October 27, 2015
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HSMq4j5idk
How would you feel if you were Owen?
How would you feel if you were Owen’s parent?
How do you feel in your current role?
How would your reaction be different if Owen did not have
Down syndrome?
Why?
• According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
“disability” is a legal term rather than a medical one. The ADA
defines a person with a disability as a person who has a
physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or
more major life activities.
• How do you know someone has a disability?
“Disability” is not objectively defined, but socially constructed.
The existing social norms, rules and structures, and notions of
health define what is deviant or constitutes a disability. What
becomes a disability is the meaning that we attach to particular
physical and mental characteristics.
? AGREE OR DISAGREE ?
Instead of…
Say…
Confined to a wheelchair or wheelchairbound
Person who uses a wheelchair (wheelchairs
don’t confine, they make people mobile)
Retarded
Cognitive disability, developmental
disability
Suffering from, stricken by, afflicted with, a Person who has…
victim of…
“The” disabled (or any disability) kids,
handicapped
People with disabilities
Deaf and dumb
Deaf, non-verbal
“Your” students
“Our” students
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Courageous
Inspirational
Patient (to caregivers)
Birth defect
Normal, healthy, whole
Invalid
What kind of
school
performance
would you
expect from
these
students?
• Also called “hidden disabilities.” Hidden disabilities are
physical or mental impairments that are not readily apparent to
others… often cannot be readily known without the
administration of appropriate diagnostic tests (USDOE, OCR,
2005).
• Many people with invisible disabilities choose not to disclose
because of stigma
• Examples: chronic pain or fatigue, hearing impairments, sleep
disorders, epilepsy, ADHD, autism, mental illness/psychiatric
disabilities, learning disabilities, traumatic brain injuries,
diabetes…
• Psychiatric disabilities are the most common hidden disabilities
Disclose
Don’t Disclose
Must disclose to get needed
accommodations
Perceived as whining, attention seeking, or
looking for favors
Is this even legitimate, or are you falsely
seeking personal gain? Other people may
not believe that you have a disability
People may not know that they have
disabilities
Other reasons to disclose?
Associated stigma for some disabilities;
social and workplace discrimination
Stigma/not accepting some disabilities is
greater in some cultural groups; familial
and community shame
Would you disclose if you had an invisible disability?