over their lives. Negative impacts of social exclusion such as feeling isolated, oppressed and dehumanised are stressed.

Society’s ideological constructs and attitudes towards minority groups are created and reinforced through media imagery. Although negative associations that maintain inequities with regard to race, gender and homophobia (Conner & Bejoian, 2006) have been somewhat relieved, disability is still immersed in harmful connotations that restrict and inhibit the life of people with disabilities in our society.

Common stereotypes persons with disabilities shape society’s view on persons with disabilities. Also stereotypes and myth about person with disabilities at work creates increases unemployment of such persons. Unemployment as discussed above has negative thoughts on self-esteem. Stereotypes may have emanated from well-intended assumptions about the abilities and capabilities of persons with disabilities in general. However, unfinished explorations coupled with uncalled for generalizations have led to myth and stereotypes (Michailakis (2003). Stereotypes tend to homogenize persons without consideration of the uniqueness and diverseness that the persons may present (Murugami (2002). Most rehabilitation centers often deny persons with disabilities the rights of career choice (Yanchak (2005). When they fail to acquire career satisfaction, they end up abandoning their careers, dropping out of school, and begging (Murugami (2002). Stereotypes kill the dignity of the person, and create insecurities. Stereotypes condemn whole groups without looking and individuality (Henderson & Bryan, 2011). Stereotypes tend to formulate unhealthy and uneducated assumptions about persons of other cultures, looks, and disabilities which lead to a negative self-esteem and unhealthy self-concept.

In this essay I will attempt to explain people’s attitudes towards the person with disability, also about the causes due to which our society discriminates against them. Few of these reasons are stereotyping, psychological discomfort, lack of accommodation, paternalization & pity.

Today disabled people are as much part of society than they were in the past. Today, they have rights which support and protect them against discrimination (Equality Act 2010).

In ‘Everyone Belongs’ Shapiro (2000)examines how antagonistic myths and generalizations keep on making instilled partialities towards individuals with inabilities.These biases are reflected in contrary states of mind and conduct,which can obstruct the interest of individuals with handicaps in social,instructive and professional connections (Ehite et al,2006 refering to Rao,2004;Rubin et al 1995;Rusch et al,1995).Swain et al(1993) audit the broad scope of boundaries confronted by individuals with handicaps.

In the case of a visible disability, the focus of attention may be on the disability rather than on the topic of conversation. The non-disabled person may feel that there are too many discrepancies between the disabled person's presentation of themselves and the actual picture presented. This discrepancy will lead the 'normal' person to construct a stigma theory for themselves to explain the disruption in the social interaction (Williams 1987). This stigma theory is based upon the assumption that people should conform to the norms of social interaction (Williams 1987). If they deviate from the norms, then they are not only different but also inferior.

The purpose of this review is to examine the existing literature around stigmatization and more specifically the stigmatization of those with physical disabilities and how this effects their social interactions. Suggestions for eliminating stigma will also be considered. The literature revealed common instances of stigmatization and common misconceptions that those with physical disabilities experience. Those with physical disabilities often feel they are viewed as less valuable members of society, they are ignored or overly helped, and their identities are often thought to revolve around disability. The role of the biomedical model and the Social model in understanding disability will also be discussed. To help break this stigma increased social interactions between the community and those with disabilities is important. Educating the public was also an important suggestion for change.

As the world, becomes increasingly more aware of those with disabilities. There are still struggles for those with disabilities to be a fully participate in society. Many individuals use others that have a disability to isolate them from certain societal functions such as employment and sports. Even though there are Organizations and Associations that advocate for those with disability to get fair treatment, individuals are still facing discrimination. Instead of trying to make society more accessible for those with a disability society is just trying to categorize them as special and make them make their own accommodations in society. When it comes to whether or not society should increase accessibility and make accommodations for disable people two Philosophers Aristotle and John Rawls have two different perspectives on the issue. While, Aristotle argues about the most virtue individual should have the opportunity. Rawls argues about how your identity should not define whether you can be fairly integrated into society. This paper will focus and evaluating both argues on whether society should increase accessibility and make accommodations for disable people.

When I heard the word disability, many things come to mind. I think of an innocent person, who knows nothing about their surroundings. I can see in my head of other people laughing at them, making fun of them, beating, bullying, discriminating them, etc. I think the disability suffer more than what people know. I feel like what people know is the disabled are abnormal, but they don’t realized there are other things that the disabled suffer from. I believed the disabled have to overcome many things in their daily life. Like the way people stare and judge them wherever they go. In the video “ Examined Life’ of Taylor and Judith, Taylor mentioned how people stared at her when she carried the coffee with her mouth. People stare because she uses her body part differently. She also said that when people stare at her like that, it makes the task even more difficult. This example shows me that the disabled are being judged everywhere they go, and for everything they does. Many people don’t realize that the little things they do, make the disabled life even harder. Not only they are being judge and stared at, they were also discriminatory and treated negatively. I’m working with a guy, who is a little bit slow, and his face expression makes people feel uncomfortable because he don’t smile, he always seems unhappy. The way his work is very slow. I think because of his slowness, many people doesn’t like him. There was one customer came in the other day, and he was taking care of her.