When researching disabilities and reading multiple different sources, it is extremely common to find many of the same themes throughout all of the sources. In Don’t Call Me Inspirational by Harylin Rousso, Rousso talks a lot about childhood experiences and parental perspectives, embodiment, the social model and ableism. All of these themes are also major topics in Berger’s Introducing Disability Studies and in Neilson’s A Disability History of the United States. Though a child’s perception is shaped by an innumerable amount of factors and circumstances, few are as significant as the insight provided by their parents. For children with disabilities, their parents’ role often extends beyond the assumed responsibilities to include acting as …show more content…
the primary arbiter of information concerning their disability. Depending on varying factors such as the specific diagnosis, the severity of the disability, the family’s financial situation, and their preexisting notions of disability itself, parental reactions can range from unquestioned support and dedication to self-blame and feelings of injustice (Berger, 86-89). Though the majority of parents are able to find acceptance and support their child in whatever way they can, the best solution in the minds of parents does not always correlate with the wants or preferences of their offspring (Berger, 89-90). Many parents appear reluctant to discuss the disability with their child, citing empty platitudes concerning God’s plan or being special when questioned about the cause (Berger, 93-99). Efforts to generate a façade of “normality” on the part of both parents and medical professionals often ignore the desires of their child or patient and can result in uncomfortable and potentially damaging situations, such as encouraging the use of prosthetics when other means of transportation allow for much greater mobility (Berger, 95-98). Beyond parental avoidance about the topic, many children describe frequent hospitalization and extensive bullying from peers as the largest burdens; societal reactions and a lack accessibility were considered far more disabling than the disability itself (Berger, 93-99). Developing cerebral palsy due to the lateness of her mother’s physician and the incompetence of the nurses, disability activist Harilyn Rousso’s autobiography “Don’t Call Me Inspirational” encompasses many of the aforementioned childhood experiences.
Her struggle to conceal her disability from herself and others was heavily influenced by her mother’s determination to make her appear “normal” as possible during her childhood. From hiding Harilyn’s perpetually moving right hand from the eyes of company to encouraging her to normalize her gait by walking in front of a mirror, Eve Rousso’s inability to accept the distinguishing features of daughter’s disability inadvertently provided the message that having cerebral palsy was something to be ashamed of. Though performed with the admirable intention of lessening stigmatization and instilling independence, Eve’s avoidance of the subject increased its amount of discomfort and confusion while simultaneously hindering Harilyn’s ability to accept herself as a person with a disability. Rather than identifying as a person with a disability, Harilyn often hid her diagnoses from friends and classmates and avoided contact with others who bore the label. Recognizing the differences between herself and others was an incredibly difficult aspect of her childhood, however, Harilyn’s feelings of inferiority coupled with a lack of understanding concerning her own disorder made this complicated time period incredibly challenging and set the stage for an even more difficult
future. A parent’s role in a child’s life is significant and includes a lot of responsibilities, however, disability has a role and an impact on an individual’s life as well. A disability of any nature has a significant impact on the individual’s life. Some tasks and daily necessities will need to be modified or perhaps performed at a slower pace. The altering of such things can influence the perspective of the person with the disability. Their re-invented routine can become as much a part of themselves as their hair or eye color, especially when being constantly reminded of the ways that their methods vary from others. The difference becomes an identity. Berger explains this happening well with examples from people with auditory disabilities. He notes the capitalization of the word “Deaf,” a measure stressing the identity of a subculture using sign language for the purpose of communication and recognizing sign language as a language as distinct and mature as English, Spanish, or French. Berger also makes mention of bastions of the use of sign language. Martha’s Vineyard, a location also discussed in class, had a population with an inordinately high proportion of citizens with hearing impairments. Out of necessity, nearly every resident, with or without a hearing disability, knew and used sign language. There are all deaf schools where teachers and students alike use sign language to communicate. Many people with hearing impairments also refuse cochlear implants, which to some greater or lesser degree would restore a portion of their hearing. These medical advances are often looked down on because the disability and its trappings have become inseparable from the individual.
