Disability Culture
People with disabilities have forged a group identity. We share a common history of oppression and a common bond of resilience. We generate art, music, literature, and other expressions of our lives and our culture, infused from our experience of disability. Most importantly, we are proud of ourselves as people with disabilities.
We claim our disabilities with pride as part of our identity. We are who we are: we are people with disabilities.
Steven E. Brown, PhDCo-Founder, Institute on Disability Culture
What is a disability?
Physical, sensory, cognitive, psychiatric (invisible), and health-related
A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
ADA prohibits discrimination in 4 main areas: Employment State and local government services and public transportation
Public accommodations Telecommunications
Fair Housing Act – This law makes it illegal to deny housing to a renter or buyer
because of a disability. Owners must also make reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. For instance, a person with a visual impairment renting a property should be allowed to keep a guide dog, even if the owner does not allow animals on the property.
The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – This law requires that a free public education be made available to children and youth with disabilities. Special education provided by IDEA is tailored to meet the unique educational needs of children with all types of disabilities, including autism, deafness, emotional disturbances, intellectual disability, and learning disabilities. The No Child Left Behind Act also protects the educational needs of children with disabilities. This law holds schools accountable for the academic success of all children, including children with disabilities.
The Rehabilitation Act – The purpose of this law is to help people with disabilities become employed and independent. Among other things, the law established Centers for Independent Living.
Additional Protective Laws
The 2000 U.S. Census shows us that 49.7
million people in the U. S. age 5 and over have a disability -- nearly 1 in 5 U.S. residents.
5.2 million were between the ages of 5 and 20. 30.6 million were between the ages of 21 and
64. 57% of them were employed. 14.0 million were 65 and over. Those with
disabilities comprised 42%of people in this age group.
CDC.gov
Demographics
Poverty Low socioeconomic accommodation
Availability of appointments Low paying jobs or inflexible work hours
Education Unmet health needs Unreliable care attendants/support systems Lack of reliable transportation:
Hard to use, no/limited public transportation No car
Communication
Challenges
Do not assume that the disability exclusively defines
the patient’s health care needs“Health is the state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” -WHO Definition of Health
That he/she cannot make medical decisions That a woman with physical or intellectual disabilities
cannot give informed consent or parent a child That a hearing impaired woman understands ASL That a woman with diminished sight can read Braille
Barriers of Assumption
People with disabilities are experiencing: Preventable secondary conditions, e.g. fractures,
amputation, pressure sores in nursing homes High rates of emergency room visits and hospital stays for
the primary disabling condition Early deaths from the primary disabling conditions, e.g.
asthma Early deaths from co-morbidities, e.g. diabetes-related
cardiovascular disease Low rates of formal patient education Low rates of treatment for mental illness
From CDC.gov
Health Issues
Compared with people without disabilities, people with disabilities have: Less health insurance coverage and use of the health-
care system Higher rates of chronic conditions, e.g. diabetes,
depression and sadness, elevated blood pressure and blood cholesterol, obesity, tooth loss, etc.
Lower rates of social participation, e.g. regular education classrooms, high school completion, employment
Lower rates of recommended health behaviors, e.g. no cigarette smoking
Health Issues
Reproduction and sexuality
Eugenics
Veteranshttp://video.pbs.org/video/1480923889/
Housing http://www.adapt.org/housing.php
Hot Topics
Ed Roberts
I am not one of the physically challenged- I’m a sock in the eye with gnarled fist I’m a French kiss with cleft tongue I’m orthopedic shoes sewn on a last of your fears I am not one of the differently abled- I’m an epitaph for a million imperfect babies left untreated I’m an ikon carved from bones in a mass grave at Tiergarten, Germany I’m withered legs hidden with a blanket I am not one of the able disabled- I’m a black panther with green eyes and scars like a picket fence I’m pink lace panties teasing a stub of milk white thigh I’m the evil eye I’m the first cell divided I’m mud that talks I’m Eve I’m Kali I’m The Mountain That Never Moves I’ve been forever I’ll be here forever I’m the Gimp I’m the Cripple I’m the Crazy Lady I’m The Woman With Juice
Award-winning playwright, poet, performer, film-maker and disability rights activist.
Cheryl Marie Wade
Impacting Future Generations