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Eassy on sterotypes about disability into media
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Disabilities affect people globally. Depending on which country you are from, how you are treated and taken care of can change drastically. Those living in more advanced countries are more likely to have better care. For the purpose of this paper, I will be researching and comparing how people with disabilities are viewed and assisted between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Interest in Topic
For this “Adaptive Technology” class I had the option to choose one out of the eleven countries featured at Epcot of Disney World. I chose the United Kingdom for more personal reasons. First off, I have traveled to the United Kingdom and wanted to compare what the theme park features for its “World Showcase” to what the actual country is like. Secondly, I have seriously considered moving to the United Kingdom and since I plan on working with those with special needs, I figured that the research needed for this paper would give me a better insight to the country and its view on those with disabilities.
Personal Interview
To prepare for this paper I did a little bit research into the topic, but only enough to create an outline. I already knew I would have to interview someone from the United Kingdom in order to have a better personal opinion. During this class I had the opportunity to visit Disney World in Orlando, Florida. While at Epcot I had a chance to talk to someone who was actually from the United Kingdom.
The person I got the chance to interview was a woman named Rachel. I started my interview with her by asking if she knew anybody personally with a disability. It was then that I found out she was actually blind in her left eye. I would have most likely never noticed if she did not point it out, but if you paid clo...
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...ld both learn from each in terms of helping those with disabilities. Both the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Disability Discrimination Act could be improved upon.
Works Cited
(2006). Compensation Paid in Landmark DDA Case. Occupational Safety & Health Journal, Vol. 36 (Issue 8). Retrieved from http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/22067087/compens ation-paid-landmark-dda-case
(2009). AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990, AS AMENDED 2008): ADA AMENDMENTS ACT CHANGES TO THE PUBLIC LA. Retrieved from https://www.law.georgetown.edu/archiveada/documents/ADAAs AmendedFINAL_10172008.pdf
(2009). S. 3406 (110th): ADA Amendments Act of 2008. Retrieved from https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/s3406/text
(2014). The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). Retrieved from http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/the-disability-discrimination- act-dda
The two essays “On Being a Cripple” by Nancy Mairs and “A Plague of Tics” by David Sedaris are excellent pieces of work that share many similarities. This paper would reflect on these similarities particularly in terms of the author, message and the targeted audience. On an everyday basis, people view those with disabilities in a different light and make them conscious at every step. This may be done without a conscious realisation but then it is probably human nature to observe and notice things that deviate from the normal in a society. In a way people are conditioned to look negatively at those individuals who are different in the conventional
Disability is a ‘complex issue’ (Alperstein, M., Atkins, S., Bately, K., Coetzee, D., Duncan, M., Ferguson, G., Geiger, M. Hewett, G., et al.., 2009: 239) which affects a large percentage of the world’s population. Due to it being complex, one can say that disability depends on one’s perspective (Alperstein et al., 2009: 239). In this essay, I will draw on Dylan Alcott’s disability and use his story to further explain the four models of disability being The Traditional Model, The Medical Model, The Social Model and The Integrated Model of Disability. Through this, I will reflect on my thoughts and feelings in response to Dylan’s story as well as to draw on this task and my new found knowledge of disability in aiding me to become
Approximately twenty years ago there weren’t many improvements made to assist disabled people in the workforce. Ableism was recognized but not much was done. But that has changed significantly. People are much more aware of it and are trying to fix the mistakes of the past to create a better future. One major effect ableism has is that Canadians with disabilities are very likely to live in poverty. 56% of disabled people are unemployed (Council of Canadians with Disabilities , n.d.). Another effect of Ableism is that disabled Canadians are more susceptible to violence and abuse, and are even turning to suicide (Council of Canadians with Disabilities , n.d.). This topic effects cross culture communication because people with disabilities feel that they have only others (with similar disabilities) so turn to for guiding, comfort, and strength. They experience all the negativity towards them for something that they cannot control. One way we can change this is to get involved with the community is to volunteer our time and skills to the organizations who employ disabled people, or institutions that are dedicated to taking care of
Historically, we have been taught that people with disabilities are different and do not belong among us, because they are incompetent, cannot contribute to society or that they are dangerous. We’re still living with the legacy of people with disabilities being segregated, made invisible, and devalued. The messages about people with disabilities need to be changed. There needs to be more integration of people with disabilities into our culture to balance out the message. Because of our history of abandonment and initialization, fear and stigma impact our choices more than they would if acceptance, community integration, and resources were a bigger part of our history.
If everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedom that is set forth in the Declaration, disabled people should not be robbed of their rights. However, they are still devalued from conducting common tasks which puts them at the bottom of the priority list as an employee and even so as a friend. In search to solve this problem, according to “The Disabled” by Bender, D. on July 26, 1990, President G...
Shakespeare, T. (1993) Disabled people's self-organisation: a new social movement?, Disability, Handicap & Society, 8, pp. 249-264 .
The social model defines disability as a social construct that creates unwanted barriers for individuals, and a public concern, (Smart & Smart, 2006). Examples of these barriers include “inaccessible education systems, working environments, inadequate disability benefits, discriminatory health and social support services, inaccessible transport, houses and public buildings and amenities, and the devaluing of disabled people through negative images in the media, (Thomas, 2007, p. 13). Swain, et al (1993), states that “disability is not a condition of the individual. The experiences of disabled people are of social restrictions in the world around them, not being a person with a ‘disabling condition,’” (as cited by Lutz & Bowers, 2003).
Baldwin, Marjorie, and William G. Johnson. 1994. “Labor Market Discrimination against Men with Disabilities.” The Journal of Human Resources 29(1): 1–19.
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_270487.pdf [Accessed 28/01/14]. Scotch, R (1989) From Good Will to Civil Rights: Transforming federal disability policy. Temple University Press: Philadelphia, PA. Shakespeare, T (2006) Disability: Rights and Wrongs.
Because of the ambiguity of the definition, there is a requirement to have the social model to help to provide the answers. As the social model illustrates how the social institutions, labels, and stereotypes impact the perceived abilities of a disabled person, it is shown that the definitions of what is “normal”, “good”, and “functional” all come from the current society in which the person lives. Additionally, as culture and these definitions change with time and new ideologies and technological advances, what defines a disabled person will also change with time. This is also true across cultures as there may be different requirements to be considered “functional” or in good health in other cultures. For instance, a man unable to walk may not be as hindered in his freedom of movement if he is only required to stay in a small local area, such as a village, in comparison to a large city. However, it is also important to point out that the social model requires the medical model as well because the social model fails to focus on the individual at a more micro level. A person may see others in a similar circumstance and react in a different
The World Health Organisation, WHO, (1980) defines disability in the medical model as a physical or mental impairment that restricts participation in an activity that a ‘normal’ human being would partake, due to a lack of ability to perform the task . Michigan Disability Rights Coalition (n.d.) states that the medical model emphasizes that there is a problem regarding the abilities of the individual. They argue that the condition of the disabled persons is solely ‘medical’ and as a result the focus is to cure and provide treatment to disabled people (Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, 2014). In the medical model, issues of disability are dealt with according to defined government structures and policies and are seen as a separate issue from ordinary communal concerns (Emmet, 2005: 69). According to Enabling Teachers and Trainers to Improve the Accessibility of Adult Education (2008) people with disabilities largely disa...
Disability is defined as a long term condition that restricts an individual’s daily activities (Government of Western Australia Department of Communities, n.d.). A disability can be identified in numerous types which are physical, sensory neurological and psychiatric. Due to the assistance with appropriate aids and services, the restrictions experienced by individuals with a disability may be overcome. However, the ways society perceives disability may have a significant impact on individuals living with it and also families around them. Therefore, the aim of this essay is to reflect on the social construction of disability through examining the social model of disability and how it may impact on the lives of people living with disability.
In Closing, there is no clear demarcation between society’s perception of disability and the individual’s adjustment to his/her disability. Sadly, out of all the groups in today’s society PWD have experienced a high level of prejudice and discrimination. Although PWD have had a hard time overcoming obstacles of prejudice and discrimination assistive technology, environmental control devices etc has made life easier to live with a disability.
French, S. & Swain, J. 2008. Understanding Disability: A Guide for Health Professionals. Philadelphia: Churchilll Livingstone Elsevier: 4
People with disabilities often face societal barriers and disability evokes negative perceptions and discrimination in society. As a result of the stigma associated with disability, persons with disabilities are generally excluded from education, employment, and community life, which deprives them of opportunities essential to their social development, health and well-being (Stefan). It is such barriers and discrimination that actually set people apart from society, in many cases making them a burden to the community. The ideas and concepts of equality and full participation for persons with disabilities have been developed very far on paper, but not in reality (Wallace). The government can make numerous laws against discrimination, but this does not change the way that people with disabilities are judged in society.