May 1, 2008 is blogging against Disablism over at Diary of a Goldfish so I thought I would get a head start on this post.
There are many barriers to full inclusion into society for individuals with disabilities. Today I would like to talk about three specific barriers.
1. Attitude and Prejudice... I believe many in society continue to view individuals with disabilities as less than full members of society. The nondisabled public often labels individuals with disabilities as people to be taken care of, feared, or in need of pity. It would be nice if the mainstream media would start to portray individuals with disabilities as we truly are. Highlight our legitimate successes, careers, family etc. just as they document every other member of society.
2. Lack of Funding ... Individuals with disabilities are severely economically challenged as a society. Traditionally individuals with disabilities have the highest unemployment rates of any group. A very large percentage of individuals with disabilities are living below the poverty line.
Resources for assistive technology are very limited and no insurance company that I know of will pay for assistive technology to enable and empower individuals to compete fairly in life.
3. Universal Design... Despite the passage of the ADA, there are still inexcusable physical barriers to inclusion in society. There are very few buildings I can access in my small town. There may as well be a sign that says no redheaded Irishman are welcome here. Curb cuts are few and far between forcing me to plan my routes carefully or drive on the street. New homes are being built unfortunately inaccessible. Everywhere around me there are buildings that I cannot access.
These are three of the things that make me disabled not just my spinal cord injury.....
Monday, April 28, 2008
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3 comments:
Thanks for contributing Blogging Against Disablism Day (I think you were the first post!)
Also thank you for commenting on other posts - I've noticed you around and I know that makes a big difference. :-)
Greg: Maybe it's both have spinal cord injuries, but I'd agree with all three of these and would name the same ones. There's this line regarding quality of life that's tough to reach without assistive technology/equipment , at least in my experience as a person with quadriplegia - it affects independence, even health.
Happy BADD 2008!
Every time I see someone with a disability portrayed on TV or in a movie not as a condition but as just another shape of ordinary person going about his/her life, I cheer a little. I look forward to the day when I don't even notice.
Good list.
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