To Imagine Disability Otherwise | Linda Ware | TEDxSUNYGeneseo

Summary

This video explores the evolving understanding of disability, emphasizing the need to shift from medicalized models to social and cultural perspectives. The speaker critiques the systemic ableism ingrained in education, healthcare, and society, urging a rethinking of how disabled individuals are viewed and treated. Drawing on disability studies, the speaker advocates for inclusivity in higher education and public spaces, pushing for a more comprehensive approach that values diverse abilities and challenges outdated norms. The ultimate goal is to create communities where all individuals, regardless of disability, are empowered to succeed and participate fully.

Takeaways

• 😀 Disability studies in higher education is evolving, challenging traditional models and assumptions about disability.
• 😀 The medical model of disability frames disability as a problem to be fixed, focusing on impairments in the body and mind.
• 😀 The social model of disability separates impairment from context, arguing that barriers in society create disability, not the individual’s condition.
• 😀 New conversations in disability studies, such as narrative medicine and narrative psychiatry, focus on the personal experiences of those with disabilities.
• 😀 Disability in education is often understood through a deficit model, viewing students with disabilities as deficient rather than competent individuals.
• 😀 Ableism is a form of systemic oppression that privileges able-bodied people and limits access for those with disabilities.
• 😀 The concept of ableism extends beyond physical spaces to include social attitudes, policies, and systems that marginalize disabled people.
• 😀 Microaggressions against people with disabilities, such as inaccessible spaces or exclusion from social settings, reflect deep-seated societal biases.
• 😀 Disability studies calls for an inclusive approach in education, where students with disabilities are seen as competent and included in the learning process.
• 😀 The lack of disability representation in higher education, particularly in recruitment, demonstrates a failure to fully embrace disability as part of diversity.
• 😀 Changing the narrative around disability requires shifting from legal compliance to a value-added perspective, where disabled individuals are seen as integral to the academic community.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the speaker's lecture?

The primary focus of the speaker's lecture is to explore disability studies, particularly in higher education, and to challenge the prevailing medical model of disability. The speaker advocates for a more inclusive approach that considers disability as a part of diversity in educational and societal settings.

How does the speaker ask the audience to reflect on disability?

The speaker asks the audience to reflect on their first memory of encountering disability, encouraging them to consider how their perceptions and assumptions about disability have been shaped by societal models and their own experiences.

What are the main models of disability that the speaker discusses?

The speaker discusses several models of disability, including the medical model, the social model, the feminist model, and the rights model. The medical model views disability as a problem to be fixed, while the social model emphasizes societal design and exclusion as the cause of disability.

What is the social model of disability?

The social model of disability separates impairment from the context and suggests that disability is not a result of the individual's body or mind but is created by societal structures and barriers that exclude certain people based on ability.

How does ableism manifest in society according to the speaker?

Ableism manifests as an unearned privilege granted to able-bodied individuals. This systemic bias is evident in the way society is structured, from physical spaces that exclude people with disabilities to attitudes, beliefs, and practices that perpetuate discrimination.

What role does disability studies play in education?

Disability studies in education challenges traditional views by rejecting deficit models of disability and promoting the idea that individuals with disabilities are competent. It seeks to create more inclusive educational environments where all students, regardless of ability, have equal access to learning opportunities.

How does the speaker relate the concept of disability to other forms of oppression?

The speaker compares ableism to other forms of systemic oppression, such as racism, sexism, and classism. Similar to these, ableism operates through physical and social barriers that marginalize people with disabilities.

What does the speaker suggest about physical barriers and their connection to disability?

The speaker points out that physical barriers, such as inaccessible buildings and spaces, contribute to the exclusion of people with disabilities. These barriers are often designed without considering the needs of disabled individuals, reflecting a broader societal disregard for their inclusion.

What is the significance of including disability in diversity efforts in higher education?

The speaker argues that if universities truly value diversity, they must include disability as part of their recruitment and educational efforts. This includes integrating disabled students into regular academic environments, providing them with the same opportunities to succeed as other students.

What is the speaker's critique of how disability is addressed in public schools?

The speaker critiques the institutionalized practices in public schools, where students with disabilities are often segregated into special education programs. These practices are influenced by outdated models of disability and contribute to the marginalization of disabled students, denying them the chance to fully participate in regular educational experiences.