Posted: 3/31/2008 at 06:54 PM
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Today I did my talk on disability and the family. I've begun to start with "What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word disability?" I got the standard answers, but today was the first time that I got "Disabilitiy means handicap."
"Can you expand on that?"
No
Today was the first time I chose to speak about how bipolar affects me, and I really wowed myself. I spoke in December but it didn't come up and at that point I was in such a horrible state that I really had no clue how it effects me. I like to talk on panels best. I feel that it is better to learn about disability in the plural sense as opposed to the singular sense. Disability is not singular. What I found today is that I am now my own panel. I am proof in and of myself that what is invisable affects someones life as much as what is visable.
Afterwards I got "I never realized that disability can also be mental and other things and that cancer is also a disability." Afterall, I had to talk about my family, and both my mom and uncle have cancer.
And Ms "disability means handicaped?" She said "You know, really a disability is just a part of who you are." That was the best thing I heard all day It lets me know that I did my job.
The professor said afterwards that I really inspire (gag me) everyone, including herself, to really begin to think about things in a different way then they did before (I took back the gag in my head). That's the point of it all
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The difference between disability and handicap ive always wondered that myself. Though i admit i like the word disability alot better because growing up in the 90s, there was just too much stigma attached to handicap. If not for that i wouldnt cringe to hear the word.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences on this issue.
Disability: As defined by the ADA, a person has a disability if they have “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.” While there are many definitions, common dictionary and legal definitions tend to focus around the word incapacity.
Handicap: A disadvantage or obstacle to role performance, often imposed upon people by the constructs of society and/or other outside forces, as opposed to by inherent limitations of disability, disease, or impairment.
Today I did a guest lecture in class. Identity Development & Disability . It wasn't my favorite
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