When thinking about physical disabilities people often think about those who are unable or lack the capability to physically do something, one such example being an individual who needs a wheelchair and can no longer access buildings unless they have entrances specifically designed for them. In the past, the individual in this example would most likely have been seen by society as weak and frail, or lacking as an individual and unable to complete tasks on his or her own. This view as seeing them as a liability to society and needed to be taken care of has now changed. Although it has changed, disability will always mean different things to different people.
Today, in one model called the medical model it “calls for medical or other treatment or intervention, to 'correct' the problem with the individual” (World Health Organization [WHO], 2002, p.8) the problem being their disability. Another model would be the “social model of disability...[which] sees disability as a socially created problem and not at all an attribute of an individual” (WHO, 2002, p.9) The social model is similar to that of an aboriginal perspective in that they do not see a person’s disability as something that defines them. When looked at more closely from an aboriginal perspective individual’s with physical disabilities wouldn’t be looked at as lacking in bodily skills but rather they would be seen as being “strong in mind and spirit.” (Johnston, L. 2004. p.1). Individuals would be seen as having something other to offer other than just their physical abilities. For example, in Raihanna Hirji-Khalfan’s article (2009) he uses the example from Durst (2006) who states that the Hopi believe that disability is “based on one’s contribution to society rather than notions of difference” (p.3). Meaning people would be seen through the other skills that they posses such as being a gifted story teller, artist, caregiver, healer, musician etc (Johnston, L. 2004. p.1).From this we can see that the way aboriginal’s perceive those individuals who are weak in body is a really admirable way to look at things and in people today’s society would greatly benefit if they took a page out of an aboriginals book and viewed the world, as well as people, through their eyes, then maybe more people would see that there is more to people with disabilities then what they can do with their bodies.
- Jody
References
Hirji-Khalfan, R. (2009). Federal Supports for Aboriginal People with Disabilities. Retrieved from http://pi.library.yorku.ca/ojs/index.php/cdd/article/view/23386
Johnston, L. (2004). Native American Medicine: Part 2. Retrieved from http://www.mnaimhac.org/resources/NA%20Healing%20Modalities.pdf
World Health Organization Geneva. (2002). Towards a Common Language for Functioning, Disability and Health. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/classifications/icf/training/icfbeginnersguide.pdf
During my summers I work with teens who work with younger teens. I was doing a mid-week debrief with a teen who was working a kid with cerebral palsy, and he was really having a hard time thinking about how hard this boys life was and will be. We talked about how not to see others as deficient, but differnently abled.
ReplyDeleteGood article, Jody!
Kel
This is a good post! I think everyone should see that a person disability isn't all that they are, people with disabilities still have many amazing things to bring to the table, but sometimes it gets overlooked because of the disability, which is really sad to think about.
ReplyDelete-Jessica
I really enjoed your post Jody! You're right, the Medical Model assumes that the first step in “fixing” the problem is to find a cure or to make the disabled individual more "normal". This often fails because disabled people are not necessarily sick and usually, depending on the disability, cannot be improved by corrective treatment. This model places the source of the problem within the specific individual and thus, the only remaining solution is to accept the "abnormality". When looking at disability through this model, it is easy to see how people with disabilities might become stigmatized as "lacking" or "devalued”. When somebody is viewed as “sick”, they are usually excused from the normal responsibilities in society such as getting a job, caring for their family, going to school, etc. Disabled people do not want to be placed in such a category. They want to be equal to everyone else, they want to work, care for a family and be seen as a valuable asset within their community.
ReplyDeleteShauna Richardson
I really enjoyed your post! I also think that the aboriginal perceptions of people with physical disabilities is indeed admirable. If more people looked at others strengths, rather than their weaknesses, I'm sure discrimination against people with disabilities and many other minorities would be greatly reduced.
ReplyDelete- Adrienne A.
Love it. It's great to know the Indigenous perspective on disabilities is so positive. If society were to take a more holistic view there would be less inequality.
ReplyDelete-Kerri