Reframing Disability
A Diversity Fellow Conversation
(Photo: Division for Diversity and Inclusion Logo)
Agenda
How disability impacts our community
Reframing disability
Universal design (definition and examples)
Applying universal design to your work
What is disability studies
Applying a new way of thinking to your work
Disability Statistics
56.7 million people in the US have a disability (18.7%).
38.3 million people have a severe disability (12.6%)
Majority of Americans will have diabetes or pre-diabetes by 2020.
14.1% of people with disabilities are unemployed compared to 7.1 % of the non-disabled population.
Globally, this market represents $3 trillion dollars of disposable income.
Disability Statistics
The disability community is the largest HEG that anyone can become a member of at anytime….it is
also the fastest growing community on college campuses around the United States.
(Vogel, Summer 2011, Insight into Diversity)
This number will continue to grow.
Aging population
Medical advancements
Wounded warriors
The Impact

How does this impact our community?
Does it relate to our public affairs mission:
Ethical Leadership
Cultural Competence
Community Engagement
How does this all intersect our work?
Are we addressing this in our teaching?
Are our students aware and prepared for it will intersect their future work?
Paradigm Shift
“In order for full inclusion to take place, we must move beyond the thinking of minimum compliance
and completely change how we perceive disability…only then will real inclusion occur.”
-Katheryne
Paradigm Shift
We need to change how we perceive disability.
We need to think about how disability intersects our work/our lives.
We must embrace disability as a part of diversity and value the disability community as a powerful identity group.
Model Comparison of Disability
(Two sided chart: The left side representing the medical model. The right side representing the socio-
political model)
Carol J. Gill, Chicago Institute of Disability Research
Social Model Animation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s3NZaLhcc4
Sue Austin

Deep Sea Diving…in a wheelchair http://www.ted.com/talks/sue_austin_deep_sea_diving_in_a_wheelchair.html
Different perceptions
An online poll of 1,000 people.
52% of Americans would rather be dead than disabled.
However, the majority of disabled people, if given the choice, would rather live their lives with their
disability.
(Disaboom, 2008)
Disability Pride
“Disability pride represents a rejection of the notion that our physical, sensory, mental and cognitive differences from the non-disabled standard are wrong or bad in any way and is a statement of our self-acceptance, dignity and pride. It is a public expression of our belief that our disabilities are a natural part of human diversity, a celebration of our heritage and culture, and a validation of our
experience…” Sarah Triano (2006)
Disability Pride
Why Autism is a gift? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fll676-aTQU
(Photo: female student in a purple t-shirt with a quote “Disabled and Proud”)
Universal Design
Universal Design (UD) is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. – Ron Mace
UD is designing for people with a broad range of abilities, disabilities, ages, reading levels, learning styles, native languages, cultures, and other characteristics. – DO-IT
Who Benefits?
(Photo: A Wal-Mart universally designed entrance)
Who Benefits?
(Photo: Two signs hanging inside of Wal-mart. The first one states “household cleaners” and then has a photo of household cleaners on it. The second one states “Paper Goods” and then has a photo of
paper goods on it).
Video

Order Assist, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtebZVskmms
Video Discussion
Less than $1,000 per store
30 new customers per week
Who else might benefit?
Campus Recreation
(Photo: the universally designed entrance of the MSU Foster Recreation Center)
Infusing JUST design in campus recreation. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 25(3),
247-252.
Planning for an Inclusive Campus Recreation Facility and Program. Recreation Sports Journal. 36(1) 37-
44.
What Can You Do?
Think about a physical space, program, policy, area in your unit. How could you make it more inclusive for those with disabilities?
(2 photos. The first one is a female student in a power wheelchair on a nature trail posing between two redwood trees. The second one is a female student in a manual wheelchair popping a wheelie on a beach)
Resources
Disability Resource Center
Carrington Hall, 302
836-4192
Access Technology Center
Meyer Library, Rooms 201B – 201G
836-4275
Faculty
Dr. Shannon Wooden
Associate Professor, English

Dr. Telory Davies
Assistant Professor, Theatre and Dance
Questions