In her essay “On Being a Cripple,” Mairs describes her path of acceptance of her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis by declaring that she is a “cripple” in alternative to the more broadly acceptable terms: disabled or handicapped. Her essay is written with humor, satire, an open heart, and open eyes. Mair’s purpose is to describe her acceptances of her condition by using rhetorical elements and appeals, such as ethos and pathos, in order to allure her audience.
All these and more evidences used in the book support Peterson’s thesis and purpose—all of them discuss how having a disability made Peterson and others in her situation a part of the “other”. Her personal experience on media and
She told her readers that she has a muscle-wasting disease and she could only move three fingers on her right hand. She wrote that the reactions she got from most people were “Decidedly negative” (Johnson p.98) She wrote that she would hear thing such as “I admire you for being out; most people would give up.” And “You don’t let the pain hold you back do you?” (Johnson p.98) There is often talk about how popular culture teaches people to both see and not see the people with disabilities. Comments such as these are an example of such blindness. When a child sees a disabled person a parent’s first reaction would be to tell them not to stare. We teach children that it is impolite to be curious about people who live life differently than others. We carry the “its-not-polite-to-stare” idea into adult hood therefore when we come across a disabled we try not to make eye contact not as if we are being rude but because we are taught that it would offend them. All curiosity and attempts to understand are shut down at a young age for fear of offending someone. Therefore, any attempt to encourage is met with a deep misunderstanding of how the life of someone with disabilities truly works. Just because a person has a disability does not mean they are incapable of enjoying
What comes into one’s mind when they are asked to consider physical disabilities? Pity and embarrassment, or hope and encouragement? Perhaps a mix between the two contrasting emotions? The average, able-bodied person must have a different perspective than a handicapped person, on the quality of life of a physically disabled person. Nancy Mairs, Andre Dubus, and Harriet McBryde Johnson are three authors who shared their experiences as physically handicapped adults. Although the three authors wrote different pieces, all three essays demonstrate the frustrations, struggles, contemplations, and triumphs from a disabled person’s point of view and are aimed at a reader with no physical disability.
In the book, The Short Bus, Jonathan Mooney’s thesis is that there is more to people than their disabilities, it is not restricting nor is it shameful but infact it is beautiful in its own way. With a plan to travel the United States, Mooney decides to travel in a Short bus with intentions of collecting experiences from people who have overcome--or not overcome--being labeled disabled or abnormal. In this Mooney reinvents this concept that normal people suck; that a simple small message of “you’re not normal” could have a destructive and deteriorating effect. With an idea of what disabilities are, Mooney’s trip gives light to disabilities even he was not prepared to face, that he feared.
“I am a Cripple,” when people typically hear these words they tend to feel bad for that person, but that is exactly what Mair does not want. She prefers that people treat her the same as they would if she did not have the disease. Throughout the essay, Mair discuses her disease openly. She uses an optimistic tone, so that the reader will not recoil with sadness when they hear her discuss the disease and how it affects her life. In Nancy Mair’s essay “On Being A Cripple,” Mair uses her personal stories, diction, and syntactical structures to create an optimistic tone throughout the essay, so that the audience can better connect story.
