Very simply put is that one day I shall be sitting quietly in my wheelchair
in some shopping mall minding my own business and along will come one of
these students who will pat me on my head and put a toffee in my gob to be
left wondering why I have kicked them in their goollies for their good
intentions.
Surely the only way to effect charge with regards to perceptions, social
conditioning, prejudices and understanding is to challenge where criticism
is not necessarily negative but seen as being constructive.
I am racist - there - I have said it. I am racist because of my social
conditioning as a kid which is firmly rooted in my subconscious. It is only
by being consciously aware of my racialism that I am able to correct this so
becoming aware of our prejudices to understand where it is coming from is it
possible to effectively change attitudes. Negativity changes to positivity.
As an elderly disabled gay man I often meet people who tell me that they are
not all homophobic but their body language tells a very different story when
attempting to discuss gay sexuality issues. This body language blocks any
meaningful discussion especially if the person is in the caring profession
where it becomes evident they have not addressed their subconscious
prejudice.
I therefore make no apologies if at least one student changes their
interpretation of disability in using appropriate language/terminology to
understand the rights and equality issues of the disabled. I am, after all,
a recipient of the service provision they purport to offer.
-----Original Message-----
From: The Disability-Research Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jenny W
Sent: 07 June 2010 17:25
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: class reflections
I wanted to share my thoughts on the critical commentary towards the
reflection papers. Accept my apologies for writing this in point form:
1) I agree with the concerns about posting very personal information on a
public listserv.
2) For the most part, the students missed the boat on the social model.
Let's crucify them rather than provide constructive feedback, especially
since being critical of people who make mistakes is a proven method of
changing behaviour.
3) For the most part, I thought the comments by the students were a step up
from the perception of disabled people as sub-human, as better off dead,
etc. No one ever said eliminating oppression would be easy.
4) As I understand it the course was 3 weeks long - which isn't a lot of
time to cover the social model, let alone master it. I suspect no one on the
listserv mastered the social model in 3 weeks. Let's stop kidding ourselves.
5) Language isn't the be all end all - and there are different terminologies
employed by different disabled populations. For example, psychiatrically
disabled people have multiple ways of self identifying and discussing their
experiences, and some of us working within the same model take offense to
another's concept (e.g., "disabled people" vs. "persons with disabilities").
I continue to ocassionally see the word "handicapped" used, including in
policy - the context says a lot about the meaning or intent behind a word.
6) "Suffering is an offensive term"; "disabled people don't suffer"; "an
abled bodied person should not speak of a disabled person's 'suffering'".
This is where I detach myself from the social model as I suffer most days of
my life and frequently to the point of wanting to off myself. I suffer both
from societal prejudice and from being robbed of many of the physical
'functions' of my (previous) body. Some of the critical commentary from the
listserv towards the students' mention of "suffering" implies that disabled
people's experiences are all the same - and that the only relevant part is
the societal oppression, and that none of us suffer from our impairments,
and that if we do, it shouldn't be discussed publically or that it's somehow
a product of false consciousness to recognise our impairment-related
suffering.
I thought the students who spoke of suffering were acknowleging the way
disabled people have collectively "suffered"...Again, a step above not
acknowleging "our" history at all. This is similar to how society
acknowleges "other" groups who have "suffered" from oppression,
marginalisation, violence, bigotry, etc. For example, I recall one student
speaking of "not being aware of what disabled people have gone though" (to
paraphrase); also "the sad history" comment. The language may not have been
appropriate here even if the intention was.
7) "This is a step backward".
I've witnessed more 'offensive' behaviour in grad studies courses. I also
don't think we should expect people to un-learn beliefs and ideas in 3 weeks
that have been inculcated from a young age.
Respectfully,
Jenny
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