The Culture of Cognitive Disability Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Fragile X Syndrome Down Syndrome Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Asphyxia Autism Spectrum Disorders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Anxiety Schizophrenia Learning Disabilities Cerebral Palsy

Produced by: Nina Loan & William Perot Assistant Producer: Brittany Caruso

Culture  Shapes how we see the world and how we make sense of it  Influences our behaviors and interactions  Effects how we make sense of “disability” and how we respond to individual with disabilities

 Large spectrum of disorders and conditions - many different definitions  Individuals that exhibit significant delays in measured intelligence, adaptive functioning, and academic performance  Each case is different and should not depend on definitions and labels  Every INDIVIDUAL is UNIQUE! What is a Cognitive Disability?

Adrian Monk Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Adaptive ability impaired

 I enjoy time on the computer  I love TV shows and movies like:  Harry Potter  Monk  Pocahontas  Glee I get them stuck in my head and can’t get them out no matter how hard I try  I love drawing  I have a boyfriend  It is hard for me to learn sometimes  I have a cognitive disability  I have Down Syndrome Nina “Bean”

William aka “Slick Willy”  I love Victorious (the TV show)  I like the computer and Facebook  I love to do word searches  I love High School Musical  I need things broken down into small steps to learn  I have a cognitive disability

What People See  Physical disabilities are easier to see and as a result, are most often associated with “disability”  However, cognitive disabilities are very common in children and adults but are RARELY recognized or even known to the general public

Generalization  A deficit in one characteristic causes shortcomings to be given to other abilities too.  People raise their voices to talk to a person who is blind  A person in a wheelchair is assumed to be cognitively impaired  Not everyone with a physical disability has a cognitive disability…  And not everyone with a cognitive disability has a physical disability!

Artie from “Glee”  Has a physical disability  In a wheelchair due to a car accident  Does NOT have a cognitive disability

Discrimination…  “Many people think we cannot do the same things that everyone else can.”  “It happens all the time.”  “Many people go out of their way to avoid us.”  “People talk to my aides as if I am not there or can’t understand them.”  “Many people think we cannot do anything at all.”  “Some people think we have no business being in the general public.”

They Are Wrong!  We are just like everyone else  We eat, breath, learn, care and feel just like everyone else

What the Cognitively Disabled Individuals Say…  “I love to be with my friends and I love helping them out!”  “Attitudes are the REAL disability.”  “Social interactions are so important for many of us as a means to learn.”  “I want to be treated fairly.”  “We want to be asked not told.”  “We enjoy having classes with our friends.”

“We want to be able to do the same things that you can do!”

For an Occupational Therapist  Talk to me! Don’t treat me like I can’t understand you  Be patient! (give me processing time)  Don’t assume you know me just by a label (Use recourses)  Step by Step (break tasks down)  Use my interests as motivation  Don’t judge my behaviors  Technology is great!

“ Red and Green apples are more alike than they are different.”  People with disabilities want the same respect and to be able to make the same choices that you make about your life!

The “Face” of Cognitive Disability

Questions?