Miller-History of Disability

 History of Disabilities

Historical and Contemporary Overview

    The definition of Disability has changed throughout time, there are many types of disabilities ranging from physical disabilities to mental disabilities (Meldon 2023). Treatment of disabilities has gone through a transformation process due to those individuals with disabilities demanding a change (Meldon 2023). The disabilities act is one of the largest acts created since the 1900s. The ADA is an act that protects individuals with a disability from being discriminated against (Meldon 2023). This ADA act's main focus is to fight for equal rights for all individuals, regardless if they have a disability or not. In the 1930s the physically handicapped rallied together to fight for employment during the great depression (Meldon 2023).  There is a group called, "We are not alone" This group was formed by a group of psychiatric patients. This group helped these individuals with the transformation from the hospital to the community (Meldon 2023). Life in the community was much different than the life in the hospital. In 1950 there was a group formed called NARC, which stood for National Association for Retarded Children (Meldon 2023). This group had several thousands of members, most of them being parents. The main concern of this group was to find alternative care and education for their children (Meldon 2023). 

Stereotypes and Stereotypical thinking

    Stereotypes about individuals with a disability are more common than people would think. For example, a stereotype about individuals with disabilities is that these individuals are incompetent. This stereotype is so upsetting because many individuals with disabilities have jobs, and are living on their own (Dunn 2022). For example, there is a company called Chosen Vision which is for individuals who have a disability. There are five different houses, and these individuals move into these homes to learn how to do day-to-day things. For example, individuals learn how to cook, clean, and interact with others. People with disabilities face stereotypes every day because many places of unemployment will not hire an individual with a disability, depending on the severity of it. For example, grocery stores do not discriminate (Dunn 2022). Often times the people gathering the carts are special needs, or at a restaurant clearing tables are used. There are stereotypes towards individuals with disabilities who are often treated differently than other individuals (Dunn 2022). For example, there was a client who was trying to call a company to get their wheelchair fixed, and the company wouldn't allow him to call anymore. The company said this gentleman cannot call anymore for requests because he is not competent to understand what they are saying. This gentleman called his doctor, and that doctor called the company. This is just one of the many examples of discrimination and stereotypes that happen to individuals with disabilities.

Cultural Perceptions

    Cultural perceptions regarding disabilities vary from culture to culture. Some countries are ashamed of individuals with a disability (Dunn 2022). Other cultures pair pity with individuals who have a disability, which is not fair to these individuals. Every individual should be treated with equal rights, not depending on if there is a disability or not. 

Sources

    Dunn, D. (2022). Changing attitudes towards disabilities. Changing attitudes towards disability (apa.org)

    Lestor, J. (2021). Historical and Social Constructions of Disability. Historical and Social Constructions of Disability | SpringerLink

    Meldon, P. (2023). Disability History: The Disability Rights Movement. Disability History: The Disability Rights Movement (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)