Carolyn says: "Models and theories aren't, weren't and shouldn't be used to
solve real
problems. Models and theories are designed to explain and or examine life
(in a nut shell). Pretending otherwise, only creates unnecessary
frustration."
But neither can you divorce them from real life from which they have sprung.
Real life contradicts theory. Real life contradicts long held and cherished
views (like the oral bullshit that is still being propagated in some
education sectors for the Deaf).
I have always thought that the role of a theory or model, is to not only
explain and examine life, but provide us with a framework by which we can
seek solutions or alternative ways of "living", with regards to disability.
The reason I, as a Deaf person (and by extension a disabled person according
to the thinking of the normal and wiser world - Ha Fucking Ha! But that's
besides the point), take to the social model, is that it allows me (us!) to
be what we are. Deaf or disabled. It aims to dignify and humanise us as
people first not disabled (if you catch my drift).
The way I use it, especially when doing Deaf Awareness, is to find common
links between us and the so called normal world. I also like to challenge so
called normal behaviour and ways of being. I like to challenge the hegemony
of the five senses. I like it challenge that to HEAR and other so called
normal ways of being. I like to say, "Yeah?" I don't for one minute believe
that it is provides a solution for all our ills. No. But I do believe it
provides us with a way of looking at things, in this case disability, that
allows us to "deal" with an alternative reality/ way of being. That is what
disability is.
I don't mean to downplay the pain and suffering undergone by many, no, that
is not my intention. My intention is to downplay what is considered NORMAL.
But the fact that Deafness exist, blindness exits, immobility exists,
mental/ or intellectual impairment exists, contradicts our notions that to
hear, see, move and to be facile, think, are the norm. Life is full of
people who go on to prove otherwise. Who go on to say, "You can hear, see,
hop, skip and jump. So what?"
Sure, my reasoning here, does assume that (mine) disability requires a
minimum of adjustment, in my case hearing aids or sign language
interpreters. The blind might need a guide dog or that white stick.
Whatever. The difficulty arise when discussion moves into disabilities that
requite a lot more work in order to normalise (there's that word again) that
person's life or very existence for that matter. How do you use the social
model to explain that? I don't have a pat answer - but at least you can't
rationalise it and ignore it. Social by extension, means us, the community,
you and I, society, to take on board what it is, what it means, and its
ramifications.
It's relatively easy to explain Deafness and how it affects us, and possible
solutions towards integration. Nice, apt, easy answers, and don't have to
think too hard. However, anything more complex, and people, start to switch
off. That's what I have seen anyway. That's what our society/ culture cannot
deal with. If they could, then the issue of money crops up.........
The social model, gives me a platform from which to consider disability in
general. Yes, I like Marian, am an expert on Deafness, but it does not mean
we are ignorant of other disabilities or are unable to empathise. My lack of
experience of other disabilities, at least in the sense of long term care,
constant supervision, and things like that, doesn't negate my ability to see
what is happening to us. At the end of the day, the barriers that are in
place affect all of us, albeit to differing degrees. It's true. Some of us,
have more skills (or power) to be able to rise above our disability, or to
fight for a better quality of life.
The perception of disability that is held by the powers that be, is
frustrating. It chops and changes according tot he motivation of each. The
government wants to SAVE money, not spend it, so it creates an obstacle
course for people claiming benefits such as DLA (Disability Living
Allowance). The onus is on WHAT YOU CANT DO, not HOW SOCIETY IS FRUSTRATING
YOU from earning a living :-) Business, they plead too much red tape/
bureaucracy if forced to consider reasonable adjustment to allow us pitiful
souls to be gainfully employed. In our capitalist society, we are reduced to
the status of consumers, "You want this, it will cost you a buck! You got no
money, well tough luck!" This is the best definition of capitalism I can
come up with. Beats the bullshit dished out by economic experts!
But it must also be acknowledged that disability affects not just us, the
disabled, but also our parents, families and how we relate to other people.
It affects those close to us, because we are in relation to/ with and not
independent of. This is what our culture/ society wants to forget,
especially the money raking sectors.
This comes out in different ways. If I am talking about Deafness (I'm not a
parent I know, but..), which doesn't take that much adjustment in order to
integrate and give our lives meaning, causes no end of grief. I find it very
hard to be forgiving when parents stick to the view that their child is
abnormal and REFUSE to acknowledge that their child is different. They
cannot or WON'T entertain and alternative reality for their child. All this
inspite of evidence to the contrary. For reasons such as culture, passing on
my family name, and other assorted goodies, that leads to estrangement from
family, abandonment, shoddy education, unable to communicate, wasted years,
suicide even. I shudder to think about the other disabilities.
Or is it that a medical model allows parents to salve their consciences and
to wallow in the me as victim view, even though they themselves don't have
the disability but their child. I look at my background [Arab/
Mediterranean], it's easy to see how one can sympathise with the POOR PARENT
for having to COPE with a disabled (not normal) child. And WHY. It's the way
they think. It doesn't go challenged really. It validates their
suffering????? Having said that, there are parents who grit their teeth and
face the task head on. One can't deny that. They take on the burden
willingly out of love, out necessity, out of desire to better their child as
best as they can. I am not elevating them to status of hero, that would be
unfair for reasons to do with perceptions and assumptions that rise out this
view. They are fulfilling their part in what being a good parent is supposed
to be, for which we should be grateful.
Human beings have a whole history of theorising and modulating and
postulating and we are still nowhere near to achieving WISDOM. It seems that
our theorising and modulating and postulating and espousing bullshit in
general, is designed to remove us, or distance us form the unpalatable fact
of disability.
England's New Labour government want to dismantle the welfare state. It's
justification (where have we heard all this before) is that it makes people
too dependent on the state, and that people do want to work but the welfare
system is proving to be a great disincentive. They still haven't answered
just HOW the disabled are meant to be earning a living - apart from stuffing
envelopes, licking stamps, and just plain sitting there in the corner
looking stupid - business is not going to be socially responsible. Heavens
no! It eats into our profits!
In order to windup this diatribe, I think what we have to do, when we
examine theories and models, is what is the human motivation behind them
all. that is what we seem to be skirting around. PS One of these days I will
try and be specific in my arguments, but you guys are typing and posting so
fast, I am out of breath:-) But do keep it up, in view of the intellectual
vacuum in Deaf UK, I find this list to provide some brainfood at least.
Tony
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