Sociology 111Fall 2008

Glaring lack of sociological research Social inequality and social justice

are central to the discipline of society

Yet, the social lives of people with disabilities have largely been ignored by sociologists

Implications

Lack of understanding about how people with disabilities construct their worldviews and identities

Unable to analyze the challenges people with disabilities have interacting within society

Do not fully have a complete picture of the challenges able-bodied people have interacting w/people with disabilities

Which means we are unable to address social justice issues fully

Wide range of disabilitiesPhysical , genetic, emotional, neurological/developmental Mild to profound

Eyesight and hearing disabilities

Mobility disabilities

Cognitive disabilities

Multiple disabilities

Learning disability that makes reading difficult

Mobility with the assistance of a wheelchair

Profound mental retardation that makes simple tasks nearly impossible without assistance

Mild disabilities

May be imperceptible to observers and even close friends

Early intervention is key to mitigating effects of mild disabilities Dyslexia was often mistaken for mild to

moderate mental retardation Most people with mild to moderate

disabilities can lead independent lives

Severe and profound disabilities Often appear as multiple disabilities

Cerebral palsy with moderate mental retardation and deafness

Autism with psychosis and OCD Generally unable to live

independently With assistance and proper

intervention can successfully participate in society

Frames and Framing

Frames are cognitive structures that guide our perception and understanding of phenomena

How we frame groups or social phenomena is related to how we feel towards them and behave towards them