My intention was not to lay down any set of values of personhood but
rather to relate the disabled people in a context of universal humanity.
In simple terms, the experiences of disabled people as being accepted as
part and parcel of the human 'condition'.
It's also granted of the dangers of medicalization of society. If
disability is viewed as a threat to social 'health' or 'norm' it is also
because there is a lack of understanding that difference does not imply
evil or abnormality.
I am indebted to social model(s) for progress in disability. We have
moved forward from the times of disabled people being viewed as freaks
or invalids.
The future poses a danger you spoke about clearly. The dilemma touches
us close. Especially because I am myself disabled. Would have I chosen
to have a disabled child myself?
This argument is very difficult when we forget that many would say that
such a thing is undesirable. That statement itself is based on a set of
values that associates disability with pain and suffering. In a eugenic
outlook such lives are not worth living.
Laying claim and owning this pain of disability which DOES exist isn't
taking us to medicalisation unless we want it to. It means stating the
fact that it may be happen and it's ok. Suffering is part of life.
If we are aware of the challenges posed by impairment,and structures are
implemented to allow social inclusion. If the 'terrible' reality of
disability is exposed, others may find that life is possible and worh it
whatever happens.
I would look at this 'cure' in the following way. It cannot happen,
because perfection in physicality is impossible in the real world. And
whilst every effort to ensure thateveryone's potential is expressed, we
must accept the reality of change and impairment in all its colours..
And as regards values, there should always be a value system in place
and that which one must work upon.But in the same time, the value of
human beings must go beyond any value. They are, as Kant once pointed
out, ends and never means.
Gordon C. Cardona
On Tue, 9 Nov 2004 07:49:45 EST, "Bob Williams-Findlay"
<[log in to unmask]> said:
> In the medical model, the body is the prime focus. On the other, society
> becomes the focus. It appears that the person has been lost in between.
> The
> reality is, any approach that can fully address the disability phenomenon
> must
> integrate both of
> the medical and social models.
>
> Gordon I need to take issue with the above statement that you make
> because I
> believe it articulates ideas which others would not share. In the UK,
> Maria
> Eagle, the Minister for Disabled People's Rights has made similar
> ill-formed
> comments.
>
> The medical model's prime focus isn't "the body" - the focus is the
> "normal
> body" as defined not in terms of medical care, but social acceptance and
> worth.
>
>
> It's purpose, therefore, is to address what can be done with and to
> beings
> which fail to
> conform to the expected and accepted. Eagle fails to understand that
> certain
> groups using the medical model approach would incorporate her lesbian
> sister
> as in need of a "cure".
>
> There is nothing "progressive" in an approach which imposes values which
> demands conformity or expects those that decline to suffer the
> consequences.
>
> Likewise, I believe people equally misunderstand the social model. The
> individual is at the very centre of it. The question is posed: how do we
> address the
> negative interactions between the impaired individual and their social
> environment.
>
> In concrete terms this means looking at how to provide adequate,
> meaningful
> health care to those who need it without the glasses (medicalization)
> which
> immediately regards such actions as a costly and unnecessary burden for
> 'normal
> society'.
>
> The medical model doesn't value ALL people - the adoption of a social
> model
> approach should place us in a better position to do so because it looks
> at how
> society can best accommodate the needs and interests of all people - the
> medical model demands the opposite!
>
> Bob Williams-Findlay
>
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Gordon Christopher Cardona
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