Reframing Disability

A Diversity Fellow Conversation

•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

Agenda

•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 populationMedical advancementsWounded warriors

Disability Statistics

•How does this impact our community?•Does it relate to our public affairs mission:

Ethical LeadershipCultural CompetenceCommunity 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?

The Impact

“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.

Paradigm Shift

•Carol J. Gill, Chicago Institute of Disability Research

Model Comparison of DisabilityMedical Model (Old) Interactional/Socio-Political Model

(New)Disability is a deficiency or abnormality Disability is a differenceBeing disabled is negative Being disabled, in itself, is neutralDisability resides in the individual Disability derives from the interaction

between the individual and societyThe remedy for disability-related problems is cure or normalization of the individual

The remedy for disability-related problems is a change in the interaction between the individual and society

The agent of remedy is the professional The agent of remedy is the individual, an advocate, or anyone who affects the arrangements between the individual and society

* Disability is a social construct

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s3NZaLhcc4

Social Model Animation

•Deep Sea Diving…in a wheelchair•http://www.ted.com/talks/sue_austin_deep_sea_diving_in_a_wheelchair.html

Sue Austin

•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)

Different perceptions

“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

Disability PrideWhy Autism is a gift? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fll676-aTQU

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

Universal Design

Who Benefits?

Who Benefits?

•Order Assist, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtebZVskmms

Video

•Less than $1,000 per store•30 new customers per week•Who else might benefit?

Video Discussion

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.

Campus Recreation

•Think about a physical space, program, policy, area in your unit. How could you make it more inclusive for those with disabilities?

What Can You Do?

Disability Resource CenterCarrington Hall, 302836-4192

Access Technology CenterMeyer Library, Rooms 201B – 201G836-4275

Resources

•Dr. Shannon WoodenAssociate Professor, English

•Dr. Telory DaviesAssistant Professor, Theatre and Dance

Faculty

Questions