Students For Disability Awareness

Think About How You Disable Others…

Disability Awareness Toolkit

By

Kevin Dierks, Rich Kelly, Lily Matsubara, Juliana R. Romero, and Kiriko Takahashi

Edited by Steven E. Brown and Kiriko Takahashi

Innovative and Sustainable Teaching Methods and Strategies to Ensure

 Students with Disabilities Receive a Quality Higher Education

DIS 694, Interdisciplinary Team Development

Instructor, Steven E. Brown, Ph.D.

PREFACE

 

This Toolkit evolved from one of the fruitful Team Access 2007 project meetings in working towards a disability awareness campaign for the class called DIS 694, Interdisciplinary Team Development.  We wanted to create something sustainable beyond a one-day event.

As a result, we developed this Toolkit to help any interested groups repeat the project process we went through in a step-by-step way.  The Toolkit includes objectives and targeted outcomes along with samples and resources.  Thought-provoking and guiding questions go along with each section to stimulate conversation and action.

We would like to thank our class professor, mentor, reader, and editor, Dr. Steven Brown, in pushing us in thinking about sustainability of a project. Had it not been for his high expectations, we would not have been able to come up with the idea of this Toolkit.

These materials were partially developed from a grant from the U.S. Department of Education

Grant award number P33A050031. However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education and the reader should not assume endorsement of the Federal government.  Note: Websites in this document are up-to-date as of its printing; checking is always a good idea.

Think about how you disable others…

INTRODUCTION

Operation Basic Law

Team Access  chose as its mission to develop and increase the consciousness and awareness of disability access at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa through outreach and education.

Team Access partially modeled the disability awareness campaign on Germany’s “Operation Basic Law” campaign. The purpose of “Operation Basic Law” was to raise public awareness on a 1994 constitutional amendment prohibiting discrimination based on disability in Germany. This campaign was initiated as a result of a 1994 survey, which showed 79% of the people in Germany were unaware of this particular constitutional amendment.  Disability

activists and organizations in Germany worked to create “Operation Basic Law”, an intense two- month campaign, in 1997, to raise public awareness on the constitutional amendment as well as various other issues related to disability. The strategy used in this campaign was to flood the country with materials related to “Operation Basic Law” with a signature bright green background, presented with thought-provoking slogans designed to confront and challenge the public’s stereotypical image and/or opinion on disability (Heyer, 2002).

To have a similar effect as “Operation Basic Law”, Team Access used a bright green background in all the materials developed. Thought-provoking slogans with respect to disability issues were printed on postcards and distributed on campus. The tag line “Think about how you disable others…” was created to ground the project to Team Access’ primary cause – to raise consciousness and awareness on disability access. The culmination of the project was a one-day campus event where Team Access staffed an informational booth to distribute information and resources related to disabilities.

A key feature of the event was an experimental attempt to turn increased awareness into positive community based action.  We asked individuals to sign a social contract.  The social contract was created based on the honor system and intended to motivate individuals to take positive action regarding what they learned about disabilities through disability awareness campaign activities.  Between 35 and 40 individuals signed the social contract. The team felt each individual who committed to the social contract was sincere.  Many individuals took the time to read through the social contract and clearly gave it some thought before signing.  We sensed individuals who signed the contract were pleased with the chance to play a part in bringing about positive awareness to disability issues.  Some individuals pointed out they regularly did some of the items listed in the social contract and felt signing the social contract presented at the booth would further reinforce their current attitudes on disabilities and “Think About How You Disable Others…”

Defining Disability

What does disability mean? How is disability defined? Diverse values and theoretical propositions influence answers to these questions. Regardless of which perspectives one takes, the definition and meaning of disability is wide and varied, and is best defined by and with people with disabilities.

 A framework within which disability could be viewed is generally divided into three

main models – the moral, medical and social models. The moral and medical models of disability are grounded in the perspective that “disability resides in the individual and carries with it a degree of stigma or pathology” In contrast, the social model places the locus of disability in the environment that fails to appropriately accommodate and include people with disabilities (Olkin,2002, quote on p. 132).

 

Disability can also be defined from a cultural framework (Brown, 1995; Gilson & Depoy,

2000). The cultural view of disability presents the issue of disability from the perspective of group identity distinct from other groups who do not share the disability identity (Brown, 1995; Mackelprang & Salsgiver, 1999). Pride is taken in the “unique talents and attributes of each individual” grounding the person with a “positive disability identity” (Brown, 1995). The final column in Table 1 on page 5 demonstrates aspects of this viewpoint.

 

Disability Awareness

The purpose of this Toolkit is to guide you and your group in outreach and education activities to raise disability awareness in your community within the framework of the cultural and social model. Rather than viewing disability as a defect within individuals that inherently requires “fixing”, disability is perceived as a social construct where problems resulting from disabilities are centered on the environment’s failure to accommodate to the needs of people with disabilities (Brown, 1995; Olkin, 2002).

