EDL 7030

You raise some good questions, Kim. What qualifies someone as being "disabled"? Should it be people who self-identify as disabled, or do the "abled" people get to decide? It seems that some fight this label, (who likes a label?), yet some embrace it. If "disabled" means "lacking ability" then I would agree with Kim that we are all disabled in one way or another. But my small physical, emotional, or intellectual challenges might be nothing compared to someone who is deaf, blind, or learning disabled. I wonder if even saying this does a disservice to those who struggle with severely disruptive disbailities? How does the severity of a disability figure into our perception of the person?

I think Marisa raises a good point regarding severity of disability. I would say that many people do take the severity of a disability into account as the form perceptions and thoughts about individuals. I think we do this with people in many ways when we judge based on level of wealth, intelligence, beauty, etc. This problem we have as humans of judging one another is difficult to overcome regardless of the measure we use.

Kim,
I agree with you. Some disabilities are more apparent and openly overt for the world to see. However, there are those disabilities that are not as noticeable, like the paralysis of fear, the crippling effects of prejudiceness, and the blind spots of a culture in denial of the existence of others.

It is as if society is afraid of the “(un)normal”. And, if you look differently or perhaps have difficulty walking, or some other openly deformity, then society has a compartmentalized place for you. But, after reading the Evevelles article, I have come to realize that the societal abjection to difference must be both challenged and reconsidered. This acceptance of a new narrative will only serve as a tool or another frame of reference that will enhance the individual who chooses to be brave enough to become vulnerable.

My question then is, “What are the historical conditions that have caused this division which has separated the differently able from the rest of society.

I really get this. I have seen HUNDREDS of ELL kids labeled disabled because of their language proficiency. I've also seen many kids with emotional barriers fall through the cracks because they test well and don't have the magic number that equates to their IQ and their performance gap. Honestly, I hate this about public school! I hate that we sit around and try to decide if a kid is normal or special needs. I hate being asked to defend or refer a child. I hate the absolute arrogance that assumes that we have any right to say what is and isn't normal just because we serve on a BAT or RTI committee. I love your point about all of us being disabled! I wonder how many decisions, how many labels, how many classroom assignments, 504 placements (ETC) would be changed if we were all in touch with own disabilities a little more.

summed. Do not want to miss your articles.

Found your site on bookmarkingservice today and really liked it. I bookmarked it too and will be back to check it out some more later .. thanks!