PSYC 4120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Ableism
Document Summary
The context of disability within our social environment: When we conceptualize disability as a universal experience, than the approach we use employs the goals of accessibility and social inclusion for everyone. When disability is constructed as difference from the norm" then the approach used is one that focuses on how to accommodate difference. Maintains an us v them" mentality and differentiates people with disabilities from people without disabilities. Often requires people with disabilities to be their own advocates in initiating adaptations for their unique needs; reactive and retrofit solutions. Post-secondary classroom example: recognizing disability as the difference from the norm allows individualized accommodations to rely on the student to initiate the process of having their unique needs met. Have to identify themselves as having this disability and provide documentation to professors and instructors: can leave them feeling as if they are asking for a special favour, can feel labelled in a negative way by this process.
