Name: Ahmad Abdullah
Course: Gen S420: Disability & Society
ALTERNATE DISABILITY CULTURE PLUNGE
a. Does the film feature people who were born with disabilities? Or people who have acquired
disabilities? And what impact might that have in the perspectives of the people featured in
the film?
The film features people who acquired disabilities as they grew. Some players got disabled through
accidents. For example, drunk-driving got Zupan from a pickup-truck bed into a canal where he
spent almost 13 hours holding his head above water before he was rescued and Joe Soares
contracted polio at age nine. The perspective of the people featured in the film is that there is hope
after an injury or disability
b. What were the initial assumptions, biases, and/or stigmas you had before watching this
film? How did this film challenge or change your thinking?
Well I felt like the game was dangerous to the players and what kept ringing in my mind was, what
if they got injured? The thought that a disabled person should be handled with care and reduce
exposure to accidents or injuries. I got encouraged after watching the film, seeing how the players
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are passionate in what they do; exercises. As they created new friends and found out they are not
alone and had more empathy to each other as they shared their experiences.
c. Explain how the content and perspectives in this film relate to the social model and medical
model of disability.
Social model of disability states that what makes a person to be disabled is not their medical
condition, but the attitudes and structures of society. The society mostly starts with labeling, having
prejudice over the disabled, ignoring or even being over protective when it comes to the disabled.
In the film we notice that there is need to give physically impaired persons room to make choices
on things that explore their potential. The society should also put structures that support the
disabled for instance in the film we see players on their way to Hong Kong they have the special
seats in the plane in which the plane attendants put them to take them to their seats. The society
should therefore support the talents and ideas of the disabled and design everything to cater for
both the able and disabled.
The medical model approach is based on a belief that the difficulties associated with the disability
belongs wholly to the disabled individual, and the disabled person should make extra effort in
terms of time and/or money to ensure that they do not inconvenience others. In the film we notice
that the players have acknowledged their disability and by engaging in sports they can cater for
their medical, food and family needs.
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d. Name at least 2 of the following concepts learned in this course that are applicable to
Murderball, and explain how they apply
Employment: with the players engaging in murderball they are able to entertain people and earn
income. The game therefore, becomes their source of employment.
Inclusion: Murderball ensures inclusion of the players in the society as they are able to come
together, share their experiences and views to the society. And they get to meet more people from
the society offering their support through the games.
e. In the film, what might be perceived as inconsistent with the Disability Studies content
taught in class and/or perceived as problematic by the disability community in general?
How might the film support Disability Studies perspectives taught in Gen S420?
What is seen inconsistent in the film as per what is taught in class is that the disabled are not as
independent as everyone may think, they can do some activities without help. The film helps in
spreading the knowledge of how to handle, live and associate with the disabled.
f. Explore dignity and ableism perpetuated within the film. Give examples of comments made
by the subjects of the film that either perpetuate dignity, or that are indications of ableist
attitudes (even if the commentator experiences disability)
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Dignity is perpetuated in the film when the players are playing, when they lose a game the go back
home and practice to do better in the next game. Ableism attitude is seen when Zupan visit Keith
and his friends in the Hospital and offers Keith his Rugby wheelchair to ride. The nurse is so afraid
that Keith would injure himself or even fall, she become so much overprotective and tells Keith
he is fragile and moves closer to him for protection.
g. Given all that you have learned in this course, write a brief film summary, as if you were
reviewing Murderball for a Disability Studies journal or magazine. How would you rate it
in terms of alignment with Disability Studies values (social model, ableism, access, etc.).
Would you recommend it or not? Why or why not? For what audience(s)
Murderball film is a documentary that talks about a rugby sports in which the players are
quadriplegics and use special wheelchairs to help them play. It talks about how the players are
treated in the community and their expectations on how to be treated. The film shows how socially
engaged the players are with their family and friends and support gained. We notice that disability
should not be a limiting factor to success. I recommend the film because physical impairment is
not something you plan for, and if not you, then people around you can be affected. Therefore, we
should learn how to treat and accommodate the disabled in our society.
h. What impact has this course had in your life, if any? Given what you have learned in Gen
S420 in general, how might you see yourself including, and contributing to the lives of
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people with disabilities now and in the future? And how might you foresee people with
disabilities contributing to your life now and in the future?
I have learnt that disability should not be a limit or cause on how we should treat and live with
each other. I would contribute in the lives of persons with disabilities by encouraging them to live
to their potential and even provide them with the resources needed to feel comfortable. People
with disability can contribute in our lives by being creating employment opportunities in the
society. This can be achieved by painting and selling their art or by becoming truck drivers, by
writing books and selling then etc.
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