The presence of negative attitudes, limited physical access, limited access to communication and/or resources, and barriers to rights as individuals are some examples of obstacles faced by people with disabilities obstructing fulfillment of their desired roles in society (Brown, 1995; Gilson & Depoy, 2000).  Disability awareness, as perceived from the cultural and social paradigm, is a step to remove these social and environmental barriers to enable the full social, physical and spiritual participation of individuals with disabilities in the community (Brown, 1995; Gilson & Depoy, 2000).

We hope this Toolkit will inspire and guide you in implementing a simple disability awareness campaign in your environment.

 

TABLE 1:

Disability Rights/Culture/Pride Paradigm

by

Steven E. Brown

© Institute on Disability Culture, 1995

 

	COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE/MEDICAL/ CHARITY PARADIGMS	DISABILITY RIGHTS CULTURE/PRIDE PARADIGM
DEFINITIONS OF PROBLEMS	Physical or mentalimpairments; lack of socio- economic, political, educational, and cultural skills	Dependence on professionals,family members, and others; hostile attitudes and environments; lack of legal protections or recognition of inherent worth of disabled people
LOCUS OF PROBLEMS	In individual ( who is brokenor sick and needs fixing or curing)	In socio-economic, political,educational, and cultural environments and perceptions
SOCIAL ROLES	Patients, clients, charityrecipients, non-existent	Family and communitymembers, customers, coworkers, advocates, same as anyone else
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS	Professional and volunteerinterventions and treatments	Equitable socio-economic,political, educational, and cultural options
WHO CONTROLS	Professional and/or volunteer	Individual or group ofindividual’s choice
DESIRED OUTCOMES	Maximum self-care; Nosocial misfits	Pride in unique talents andattributes of each individual and positive disability identity

PHASE 1: Research and Self-Exploration

Purpose:

• Research disability issues in your community and explore your personal feelings, thoughts, and perspectives about what disability means to you.

Process/Method:

• If not already included, outreach to include people with disabilities (See Exercise 1 on page 9).

Selected Reading List

Identify readings on disabilities followed by group discussion. The suggested readings below are intended to be used as a guide for developing your own reading list:

Nonfiction:

1.  Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C.A. 12101 et seq 1993. Retrieved May 28,

2004, from http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/pubs/ada.txt

2.  Brown, S. E. (2003).  Movie stars and sensuous scars:  Essays on the journey from disability shame to disability pride. New York:  People with Disabilities Press.

3.  Browne, S. E., Connors, D., and Stern, N., Eds. (1985).  With the power of each breath.

Pittsburgh and San Francisco:  Cleis Press.

4.  Charlton, J. I. (1998).  Nothing about us without us:  Disability oppression and empowerment.  Berkeley:  University of California.

5.  Department of Justice. (n.d.). ADA questions and answers. Retrieved May 28, 2004, fromhttp://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/q%26aeng02.htm

6.  Finger, A. (1990).  Past due:  A story of disability, pregnancy, and birth. Seattle:  Seal.

7.  Gallagher, H. G. (1985). FDR’s splendid deception.  New York:  Dodd, Mead.

8.  Irvin, C. (2004). Home Bound:  Growing up with a disability in America (Philadelphia: Temple, 2004).

9.  Johnson, H. M. (2005). Too late to die young:  Nearly true tales from a life.  New York: Picador.

10. Linton, S.  (1998). Claiming disability:  Knowledge and identity. New York:  New York

University.

11. Linton, S. (2006).  My body politic:  A memoir.  Ann Arbor:  Michigan.

12. Longmore, P. K. (2003).  Why I burned my book and other essays on disability.

Philadelphia: Temple.

13. Mairs, N., (1996).  Waist-high in the world:  A life among the nondisabled. Boston: Beacon.

14. Shapiro, J. P. (1993). No pity:  People with disabilities forging a new civil rights movement.

15. Smith, Greg.  (2005). On a roll:  Reflections from America’s wheelchair dude with the winning attitude.  Ocean Springs, MS:  On a Roll Communications, 2005.

16. Walker, P. K. (2005).  Moving over the edge:  Artists with disabilities take the leap (MH Media, PO Box 687, Davis, CA 95617).

Fiction:

1.  Cole, J. S. (2000).  Getting life.  Louisville, KY:  Advocado, Available from PO Box 145, Louisville, KY 40201.

2.  Wood, P. (2007).  Lottery. New York:  Putnam.

Videos

Identify guest speaker(s), video(s), and/or website(s) exploring disability issues from various perspectives, such as autobiographical stories, cultural diversity, and examples of individuals with various disabilities.
1.  When  Billy Broke his Head…and other tales of wonder:

2.  Twitch and Shout:

3.  Disability, Identity, and Culture:

 

 
Web Resources

 1. Nickelodeon cruise – Cruise for arrangements for special children

2.  Special Olympics http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/fmartin.htm

3.  Disability Sports: Fencing http://edweb6.educ.msu.edu/kin866/Sports/spfencing.htm

4.  International Paralympic Committee http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/index.html

5.  Fight Hate and Promote Tolerance

6.  USA Water Skiing for the Disabled- http://www.usawaterski.org/pages/divisions/WSDA/main.htm

7.  A Chronology of the Disability Rights Movements-  http://www.sfsu.edu/~hrdpu/chron.htm

8.  Beyond Affliction: The Disability Cultural History Project http://www.straightaheadpictures.org/beyond-affliction/intr_pre.html

9. Used Kia Forte 5 Door Phoenix – Kia Motors dealership in arizona.

10. Lead free floor paint – floor paint

12. Berkey water filter – Donated 10 gravity fed water filters to hurricane aid agencies. Also see: berkey water filter & berkey

Myths VS FACTS

Myth: Wheelchair use is confining; people who use wheelchairs are “wheelchair-bound.”
Fact: A wheelchair, like a bicycle or an automobile, is a personal assistive device that enables someone to get around.

