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From: Mike Higgins <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Another job in Leeds?
Date: 01 July 1999 18:04
Hi all,
Just a brief entry into the fray. (in passing - what is a pwd??) Do
those who choose to use this acronym, mean a Disabled Person??
Anyway, I suspect that Leeds Centre for Independent Living has carefully
considered it's criteria. I happen to know that they have battled long and
hard to ensure that posts can be advertised as being for Disabled People
only. This is because of a peculiar exclusion within the Disability
Discrimination Act which uniquely affects Local Authorities.
It seems to me that it is a primary and Genuine Occupational Qualification
that the person training others about understanding and applying the Social
Model of Disability (especially to non-Disabled ""professionals"" and
Disabled People seeking personal development, should be a person who has
first hand experience of dealing with discrimination based on impairment.
It is diversionary in my opinion to see this as an issue of inclusion. The
whole purpose of the job, as I understand it, will be to challenge the
oppression and discrimination faced by other Disabled People. A thorough
grasp of the Social Model of Disability is essential and an ability to
apply it to the range of institutionalized barriers that face Disabled
People. I don't think that because a person identifies themselves as a
Disabled Person they will automatically qualify for this position, but I
can't see how someone who doesn't have the direct personal experience of
Disability can hope to carry it off.
Choosing to use an "ambiguous" term such as experience of Disability" also
surely misses the point. The Agency concerned clearly (and in my view
wholly justifiably) needs a Disabled Person to do this job. It is more
honest and transparent to say so rather than be misleading as might be the
case with such an evasive approach.
Mike Higgins
(in a personal capacity)
Assistant Personnel Officer
University of Sheffield
Firth Court
Western Bank
Sheffield S10 2TN
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Tel: 0114 222 1620
Fax: 0114 222 1633
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