I agree with your point about 'outsiders' often portraying the experience of
disability in a negative light, due in part to not using or understanding
the social model of disability. However, as someone who works for the MS
Society in England, I can see quite clearly that a great deal of negativity
about the experience of having MS at least, comes from people with MS
themselves. As the majority of branches are run by people with MS and
carers, their often very medicalised view of MS/disability is reflected in
their activities and interaction with others e.g. newly diagnosed
individuals.
I am undertaking some research into the potential use of the social model by
the MS Society to guide its work - at the moment this isn't the case. I am
trying to grapple with the above issue and am coming to the conclusion that
there is an awareness raising job to be done within the MS Society itself.
The negativity is due in part to people with MS having lived much of their
lives as non-disabled people I assume although I wouldn't want to
distinguish so simplistically between acquired and 'conjenital' impairments
(if that's the right phrase (apologies if it isn't)).
If anyone has any views or guidance, I would be extremely grateful.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rosemary Pynor [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 11 May 2000 06:50
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: MS Color print out of ADs
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I teach several courses in disability studies to health science students
> at the University of Sydney. I was interested in Suzanne's comments about
> the negativity of disability support groups. Until quite recently I had
> found it very difficult to get any material that showed any positive
> aspects to being disabled. I have found one video on MS that is quite
> positive. It's called MS, You're Not Alone. It was made by a student in
> communication who has MS. In the video she interviews a number of young
> people who have been diagnosed with MS. It basically is made for people
> who have just been diagnosed to let them know that "life goes on". I have
> found it to be a useful aid to teaching as it presents people who have MS
> in a positive light. The MS Society provided support and a grant for this
> video to be made.
>
> I think some of the problems in how these groups represent disability lies
> in the old problem that the people devising these public awareness
> packages are often not the people affected by the disability or disorder.
> They are using an outsiers perspective and individualising disability.
> They seem totally oblivious to the social model of disability.
>
> Rosemary
>
>
> At 05:36 PM 5/9/2000 -0700, you wrote:
> >hi all,
> >at one point I considered doing some analysis on ads from disability
> >organizations for public awareness. this is no longer happening, however
> i
> >have some pretty interesting things from the National Multiple Sclerosis
>
> >Society that i'd be happy to mail to anyone interested. It's basically
> >their public awareness campaign of MS -- the theme is using the scare
> >tactic -- like "MS - it's not a magazine for feminists. It's a
> >neurological nightmare."
> >
> >Any way -- good material for someone doing research/analysis. Contact me
>
> >if you'd like me to mail it to you.
> >best,
> >Suzanne Levine
> >~~
> >Disability Media Project
> >P.O. Box 22115, San Francisco, CA 94122-0115
> >Voice: 415-387-0617 / Fax: 415-387-0583
> >e- mailto:[log in to unmask]
> >Web Site: http://www.dmedia.org
> >
> >
> >
> =================================================
> Rosemary Pynor
> School of Behavioural & Community Health Sciences
> University of Sydney
> (02) 9351 9598 (02) 9351 9540 (fax)
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