Myth: People with disabilities always need help.
Fact: Many people with disabilities are independent and capable of giving help. If you would like to help someone with a disability, ask if he or she needs it before you act.

Myth: Persons with disabilities are unable to meet performance standards, thus making them a bad employment risk. Fact: In 1990, DuPont conducted a survey of 811 employees with disabilities and found 90% rated average or better in job performance compared to 95% for employees without disabilities.
Fact: One in five Americans has a disability; that’s 49.7 million people (U.S. Census 2000). Hidden or invisible disabilities are physical or mental impairments that are not readily apparent to others. Hidden disabilities include disabilities such as learning disabilities, AD/HD, mental illness, traumatic brain injuries, epilepsy, diabetes, cancer, chronic health pain, and AIDS.

Myth: People with disabilities are usually very sedate and unable to participate in recreational activities.

Fact: People with disabilities lead diverse lives and take part in any sport or hobby you can think of including: mountain climbing, kayaking, dancing, horseback riding, scuba diving, racing, skiing, and skydiving.

 

1. Your attitude may be causing disabilities. Disability is not contagious, but your attitude might be.

Myth: People with disabilities live very different lives than people without disabilities

Fact: Overall, people with disabilities live the same way people without disabilities live – They go to school, get married, work, have families, do laundry, grocery shop, laugh, cry, pay taxes, get angry, have prejudices, vote, plan and dream like everyone else.

2. Learning Disabilities doesn’t mean that you’re slow. You just learn differently.
Myth: Students with LD have low intelligence or are slow learners.

Fact: Students with LD have at least average to high average intelligence and many are gifted. Many people with LD are successful: singers Tony Bennett and Jewel, actors Patrick Dempsey and Whoopi Goldberg, Kinko’s founder -Paul Orfalea, and author Avi to name a few.

3. Ignorance is not a disability. Don’t block ramps and sidewalks!

Myth: It is all right for people without disabilities to park in accessible parking spaces, if only for a few minutes.

Fact: Because accessible parking spaces are designed and situated to meet the needs of people who have disabilities, these spaces should only be used by people who need them.
4. Can you read this sign? A person who’s blind can’t. Think about how you disable others.

Myth: Blind people have exceptional hearing.

Fact: A person’s vision, or lack of vision, does not affect their hearing. However, someone who is blind may depend more on their hearing and be more attuned to sounds than a sighted counterpart. If you want to help a person with disability, invite them to a party.

Myth: People with disabilities are more comfortable with “their own kind.”
Fact: In the past, grouping people with disabilities in separate schools and institutions reinforced this misconception. Today, many people with disabilities take advantage of new opportunities to join mainstream society.

6. Don’t judge people with disabilities until you’ve rolled a mile in their chair. Wheelchairs don’t confine they liberate.

Myth: Wheelchair use is confining; people who use wheelchairs are “wheelchair-bound.”

Fact: A wheelchair, like a bicycle or an automobile, is a personal assistive device that enables someone to get around.

7. Find out what a person with an intellectual disability can teach you.

Myth:  Curious children should never ask people about their disabilities.
Fact: Many children have a natural, uninhibited curiosity and may ask questions that some adults consider embarrassing. But scolding curious children may make them think having a disability is “wrong” or “bad.” Many people with disabilities won’t mind answering a child’s question.

8. Do you include people with disabilities in your life? Are you against discrimination?

Myth: There is nothing one person can do to help eliminate the barriers confronting people with disabilities.

Fact: Everyone can contribute to change. One way you can help remove barriers is by encouraging participation of people with disabilities in community activities by using accessible meeting and event sites.

9. How you treat people with disabilities says a lot about you. Are you conscious of your actions?

Myth: People with disabilities always need help.

Fact: Many people with disabilities are independent and capable of giving help. If you would like to help someone with a disability, ask if he or she needs it before you act.

10. If you don’t know a person with a disability, you don’t know what you’re missing.

Myth: Persons with disabilities are unable to meet performance standards, thus making them a bad employment risk.

Fact: In 1990, DuPont conducted a survey of 811 employees with disabilities and found 90% rated average or better in job performance compared to 95% for employees without disabilities.

11. There is something you may not know about the person next to you, there’s a good chance they have a hidden disability.

Myth: Disability is a rare condition.
Fact: One in five Americans has a disability; that’s 49.7 million people (U.S. Census 2000). Hidden or invisible disabilities are physical or mental impairments that are not readily apparent to others. Hidden disabilities include disabilities such as learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, mental illness, brain injuries, epilepsy, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, cancer, chronic health pain, and AIDS.