Disability Acceptance and Values

One of the facts Disability Writer will always present is the forms of disabilities people experience are merely a part of who we are as a person. As people with disabilities we recognize this basic fact; nondisabled persons in society sometimes don’t. We do not define ourselves by the forms of disabilities we have. Instead, we recognize that we are in no way responsible for these disabilities, taking responsibility for our own success and happiness. The disabilities we experience are just an aspect of who we are as people.

When people with disabilities in society state they are experiencing, ‘stigma,’ in relation to the forms of disabilities they have, what exactly do they mean? For some nondisabled persons in society, this may be a confusing statement that is misunderstood, or incompletely understood. For this reason, I have included some definitions of the term, ‘Stigma.’

Stigma

• a mark of disgrace or infamy; a stain or reproach, as on one's reputation.

Medicine/Medical

• a mental or physical mark that is characteristic of a defect or disease: the stigmata of leprosy.
• a place or point on the skin that bleeds during certain mental states, as in hysteria.

Stigmata

• marks resembling the wounds of the crucified body of Christ, said to be supernaturally impressed on the bodies of certain persons, esp. nuns, tertiaries, and monastics.

When a person who experiences a form of disability states to you they have been stigmatized or are experiencing stigma in relation to the disability they have, what they are telling you is others in society are presenting them with barriers to inclusion through negative attitudes using one of the definitions above. For example, I have actually had medical personnel in a hospital look upon me after I experienced a series of gran mal seizures and say to me, ‘You have been touched by God.’ I have found myself facing other people who shied away from me as if they could somehow, ‘catch,’ epilepsy; they were frightened.

In another example, various nondisabled persons in society, upon discovering that I have PTSD, have presented me with a perspective of, ‘crazy old veteran.’ At the time of this writing I am about to turn forty-six years old; I have been presented with this form of stigma as early as age twenty-five. Osteoarthritis at my current age finds me facing forms of stigma that are new to me, such as people attempting to help me as I get out of chairs, unrequested, with a look of pity on their faces. Millions of people with disabilities across the planet have experienced similar forms of stigma on a regular basis.

American society in particular has taken on a medical model of disability with an iron grip. Because of this, opportunities for people who experience forms of disabilities in this nation to live full, productive, and satisfying lives are modest at best. The unemployment rate for people with disabilities continues to soar, for example. The emphasis, on the parts of nondisabled members of society, has been on the examination of personal and physical characteristics which could be enhanced or altered to improve the levels of acceptance of people with disabilities in society. American society in general has viewed disability as a personal struggle, one where medical and psychological supports are compulsory.

People with disabilities in America have been judged by our appearance; we have been referred to by our physiques. The medical model of disability consistently presents people with disabilities through references to our muscular development, proportions, and appearance. The medical model de-emphasizes our abilities and appearance. The same medical model of disability places similar restrictions on people who experience forms of neurological and psychological disabilities. Entire systems, both governmental and private, are functioning with the sole purpose of ensuring that an individual does not spread their handicap beyond actual physical impairment, or to others – something referred to as, ‘containment.’

There are no equivalent systems in place which focus on the abilities of people who experience forms of disabilities in America. The United States has presented people who have forms of disabilities with the Americans with Disabilities Act; yet there are no equal rights for us. America has signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, with the same result. Poverty, lack of adequate health care, education, housing, accessibility, and medical personnel with the ability to truly understand and interact with people who experience forms of disabilities are all major issues in America in relation to people with disabilities.

A crucial change needs to take place in this nation, one involving our society’s Scope of Values. Perhaps the most important part of the definition of, ‘Scope of Values,' is:

• Scope of Values - whereby a person is able to see values other than those that conflict with having a disability.

In other words, people in society must change their perspectives in relation to those who experience forms of disabilities. Those who do not experience a form of disability in American society must learn to view a person who does have a form of disability, not through the lens of viewing their disability first, but as a person and their abilities first. People First; not disability – the largest part of disability in America comes from the stigmatizing pre-conceptions and demeanors of others.

The one thing I would tell the health care worker who suggested I had been touched by God is that the Lord gives everyone a set of abilities, whether we experience a form of disability as well or not. The people who shied away from me because I have epilepsy are people I would tell, “Everyone in America needs health care.” The people who have suggested that I am, ‘a crazy old veteran,’ as early as age twenty-five are people I would say, “I have created this website,” to. I would also point out that there are a great number of Veterans in America who are Entrepreneurs.  There are millions of people with disabilities across the planet that have an incredible range of abilities as well. The time is here; society must focus on our abilities and accept people with disabilities in every part of society.