Stereotypes Of Physical Disabilities

What comes into one’s mind when they think of a disabled person? Most people feel pity and embarrassment, and feel these disabled people are nothing but useless. In “Disability,” writer Nancy Mairs discusses the experience of being a disabled person in a world focused on strong and healthy people. The danger in this single story is that people with disabilities are discriminated against and put away with forgotten care. Mairs states, how debilitated individuals are continually barred, particularly from the media. People with disabilities are the same as the average American person, but because they are disabled, they are seen as meaningless human beings and

Many groups of people experience disenfranchisement. This paper will seek to review people experiencing disenfranchisement related to ableism in its various forms. The oppression of the disabled and the social injustices they bear will be considered, as well as the myths and stereotypes associated to the disabled. The author will seek to gain knowledge and understanding of this group of people and their functioning within our society.

Disability has appeared frequently in recent films (Byrd & Elliot, 1988), a reflection of society’s interest in the subject. These films often misrepresent disability using stereotypes. These stereotypes reinforce negative and incorrect social perceptions of, and attitudes towards,

The Physically handicapped are maltreated in today's society. Although the teasing and maliciousness is behind more closed doors it still frequently occurs

How does this social construction of disabilities impact institutional policies, and societal and individual behaviors regarding disabilities? In other words, how have people with disabilities been marginalized in the past and present at those three levels? Please be specific and provide examples to support your answers.

Myth 1: Wheelchairs Summary: According to the article 6 Stereotypes of Disability from Disabled We Stand, one of the misconceptions was, “if you’re in a wheelchair, that can mean either that you’re deaf, dumb and stupid, or that you’re a goddess on wheels. People approach you when they usually wouldn’t approach anyone else.” Furthermore, others are drawn to people in wheelchairs because they automatically feel pity and interest in the difference in lifestyles. Rather than letting a wheelchair define someone’s character, personality, or life, perhaps getting to know the individual would be a more accurate representation of who they are as a person.

Still to this day, there is a negative stigma and sense of rejection projected towards individuals with intellectual disabilities. If an individual is seen as unresponsive to help, in the past they were considered to be a burden upon society (Reynolds, & Dombeck, 2016). Until recently, the typical form of “treatment” that most individuals received consisted of seclusion from mainstream society, thus labeling them as a “patient” which leads to a sense of disempowerment (2016). Furthermore, this label resulted in implications that individuals with an intellectual disability were limited, helpless, and sick- thus imposing thoughts of pity (2016). Until medical causes became known, mental retardation, the original name for intellectual disability,

In today’s world, over a billion people – about one-fifth of the world’s population, experience disability. Every day, people with disabilities are suffered and challenged, not only because of their disabilities but because of people who discriminate against them. Throughout history, disability discrimination had long been deeply implanted in every aspect of life. As a result, disabled people frequently live on the margins of society and dispossess of numerous lives’ fundamental experiences. Obviously, the tremendous negative effects of discrimination against special needs on people as well as on wider society are shooting the wake-up call for both governments and individuals who should have a responsibility for seeking solutions to overcome these social problems.

People with physical limitations and diseases are judged based on the way they look. Just because someone looks different does not mean they are different. Everyone is equal. Just because someone is crippled does not mean they cannot do anything: “ People – crippled or not – wince at the word ‘cripple,’ as they do not at ‘handicapped’ or ‘disabled’” (Mairs 525). People flinch when they hear the word cripple. People with physical limitations can do normal things just like normal people can

The social construction of disability is how people are treated based on cultural factors. Societies are physically constructed and socially organized based on the assumption that everyone is healthy, young, and many times male. As soon as someone doesn’t fit into this definition they are seen as disabled and are neglected in our society. Feminists find the physi­cal and social structures for healthy and young males are very oppressive, for instance architecture often doesn’t include wheelchair ramps, the public transportation is difficult to use and jobs rarely give work time accommodations for people with physical disabilities (Wendell, 103). Physical handicapped people are very stereotyped and stigmatized intersectionally because society views them as helplessness and dependent (Wendell, 105).

When charities often try to help disabled people through televised or highly public events to aid disabled people, they usually portray that these people are unable to help themselves. In turn, this further enforces the idea that disabled people rely on the aid of others and other them to the point where they aren’t even considered equal people. (“Struggle for Freedom” pg. 471, Willie V. Bryan)

There are many stereotypes regarding those with intellectual disabilities. This may be because these individuals range in cognitive ability, receptive and expressive language, and physical need. While it may be assumed that those with disabilities are not able to process the world around them, they are not immune to mental health disorders and the, sometimes tragic, events that take place throughout a lifetime. Someone without an intellectual disability may find solace in a friend, partner, or family member. If the event is impactful enough, they may even turn to a mental health professional that is trained to help those going through a tough time. Unfortunately, individuals with disabilities do not always have that same network of support.

    A person with a disability, or handicap, can be defined as someone with a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial or long-term adverse affect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities (Employment 2). Handicap workers face many challenges in the work place that the average person overlooks. Also, many special arrangements and alterations have been made to the workplace for people with handicaps. Accessibility, transportation, workload, and salary are just some of the many issues that must be considered with the prospect of employing the handicap.

It doesn’t matter what you look like on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that counts, but our society today lacks to understand that. In today’s time different is not accepted, people that are different are discriminated, looked down upon and usually picked on. People with disabilities are seen as different creatures by most people, the disabled don’t choose to be the way they are, but still our society alienates them. There are different types of disabilities, some type of disabilities are; mental disability, physical disability, learning disability and socializing disability. These disabilities are seen as weakness in our society that hence contribute to the stereotype that leads to the discrimination against the disabled.

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.