Disability Perspectives: Models, Language, and Identity Katherine Deibel University of Washington

Disability Perspectives:Models, Language,

and Identity

Katherine Deibel

University of Washington

CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 2

Opening comments

• This is not a replacement for a disability studies/ training course

• There will always be exceptions

• I have biases


Why “handicap” is a bad word

Literal Definitions:• Handicap = Restriction on performance• Disabilty = Absence of an ability

Lack of an ability ≠ Restricted performance

Handicapping in Horse-Racing

Weights are added to the saddles to compensate for differences among the jockeys


Definitions

• Disability:a human condition that differs from the norm with regard to a particular human ability

• Handicap:occurs when a disability interferes with the ability to perform a task


So what is accessibility?

“Accessibility is the practice of

arranging things within some context

so that a disability is not a handicap.”

Brian J. Rosmaita

Department of Computer Science

Hamilton College

Clinton, NY


Interactions

Language Choice

Model of Disability


What is a model?

• In the STEM fields, a model:• Represents a real-world system• Is abstract or mathematical• Is predictive

• In Critical Theory, a model:• Is a specific viewpoint or philosophy• Incorporates social, political, and

economic factors• Attempts to explain behaviour and

phenomena


Moral Model of Disability

• Disability:• is a punishment for wickedness / sin• is a burden to the individual and others

• Associated with:• Institutionalization • Self-loathing• Guilt• Blame


Medical Model of Disability

• Disability:• Is a flaw in the individual• Requires medical treatment / fixing• Limits a person’s livelihood

• Associated with:• Medical innovation• Legal definitions• Fixation on normality / Ableism


Rehabilitation Model of Disabilty

• Disability:• Is a deficiency that needs addressing• Implies a person is in need of help• Requires renormalization into society

• Associated with:• WWII Veterans• Vocational Rehabilitation• Offshoot of the medical model


Social Model of Disability

• Disability:• Is a part of life• Has both positive and negative aspects• Is problematic only in relation to certain

social and environmental factors

• Associated with:• Recognizing discrimination• Disability Rights Movement• Inclusion / Universal Design


So which model is best?

• Bad question:• These models are viewpoints, not predictors• No evaluation function

• My opinion:• Moral model is bad• Social model and Medical model are both useful:

• Medical diagnoses and procedures are informative• However, treatment should be optional• Changes to external factors might be more effective

than medical treatment• Disability is part of diversity• Disability can be positive and negative


Interactions Redux

Model of Disability

Language Choice


Models and Language

Model Language

Moralcleansed, purified, burden, punishment

Medicalcure, treat, correct, suffers, confined, defect

Rehabilitationreskilled, rehabilitated, trained, in need

Socialaccommodation, integrate, inclusive, context


Unhandicapping the Language

• Goal:

Choosing words that maintain the integrity of individuals as human beings

• Approaches:• APA Style Guidelines• People-First Language

• Not about political correctness


Rule 1: Focus on the Person

• Put the person first:- a person with dyslexia - individuals who are blind

- a dyslexic person- blind individuals

• Do not turn an adjective into a noun:- the blind- dyslexics- the deaf****


Realities of Rule 1

• “Individuals with _____” is unwieldy:• takes up a lot of space• breaks up the writing flow

• Kate’s Rule of Thumb:

“Individuals with dyslexia” “dyslexic individuals”


Rule 2: Avoid “weighted” words

• Special• Challenged

• Exceptional• Visually-challenged

• Avoid euphemisms:

• Cripple • Retard / Imbecile

• Spaz / “Joey”• Schitzo / Psycho

• Avoid slurs:

• Confined• Struggle• Defect

• Challenged• Overcome• Heroic

• Avoid words with value judgments:


Rule 2 applies to pictures too

• They Shall Walk – A foundation to help disabled persons walk again


Realities of Rule 2

• Context is always a factor:• Retardation, spastic are medical terms• Deficit is a common term in education

• Your model of disability is another:“Unfortunately, there is no treatment or intervention strategy that cures autism…. the attention deficit in children with autism results in an incorrect output, which we wish to correct using a controller.”


However… there are special cases

• Deaf or deaf• deaf = limited or absent sense of hearing• Deaf = describes a culture• In culture discussions, saying “the Deaf” is

as okay as saying “the Amish”

• Autism Rights:• Beginnings of claims of “Autist culture”• Argues for replacing “normal” with

“neurotypical”


Practicality: Call for Study Participants

• Scout out or talk with people in the population first

• When in doubt, ask for how they describe their disability

• Two example calls of mine: “Do you have a learning disability or difficulty with

reading?”

“Do you have a physical, mobility, psychiatric, or mental disability OR are you Deaf or hard of hearing?”


Why do language and models matter?

• One word:

Identity


Many Facets of Identity

• Internal Identity• Known by the person

• Visible Identity• Intentionally revealed by the person

• Social Identity• Imposed by the social-environmental

context


Disability is a part of identity

• Disability is an aspect of daily life

• Its presence is both positive and negative

• Its importance is shaped by context


Implications of Disability Identity

• Aversions to “cures”• Deaf culture and cochlear implants• The Autism Rights movement• Hahn & Belt Paper

• Social implications of being “out”• Learning disabilities and stigma• Invisible disabilities and the hesitancy to

seek out help• “Acquisition of a child by a learning

disability”


Conclusions

• It’s complicated

• What is “It”?• Disability• People• Language• Identity• Puppies• Etc.

Documents

Disability Perspectives: Models, Language, and Identity Katherine Deibel University of Washington