Faye
your comments make me think so I thought I would add my voice to the debate as a disabled disability advisor. You mention a couple of times that 'as a non-disabled person you are guided by...' maybe its time for disability advice within HE and FE to be offered only by disabled professionals?? Then perhaps the pc issue would be defunct??
Any comments on this would be welcome!
Rachel Demery
Disability Adviser
UWIC
Student Centre
Western Avenue
Cardiff
-----Original Message-----
From: Faye Langston [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 11 June 2004 14:17
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: What qualifies as a disability?
This lengthening discussion just seems to show that at the end of the
day we are all dealing with individuals! Some people with disabilities
agree with the social model and some dont - who am I, as a non disabled
person, to tell them either way? Some disabled people call themselves
'spastics' and other despise those type of names. Again who am I, as a
non disabled person, to tell them either way. I know my views on both of
these areas and work accordingly but we are dealing with people who are
grouped under the disability heading but who are totally individual and
have their own P/political views (or not) and ideas on how they want to
be treated, viewed and described. As a non disabled person in this role
I can only learn from and be guided by the students I meet within my own
working ethos.
Faye Langston
Coventry University
"A.Higginbotham" wrote:
>
> > > because it sometimes makes me doubt the credibility of the community
>
> >Which community are you referring to?
>
> The community of people and organisations which by name at least serve the
> "needs" of disabled people within H.e. certainly not singling out dis-forum
> as being any worse (or for that matter any better) than any other
> collective. Maybe I expect too much but when I work with people who claim
> to have a common goal I expect them to keep an eye on the ball.
>
> . > because it makes me look like the crip with a chip. - oops did I just
> > disclose.
>
> > Interesting - If someone else on the list had decribed you thus...??
>
> In deed, but then do not we all from time to time describe ourselves in ways
> we may find offensive if used by others?
>
> Adrian Higginbotham,
> Help2Access
> University of Salford
> Email [log in to unmask]
> Tel: 01612952555.
> Web: www.help2access.org.uk
> Technology House, Lissadel Street, Salford M6 6AP.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Peter Hill
> Sent: 11 June 2004 13:39
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: What qualifies as a disability?
>
> Hi
>
> A.Higginbotham wrote:
>
> > aah at last! some one brings up the Social Model. is it not time we
> started
> > talking about "disabled" people i.e those who are disadvantaged by the
> > inflexibility of our institutions rather than those "with disabilities".
> The
> > negative should not be put on to the individual. political correctness it
> > might be but if we as advocates of inclusion can't get this small thing
> > right how do we expect to persuade others to be more so themselves. I
> find
> > myself putting this arguement forward more and more amongst
> "accessibility"
> > / "disability" practitioners of late which angers me firstly because it
> > sometimes makes me doubt the credibility of the community
>
> Which community are you referring to?
>
> and secondly
> > because it makes me look like the crip with a chip. - oops did I just
> > disclose.
>
> Interesting - If someone else on the list had decribed you thus...??
>
> Regards
>
> Peter Hill
>
> >
> > Adrian Higginbotham,
> > Help2Access
> > University of Salford
> > Email [log in to unmask]
> > Tel: 01612952555.
> > Web: www.help2access.org.uk
> > Technology House, Lissadel Street, Salford M6 6AP.
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Claire Wickham, Centre for
> > Access and Communication Studies
> > Sent: 11 June 2004 12:43
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: What qualifies as a disability?
> >
> >
> > Yes, and if you are examining the social model of disability then dyslexia
> > can only be the impairment and the disability is, as David says, the
> > disadvantage that the student then experiences as a result of the
> > institutional practices.
> >
> > ATB
> >
> > Claire
> >
> > --On 11 June 2004 11:54 +0100 David Pollak <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>In my opinion, in an educational context the 'disability' of dyslexia is
> >>constructed by the practices of educational institutions.
> >>
> >>David Pollak
> >>De Montfort University
> >>
> >>
> >>-----Original Message-----
> >>From: CAMPBELL R.G. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> >>Sent: 11 June 2004 12:05
> >>To: [log in to unmask]
> >>Subject: Re: What qualifies as a disability?
> >>
> >>Perfect timing everyone, thank you! I am currently writing an MA essay
> >>entitled "Is dyslexia a disability?" Summing up 5,000 words in one
> >>sentence, I have come to the conclusion that whilst the 'disability'
> >>label serves a purpose in that it unlocks support such as the DSA, beyond
> >>that, it is very subjective and opinions vary widely.
> >>
> >>Any thoughts anyone?
> >>
> >>----------------------
> >>Becky Campbell
> >>Assessment Officer, Disability Office, University of Wales Swansea,
> >>Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP.
> >>
> >>Tel: 01792 513000 Minicom/text: 01792 513100
> >>Fax: 01792 513200 Email: [log in to unmask]
> >>Web: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/disability/
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----------------------
> > Claire Wickham,
> > Director: Centre for Access and Communication Studies
> > University of Bristol
> > Union Building
> > Queen's Road
> > Clifton
> > Bristol BS8 1LN
> >
> > Tel: 0117 954 5710/5705
> > Textphone: 0117 954 5715
> > Fax: 0117 954 5714
> >
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> Peter Hill
> Dyslexia Consultancy and Resources
> 01905 391547
> [log in to unmask]
> www.study-pro.com
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