It’s a Small World:Issues of Ability in a Collegiate Environment

Daniel Freeman

Presentation OverviewRecent research on students with disabilities largely focuses on intellectual disabilities, which are also referred to as learning disabilities. My research project, an ethnography, largely focuses on the perception of physically disabled students in college.

How many of you know someone

with a disability?

Vogel Study1

In a large-scale survey of 147 postsecondary institutions, Vogel and colleagues (1998) reported that the incidence of students with LD across all reporting institutions averaged just under 1% but that it ranged widely across types of institutions, with some institutions reporting fewer than 1% and others reporting as many as 9% of students with identified LD. (5)The majority of students with and without LD attribute to their classmates the view of LD as either low ability or an insurmountable, limiting condition. However, these findings are tempered somewhat by the fact that half of the students in our sample view intelligence as malleable. (13)

The Power of PerceptionAs a student staff member, we talk about a lot of diversity issues such as race, gender, sexual orientation, and religion.However, we seldom speak of issues of ability.As a student, I published an article in the Hutton Honors College’s Undergraduate Scholar entitled “Collegiate Student’s Perceptions of Physically Disabled Individuals: A Mini-ethnography Study”

Key Questions for Consideration

What is the make-up of the college student’s views and thoughts on physically disabled individuals?

How is this formed? How does it manifest itself at the collegiate level?

Key Questions for Consideration

What is the make-up of the college student’s views and thoughts on physically disabled individuals?

How is this formed? How does it manifest itself at the collegiate level?

What I FoundQuestion by Question Analysis of the Google Form Survey

Have you ever met someone who has a physical disability? If so, who?

All twenty-one respondents to the survey answered “yes”. Many of the responses to this question allude to the fact that it is not uncommon for people to have at least one family member who is afflicted by a physical disability.

What do you think determines whether someone is physically disabled or not?

A summary of all the answers given was this: “If they have some sort of condition that makes them unable to perform tasks in a way that is viewed as "normal"; also, “A person who is limited in some capacity due to an inability to move or use a part of their body”. The key phrases in these condensed responses are “an inability to move or use a part of their body” and “[a] condition that makes them unable to perform tasks in a way that is viewed as ‘normal’”.

How did you treat that person? (Did they make you feel uncomfortable?)

Many of the responses given to this question expressed that disabled people are a normal part of the respondents’ lives, and therefore, are treated as such.However it should also be noted that some respondents did admit some uncomfortable feelings towards people with physical disabilities. “I treated her as someone lesser than myself honestly. I treated her as someone who I thought needed help”.

Do you think that society holds a negative or positive view towards physically disabled people?

“I think that society holds a negative view towards disabled people”—or a variation of that statement—was used by many of the respondents in taking a stance on this particular question. And yet, one respondent wrote this: “I think there is both positive and negative [views on disabled people in society]. People will often look down on those with physical disabilities, or point and stare at them, but at the same time feel sorry for them. Also, some physically disabled people are considered heroes when they overcome their obstacles. It goes both ways”. Why is society’s view on disabled people in general so negative? And if those negatively rooted views are changing, how are they doing so and why?

How has society, your hometown, or other source of influence shaped your opinion on physically challenged individuals at college?

Many of the respondents noted that because of their familiarity with physically disabled people, their experiences at college regarding these individuals were no different; moreover, they were taught by their hometown, family, or some other source to come to know and accept physically disabled people as being a “normal” part of life. The respondents claim that the college setting does not change anything about their interactions with physically disabled persons (a summary of the responses to “Has college validated your previously held notions towards disabled individuals, yes or no and why?”).

Describe your specific experience (if any) at college regarding your interactions with physically disabled people.

The general consensus was responses like these, “Not many”, “[l]imited. Saying hi or holding a door”, or even, “I don't think I've met anyone in college with a physical disability”.According to a 2005 study, “disabled students overall are less than half as likely as their peers to have attended college in the two years after high school”.3.

In your own words,

describe how you feel about

physically disabled people.

Respondent #1I believe that they are the same as any other person, but have to go through many more difficulties than an able bodied person.

Respondent #2People are not handicapped their environments are. I feel proud when I see them pushing themselves to do things as independently as possible as well as inspired. I feel disheartened when they take advantage of help or their situation and depend on others to do things for them that they can do for themselves.

Respondent #3Usually I am intrigued by them. I always want to know the story behind their handicap and am usually awed by their ability to perform tasks that are much easier for able bodied people.

