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People with Disabilities and Social Integration
American society has been considering the idea of integrating people with disabilities with mainstream America for many years now. I am a person with disabilities and I have interacted with others who have forms of disabilities as well. One of the largest issues we have with American society is this nation's perception that we are somehow separate as citizens.
When I read articles such as the ones I am about to mention, I sigh with frustration and ask myself for the umpteenth time how long America is going to fiddle with the prospect of integration before it actually does it. The hesitation this nation is experiencing in relation to the full integration of citizens with disabilities is caused by some different factors, all of which can be alleviated. Carrie Barrepski, a native of Livonia, Michigan, approaches people with disabilities and integration in American society through an article titled, 'Social integration key for all.'
The article Carrie has written presents some highly worthwhile points. She states:
“Social integration is a concept where devalued members of society are integrated into their community, where identities and friendships are formed. There are three elements to integration: creating valued roles, participating in meaningful activities and developing long-lasting relationships. Being integrated into his or her community gives a person with disabilities a sense of purpose and identity. It also improves their self-esteem and quality of life.”
People with disabilities in America are already working in an incredible variety of jobs. We are family members, friends, and participate in nearly everything imaginable. I suggest that Carrie's statement of placement of value in relation to the roles we participate in, as well as opportunity for people with disabilities to participate in appropriate numbers, are key to the integration of our population in American society. Carrie is also very correct to state that the opportunity to participate in meaningful activities at levels reflective of our population levels in this nation must exist. The perceptions of nondisabled members of society in this nation must change so the long-lasting relationships she mentions have the opportunity to develop and flourish.
Many times, when people with disabilities manage to find work in America despite the unacceptably high unemployment rate among us in this nation, we are still perceived as being somehow, 'less-than,' by nondisabled persons in society. The same is often true where personal relationships are concerned between people with disabilities and nondisabled members of society. A very large reason for this is a lack of a social model of disability in America. Yet another reason behind this perspective among nondisabled Americans has to do with a lack of recognition in schools, colleges, and universities of disability as a culture, complete with presentation of the history of people with disabilities in America.
The self-esteem and quality of life Carrie mentions are issues I find to be of utmost importance where people with disabilities in America are concerned. She is far from the only person who is aware of this immense issue among America's largest minority population. The fact that this issue exists speaks of oppression, something this nation of, 'Freedom and Justice for All,' is supposed to abhor.
Carrie's article also states, “People with disabilities often experience feelings of isolation, loneliness and feel disconnected from society. Many are also prone to low self-esteem and depression.” America has traditionally presented citizens with disabilities through the lenses of the medical, charity, and pity models of disability. When your own nation views you from these perspectives, people who are not a part of disability culture see those of us who are as diagnosable – subjects; people who need to be given things out of charitable intent and pitied. How would this make you feel? Instead, people with disabilities must be viewed as fellow citizens.
In a statement identifying different elements of society Carrie says, “The first one is community, where we have psychological and support attachments. We feel secure and rooted while creating our identity. Another one is geography - our town and neighborhood. The third is social networks, the people in our lives. The last is association, meaning the activities in which we participate.”
As people with disabilities, we have found ourselves creating our own sense of community in lieu of identifying with the communities of which we are a part in many instances. While we have done this, it does not by any means indicate that we have failed to participate in these same communities of which we are a part. People with disabilities greatly desire increased participation in our communities.
Like all Americans, we very much identify with the geography we find ourselves located in. We do indeed identify with our towns and neighborhoods. We have as much pride in our hometowns as every other person. When asked where we are from, we will most certainly tell you, whether we tell you through spoken means, ASL, or Braille.
Social networks are often a lifeline for people with disabilities. The family members and friends in our lives are important to us, just as they are for nondisabled persons. The churches we belong to; the clubs we participate in, as well as other forms of social networks, are all important elements in our lives.
People with disabilities are among the most loyal and hardworking people to be found, yet employers are still learning this fact. We desire to participate; we desire to be involved. We want to take part in activities, and we do. The opportunity for us to do so at equivalent and equal levels must exist. We must receive the same recognition and respect other citizens in America do for their participation in activities, and we deserve it.
Carrie also states that American society has work left to do in regards to the removal of stigmas that have been wrongly attached to disabilities, as well as the promotion of disability awareness. She mentions that the disability a person experiences is not the entirety of who a person with a disabilities is, and I agree completely. For example; I am a person with epilepsy, not an, 'epileptic.' Carrie is also so very correct when she makes the following statement:
“People with disabilities have the same right as every one else to live independently in society.”
I suggest that the time is well past due for American schools, colleges, and universities to acknowledge Disability as a Culture, and begin teaching Disability Studies and History. I also suggest that it is time for America to cease debate over the issue of integrating People with Disabilities and actually Do It. The Americans with Disabilities Act is now twenty years old, and it still does not present the population of people with disabilities in America with equal rights. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been signed by the administration in office, yet many of the principles it lays out are not being followed. The time for Americans with Disabilities to experience the same and equal rights as our fellow citizens in this nation is Right Now.
The very best way for this nation to integrate People with Disabilities is to actually integrate us. Cease the discussions of integration. Provision of a comprehensive Equal Rights legislation; passed and presented to America, will find the movement towards integration on its way.