1. According to Peter Freund, there are two ways of using the term disability. It can be related to a person’s cultural category as well as their social or bio-medical status. When it comes disability theory, there is a second way in which the term is used, which relates to the inability to engage in a specific activity and is reconstructed by a socio-cultural context into a disability. Like most labels, there are socio-political consequences that come from being labelled, as a person with a disability, such as job discrimination and being eligible for special accommodations, like parking spaces. On the other hand, Freund defines an impairment with a negative connotation and believes that it is restricted mostly by its bio-medical standpoint. Which excludes differences within the bodies that are not classified as impairments but still seen as disabling in certain contexts e.g. being too tall or short. However, Freund does only focus on impairments but physical and mental differences and their connection to socio-cultural arrangements. In other words, the main difference between impairments and disability …show more content…
According to Solomon, there is a clear distinction between deaf and Deaf. He argues that deaf has a pathological term, whereas as Deaf relates to culture. He then states that this difference is similar to that of a gay person and a homosexual. I find this distinction to be important because according to Solomon being deaf, like being gay, is biological, whereas being identified as Deaf, like homosexual, is more of a label given to them by society. Furthermore, Solomon argues that a good number of deaf people would prefer to remain that way as opposed to getting a treatment. He believes that they vehemently dislike the idea of treating deafness as pathological, and that they would prefer to be accommodated and for deafness to be seen as a disability. However, Solomon believes that above all they would want deafness to be celebrated and seen as part of
I learned a lot about Deaf people, ASL, and/or Deaf Culture after reading this book. Deaf people are normal just like anybody else and they should not be treated any differently. Some people treat Deafness as a disease that needs to be cured, but it's not. If a parent comes to learn that their child is deaf they react very crazily and act like their child is dying and that deafness is some fatal disease. Deaf people should be treated just like anyone else and no differently. They are not disabled and can do great things in this world.
What I found most interesting about Jarashow’s presentation were the two opposing views: Deaf culture versus medical professionals. Within the Deaf culture, they want to preserve their language and identity. The Deaf community wants to flourish and grow and do not view being deaf as a disability or being wrong. Jarashow stated that the medical field labels Deaf people as having a handicap or being disabled because they cannot hear. Those who are Deaf feel as though medical professionals are trying to eliminate them and relate it to eugenics. It is perceived that those in that field are trying to fix those who are Deaf and eliminate them by making them conform to a hearing world. Those within the Deaf community seem to be unhappy with devices such
In support of Gallaudet University's, “Deaf President Now!” protest, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson once said “The problem is not that the deaf do not hear. The problem is that the hearing world does not listen.” (Lee) This concept been seen throughout Deaf history; Today it is especially noticeable now that technology has been developed to restore some hearing to many who are deaf. However these seemingly miraculous devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants (CI) are a gilding for the real problem. CI’s in particular are thought to be a miracle cure for deafness, this misconception causes a great friction between Deaf and hearing culture. Deaf people should not be expected to get CI’s to “cure” their deafness for three primary reasons: CI’s promise more than they can deliver, they are an affront to Deaf culture, and ASL is a more effective way to insure development.
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
While acknowledging the diverse influences of capitalism, colonialism, urbanization, and industrialization on the perceptions and constructions of intellectual disability, this book also adds a new and significant dimension by including analysis of social and cultural notions of identity, personhood and selfhood.
The medical field is notorious for providing cures to deafness, such as cochlear implants, which then leads people to believe that it is something that must be fixed and therefore labels deafness as a disability. While Tina Gianoulis was comparing the similarities between Queer and Deaf experiences in her article mentioned earlier she declares that, “most painfully, both groups have traditionally been forced to try to become “normal”. Well-meaning parents, determined that their children not be labeled “different”, have sent thousands of deaf children to speech pathologists and mainstream schools where they spend their youth feeling lonely, bewildered, and deficient.” which is the negative effect that the deafness should be cured thought has on those that actually experience hearing
Many people in the hearing world have no idea that there is such thing as a Deaf world, due to this issue Deaf people are often labeled and seen as less. Some are even forced to take oral classes in order to improve their speech even though they can’t hear a word. The articles, The Real Meaning of Hearing Impaired, The Attitude of the Adult Deaf Towards Pure Oralism, and The Deaf Adult’s Point of View explain Deaf people’s perspective on oralism and what its like for Deaf people to go through this process. These articles also give hearing people an example of what its like to be labeled and not considered good or smart enough.