Respondent #4Doesn't really have much of an effect on me.

Respondent #5I have no problem with them. Sometimes I get a bit annoyed if they are slowing me down but for the most part I am very understanding and don't hold any sort of reservations toward them.

Respondent #6They're cool, nothing's wrong with them. One has to censor some good jokes though.

Respondent #7I feel bad for people when I see they are afflicted but mainly I see them as a functioning part of society and I want to help them just like any other person who needs it.

Respondent #8I feel they are mistreated and misunderstood. I have sympathy for them and wish there was some way to help them.

Respondent #9I feel that it is really hard to give them the help they may need with out offending them. Also some get special privileges that they do not need.

Respondent #10I don't really look down on physically disabled people. I mean, once I get to know them, I almost forget about them being disabled. I usually don't realize it until someone mentions it. It’s always an afterthought to me.

Respondent #11It depends on the severity- very mildly disabled people are very easy to interact with, while more seriously handicapped people are often uncomfortable to interact with.

Respondent #12I worry about not offending them by offering my help. I am hesitant towards them.

Respondent #13I don't treat them any differently than I would anyone else unless they need assistance!

Respondent #14I feel sorry but I don't know how to act around them at times. I know that they are not looking for pity yet I don't know how they are able to deal so positively with their life. I believe that they have true courage.

Respondent #15I do not feel differently about physically disabled people than I do about anyone else. They are regular individuals that live in my environment.

Respondent #16They are just like everyone else I know, just need some extra help sometimes. Every disabled person I know, I love.

Respondent #17I believe that all levels ability whether physical, psychological, developmentally, cognitively, etc. should be valued and encouraged in this world. I believe that there are more definitions to strength and power than physical strength and power. Physically disabled people can be some of the stronger and powerful people in the world.

Respondent #18I feel there's a lot more to their story than we see. I try not to be quick and judge them by any disabilities they have.

Respondent #19They are fine.

Respondent #20I feel bad for them all the time. I am always thankful that I do not have a disability, and wish there was more I could do for the physically disabled.

Respondent #21I honestly feel that they should have the same rights as people who are not physically disabled. At the same time, I do feel like I am subject to help people who are physically disabled.

What It All MeansAre we able to see past issues of Ability in college? An Analysis of the Respondent’s Own Words

Quick Recap The respondents’ definition of the criteria for one to be considered physically disabled: the inability to perform “normal” tasks is the typical marker of one having a physical disability and is seen as a “condition”.Another key point that was made was that individuals living with physical disabilities should be viewed as being “on a continuum of ability to complete the persons activities of daily living”. This thought also applied to how the respondents saw society’s connotations of the disabled individual. As one respondent said, “[Society’s perception of physically disabled individuals] goes both ways”.

Conflicting NotionsMore Positive

Outlook

“I honestly feel that they should have the same rights as people who are not physically disabled. At the same time, I do feel like I am subject to help people who are physically disabled.”

More Negative Outlook

“I worry about not offending them by offering my help. I am hesitant towards them.” “It depends on the severity- very mildly disabled people are very easy to interact with, while more seriously handicapped people are often uncomfortable to interact with.”

At the Other End of the Spectrum

“I believe that they are the same as any other person, but have to go through many more difficulties than an able bodied person. “I feel there’s a lot more to their story than we see. I try not to be quick and judge them by any disabilities they have.” “I feel sorry but I don't know how to act around them at times. I know that they are not looking for pity, yet I don't know how they are able to deal so positively with their life. I believe that they have true courage.”

What I learned, and What I Hope you did

too:There is an ever present disconnect between what individuals feel and think and how they feel and think.The norms of society in relation to handicapped individuals are only reinforced.

Just remember that sometimes, the way you

think about a person isn’t the way they

actually are.

~John Green

Works Cited1. Alison L. May and C. Addison Stone. Stereotypes of Individuals

With Learning Disabilities: Views of College Students With and Without Learning Disabilities J Learn Disabil November/December 2010 43: 483-499, first published on April 7, 2010 doi:10.1177/0022219409355483. Accessed online athttp://ldx.sagepub.com/content/43/6/483.full.pdf+html 30 November 2013

2. http://www.ted.com/talks/aimee_mullins_the_opportunity_of_adversity.html

3. Doug Lederman, “College and the Disabled Student,” Inside Higher Ed, July 29, 2005, accessed online at <http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2005/07/29/disabled>. 29 Sep. 2013