Whilst I broadly agree that disability is such a diversity of individual
experiences that the responce to what is percieved as disability is entirely
a social construct, and have tried to inform and introduce (even defend)
this model in the neuro-diversity world, I still feel free to criticise the
way in which the model is defined and constructed.
People clearly discriminate according to how they see the entity
"disability" in the case of some visible or apparant "disabilities" they may
chose between a patronising pity or self informed perspective that the
situation is too difficult for them to deal with and ignore and isolate.
On the other hand with a condition which is not readily visible, the
discrimination comes from not recognising the particular rights and needs of
that individual and treating them in an inappropriatly negative manner.
Either way it is the perception of the individual that gives rise to the
discrimination and not something that is inherent to the person either in
the medical sence or from the standpoint of having an impairment.
One does not have to give way to people because they are "impaired" but
because they are individually different in the same way as one ought
respect anothers religios beliefs, sexual orientation or gender.
If we consider that these causes for discrimination are essentially each
special cases then we are ourselves discriminating and might be unconsciosly
building a heirarchy of discriminations within our own individual modelling
of the world.
Whether or not a person can be individually categorised as disabled within
some specific model is not the point, the fact is if a negative act arises
out of the fact that someone either considers them disabled and
discriminates, or disables them by failing to recognise and individual
difference giving rise to specific need then that is what should be the
offence.
I hope you can understand.
Larry
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Disability-Research Discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Alden Chadwick
> Sent: 09 July 2002 11:07
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [danmail] Fwd: a letter for the DRC
> Hello Larry
>
> The point about the Northern Officer Group letter is to raise the problems
> with the existing definition of disability. If you don't agree with the
> suggested alternative - put your own definition forward.
>
> True, you cannot change the world alone, but if a number of people /
> organisations point out the problems with the existing individual model
> definition and offer some social approach alternatives, at least we will
> have done something positive.
>
> Regards
>
> Alden
>
>
> --
> Alden Chadwick
> Co-ordinator
> Northern Officer Group (NOG)
> c/o Community Partnership Unit
> Chief Executive's Directorate
> Sheffield City Council
> Town Hall
> Sheffield
> S1 2HH
>
> Tel. (0114) 2735408 Voice / Text
> Fax. (0114) 2735561
>
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