Disability Sensitivity in Inclusive Environments

Disability Sensitivity in Inclusive Environments

Sylvia Domagalski, RNDallas Region Disability CoordinatorJuly 2011

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Redefining Disability

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OverviewDisability rights movementPeople first languageA new way of thinkingWorking with a student with a

disabilityResiliencyResources

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Disability Rights Movement

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Past History Trying to solve the “problem” of

disabilityAncient practices to achieve “human

perfection”Religious influencesFirst half of twentieth centuryUS Supreme court decision

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Disability Rights MovementComparing disability rights movement

to earlier social justice movementsPersonal tragedy vs. social oppression

paradigm

Person First Language

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Person First Language Person First Language puts the

person before the disability and describes what a person has, not who a person is

A “person with a disability” not a “disabled” person

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Why Person First?Group designations such as "the blind,"

"the retarded" or "the disabled" are inappropriate because they do not reflect the individuality, equality or dignity of people with disabilities.

Words like "normal person" imply that the person with a disability isn't normal, whereas "person without a disability" is descriptive but not negative.

http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/comucate.htm

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Language UseNegative Phrase Affirmative Phrase

Retard; retardedA person with an intellectual disability

Wheelchair boundA person who uses a wheelchair or who has a mobility disability

The disabled; handicapped A person with a disability

Crazy, nuts, psycho, lunatic

A person with a mental health disability

Deaf and dumb, mute A person who is deaf

He’s an epileptic A person who has epilepsy

Afflicted by MSA person who has multiple sclerosis

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Tips for Interacting with People with DisabilitiesAlways direct your communication to the individual with a

disability. If they are accompanied, do not address comments to the companion.

Do not focus on the disability, but at the issue at hand.If you are uncertain about what to do, ask.When introduced to a person with a disability, it is

appropriate to offer to shake hands. Use a normal speaking tone and style. If someone needs you

to speak in a louder voice, he/she will ask you to do so.

For more tips on interacting with people with disabilities, visit: http://jcweb.jobcorps.org/Disability/Pages/BasicEtiquette.aspx

A New Way of Thinking

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A New Way of ThinkingDisability is a natural part of the

human experience.People with disabilities are fine, just

the way they are.Disability is simply one of many

characteristics of being human.A disability represents a body part

that works differently (not better or worse, just differently).

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A New Way of ThinkingCelebrate the abilities, strengths,

talents, interests, and dreams of those who have been labeled.

When we see disability differently, we will think about it differently, we will use different words, and our actions will lead to the inclusion and full participation of individuals who have been assigned a disability status.

Working with a Student with a Disability

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Job Corps Student ProfileAt promise youth vs. at- risk youthMay come from foster

homesMay have ineffective coping

skillsMay have involvement with

drugs and/or alcoholMay have dysfunctional

family patternsMay have court involvementMay have adolescent

growth issues

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Job Corps Student with a Disability ProfileMay have been treated as second class

citizens within the school systemMay have experienced isolationMay have experienced being bullied by

othersAs a result of these experiences they

may hold the belief that they do not belong

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Belief Systems of Students with DisabilitiesStudents with disabilities may feel:they are different than everyone else,

because of their disabilitythat they must hide their disability

because they may not be accepted into the Job Corps program

they need to be “fixed”they need to earn their way to be with

others

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Support

Take a look at ourselves.Review our past and what

beliefs we encountered either from family or society.

Old attitudes and perceptions-not the disability itself-constitutes the greatest obstacle facing our students with disabilities.

Are we willing to change and step up for this challenge?

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Working with a Student with a Disability

It is okay to say the word disability. However, explain it by using your new way of thinking.

Explain what the disability is: keep it simple.

It is extremely important that the student understands his/her disability and the strategies/accommodations that can make things easier.

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Working with a Student with a DisabilityReasonable accommodation meeting

Purpose of meetingFraming the intention of meetingOpportunities to develop effective

relationships

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Working with a Student with a DisabilityEnsure understanding of accommodation

conceptEnsure understanding of accommodation

plan and accommodation processExplain the importance of self advocacy

Option: Assign student the task of researching his/her disability and suggesting accommodations that may be effective

Resiliency

Jessica Cox – First Pilot to Fly Airplane With FeetJessica Cox was born

without arms, but that has only stopped her from doing one thing: using the word can't.

With one foot manning the controls and the other delicately guiding the steering column, Cox, 25, soared to achieve a Sport Pilot certificate.

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Bethany Hamilton – Soul SurferBorn in Kauai,

Hawaii into a family of professional surfers

Lost her arm in a tiger shark attack at the age of 13

Went on to become a pro surfer in 2007

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Hidden Disability Role ModelsEmotionalPatty Duke Abraham LincolnJane PauleyLinda HamiltonMichelangeloLudwig Beethoven

LD/ADHD Bruce JennerCherDanny GloverMagic JohnsonJewelWhoopi GoldbergTommy Hilfiger

Resources

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R-WORD Campaign

http://therword.org/

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What Can YOU Do? Campaign

I Can” PSA Youth Discussion Guide

This guide can be used to start a conversation among all youth, with and without disabilities, about the importance of focusing on ability and talent, not making assumptions about what people can or can’t do, and setting goals for employment. The “I Can” PSA encourages everyone to set employment goals high and to remember that at work, it’s what people CAN do that matters.

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National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

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The Ten CommandmentsProvides information on

disability etiquette through a series of humorous vignettes

Delivers a compelling portrait of people with disabilities as competent and contributing participants in the workforce

http://www.disabilitytraining.com

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Job Corps Disability Website

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Supporting Students with Learning Disabilities Website

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Disability is Natural Website

Posters available at www.disabilityisnatural.com

Regional Disability CoordinatorsLisa Kosh-Region 1

lisa.kosh@humanitas.com Kimberly Jones-Regions 2, 5, 6

kim.jones@humanitas.com Nikki Jackson-Region 3

nikki.jackson@humanitas.com Sylvia Domagalski-Region 4

sylvia.domagalski@humanitas.com

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Questions?