As mentioned previously, the chances of becoming disabled over one’s lifetime are high, yet disabled people remain stigmatized, ostracized, and often stared upon. Assistant Professor of English at Western Illinois University, Mark Mossman shares his personal experience as a kidney transplant patient and single-leg amputee through a written narrative which he hopes will “constitute the groundwork through which disabled persons attempt to make themselves, to claim personhood or humanity” while simultaneously exploiting the “palpable tension that surrounds the visibly disabled body” (646). While he identifies the need for those with limitations to “make themselves” or “claim personhood or humanity,” Siebers describes their desires in greater detail. He suggests people with
Unfortunately, a lot of parents may have a difficult time accepting their child, and coping with their needs and the responsibilities. From the book “The Elephant in the Playroom,” some families dealt with depression and physical and mental deterioration of their health. These struggles were shown in the story by Laura Cichoracki. Laura’s son’s name was Patrick. Patrick was a 6-years-old boy with autism. “I wasn’t eating right, I wasn’t showering regularly, I wasn’t sleeping well” (Brodey, p. 64). I also read the story told by Susan Marrash-Minnerly, which highlighted emotions that parents face. Susan also shed light on how wonderful children with special needs can be to a family, such as her ten-year-old third grader who had autism. Susan talked about how it was normal to feel angry at times, especially with the ups and downs a child’s disability may come with. “When I look back, I want to tell other parents that a child’s future is worth grieving over – but it’s not the end of the world” (Brodey, p. 75). After reading these stories, it became apparent to me that families who are raising kids with special needs, need support, kindness, and available resources. “I was fortunate to be surrounded by other moms who understood my pain…who could be supportive and emphatic.” (Brodey, p. 67). Overall, educators can use this kind of information that was shared in “The Elephant in the Playroom” about family systems and risk/resiliency by creating lines of open communication between families. This is to connect parents together that share similar struggles. By creating open communication is can allows for the teacher and parents to be on the same page when it comes to the issues affecting special needs students and
As human beings, we like to make sure never to offend or judge anyone. We even have sayings like “never judge a book by its cover”. A metaphor that is often said whenever trying not to judge someone based on their outward appearance; however, it is not often that people practice what they preach. We judge people based on external factors within seconds. Even though we know what people see on the outside is not a defining factor or who we are as people. Nancy Mairs, author of On Being a Cripple, has to live through this every day. She knows this truth very well, and lives proudly with the fact that as she is disabled. Mairs is admirable for choosing to call herself a “cripple” and not be ashamed of it. Though the word is derogatory and a word that is avoided by society, Mairs identifies herself as a cripple because that is what she is. In explaining her disability, she says, “I haven’t always been crippled, ... to be whole of limb is ... infinitely more pleasant and useful. and if that knowledge leaves me open to bitterness … the physical soundness I once enjoyed is well worth the occasional stab of regret” (Mairs 186). What really
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
As a parent, learning that your child has developmental disabilities can be a life-altering moment in time and can cause a devastating chain reaction of events. These events have the potential to change family priorities and structure, hurt relationships, deplete financial savings and stability, and emotionally drain everyone intimately involved with you and your child. How do you find human services programs, agencies, or advocates, whose primary job is to help you provide everything your child needs? It certainly can be an overwhelming barrier, but it's the first step in giving you, your child, and your family a plan of action, goals, success, good mental health, and bringing everyone back together. What are Developmental Disabilities?
Simi Linton’s memoir, My Body Politic, illustrates her journey as a young vibrant woman whose life altering tragedy left her in an unknown state, of which she needed to grow into a whole new body. As a 23 year old in 1971, Linton was a vivacious and passionate individual. Her memoir shares the transitions and experiences she faced, while offering us a deeper understanding of the disability culture and associated politics. Linton shows us how she “absorbed disability” and learned how to identify herself as someone who now had a foreign body to learn and a new life to adjust.
Routledge: New York : New York, 2001. Shakespeare, T (2013) “The Social Model of Disability” in The Disability Studies Reader Ed Davis, L D. Routledge: New York.
Raising a child with a disability may have some difficulties and challenges but it will have a lot of rewards; just as having a normal child. A parent want their child to live a normal fulfilling life as any other normal child. This life style will take extra patience, time and adaptive equipment and a special person to do it. When accepting that your child has a disability it is good to get all the literature on that type of disability. This will help you understand your child’s disability. A parent involvement is needed to find support groups, so they can get some insight on things someone from the support group has done to get certain things accomplished.
This article examines how cross-cultural factors influence the view point towards children and adults with disabilities. It explains why social attitude in determining personal, social, educational, and psychological needs of persons with disabilities. The article looks at the efforts that United Nations agency, governments and national international disability organizations to eliminate prejudices. The way that those that had a disability in the past helped to shape the way that they were treated throughout history and made a cause for having the American Disability Act.