Deaf and hearing impaired individuals are know longer an out cast group. They now have there own deaf community. Deaf individuals do not consider themselves having an impairment, handicap, or any type of disability. They believe that through the use of sign language, other communication skills, and technology that there deafness is the way they are supposed to be. Many people who have perfect hearing can not understand deaf people and why they embrace there deafness instead of trying to receive hearing and get rid of there handicap. However not all deaf people have th...
The deaf community does not see their hearing impairment as a disability but as a culture which includes a history of discrimination, racial prejudice, and segregation. According to an online transcript,“Through Deaf Eyes” (Weta and Florentine films/Hott productions Inc., 2007) there are thirty-five million Americans that are hard of hearing. Out of the thirty-five million an estimated 300,000 people are completely deaf. There are ninety percent of deaf people who have hearing parents (Halpern, C., 1996). Also, most deaf parents have hearing children. With this being the exemplification, deaf people communicate on a more intimate and significant level with hearing people all their lives. “Deaf people can be found in every ethnic group, every region, and every economic class” (Weta and Florentine films/Hott productions Inc., 2007). The deaf culture and hard of hearing have plenty of arguments and divisions with living in a hearing world without sound however, that absence will be a starting point of an identity within their culture as well as the hearing culture (Weta and Florentine films/Hott productions Inc., 2007).
The researcher found that the “effects of the early acquisition of ASL include an increased role for the right hemisphere and for parietal cortex and this occurs in both hearing and deaf” (“Neural Systems Mediating American Sign Language: Effects of Sensory Experience and Age of Acquisition.”) individuals, and this serves for a better cognitive performance. As Sam Berdy, who is also Deaf, said, “There are two worlds: the deaf world and the hearing world. There are some people in the deaf community that feel that hearing people look down on us” (“Deaf Quotes.”). With this quote, the researcher found a term that supported the above information; which is ‘audism’. Audism is “the notion that one is superior based on one's ability to hear” and “the belief that life without hearing is futile and miserable, that hearing loss is a tragedy and "the scourge of mankind," and that deaf people should struggle to be as much like hearing people as possible” (“Audism.”). The researcher’s founded term fit the study, helped prove that there are negative stigmas aimed at Deaf culture, and showed the researcher that education about Deaf culture and its language could delete terms like audism, deaf-and-dumb, and many
The so called “curing” of deafness is seen by the Deaf Community as a way of
(Baker- Shenk & Kyle) Despite many social problems and unnecessary prejudices, deaf people dot consider themselves as having a disability. Having the lack of hearing is not about just being Deaf, but accepting that challenge and being all you can be with yourself, and going through life the strong individual you are. The real issue is if the Deaf want to stay Deaf or rise above and get the surgery for the hearing aid, or cochlear implant. Deafness does not have to mean you are disabled. The approaches on a Deaf person’s life are just as significant as a hearing persons (Vicars).
This essay sets out to explain how and why disability has been constructed as a medical problem; additionally, the way in which the medical model has influenced policies and practices for disabled people will be evidenced. According to Brisenden (1986) the term ‘disabled’ is used collectively to describe individuals who do not function the same as people who are classified as 'normal’. However, the Equality Act 2010 defines disability as having a ‘physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities’ (Gov.uk, 2015). Using a range of sources, this essay will succinctly highlight issues surrounding disability during the early twentieth century, before giving a definition
This statement from the Green Party Manifesto claims that “Disability is a social phenomenon” and “While many individuals have physical or sensory impairments or learning difficulties or are living with mental health problems, it is the way society responds to these which creates disability” (2010). The aim of this paper is to consider the strength of this view. With the help of modern and contemporary sociological theory surrounding disability and health, it will look at both the medical and social models of disability with the aim to conclude whether disability is a problem that needs to be addressed by medical professionals alone or by society as a whole. The medical model defines disability as “any restriction or lack of ability (resulting from an impairment of an individual) to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being, for example, to climb stairs or walk to the shops (WHO 1981).... ...
French, S. & Swain, J. 2008. Understanding Disability: A Guide for Health Professionals. Philadelphia: Churchilll Livingstone Elsevier: 4