Reframing Disability A Diversity Fellow Conversation

How disability impacts our community Reframing disability Universal design (definition and examples) Applying universal design to your work What is disability studies Applying a new way of thinking to your work Agenda

56.7 million people in the US have a disability (18.7%) million people have a severe disability (12.6%) Majority of Americans will have diabetes or pre- diabetes by % of people with disabilities are unemployed compared to 7.1 % of the non-disabled population. Globally, this market represents $3 trillion dollars of disposable income. Disability Statistics

The disability community is the largest HEG that anyone can become a member of at anytime….it is also the fastest growing community on college campuses around the United States. (Vogel, Summer 2011, Insight into Diversity) This number will continue to grow. Aging population Medical advancements Wounded warriors Disability Statistics

How does this impact our community? Does it relate to our public affairs mission: Ethical Leadership Cultural Competence Community Engagement How does this all intersect our work? Are we addressing this in our teaching? Are our students aware and prepared for it will intersect their future work? The Impact

“In order for full inclusion to take place, we must move beyond the thinking of minimum compliance and completely change how we perceive disability…only then will real inclusion occur.” -Katheryne Paradigm Shift

We need to change how we perceive disability. We need to think about how disability intersects our work/our lives. We must embrace disability as a part of diversity and value the disability community as a powerful identity group. Paradigm Shift

Carol J. Gill, Chicago Institute of Disability Research Model Comparison of Disability Medical Model (Old)Interactional/Socio-Political Model (New) Disability is a deficiency or abnormalityDisability is a difference Being disabled is negativeBeing disabled, in itself, is neutral Disability resides in the individualDisability derives from the interaction between the individual and society The remedy for disability-related problems is cure or normalization of the individual The remedy for disability-related problems is a change in the interaction between the individual and society The agent of remedy is the professionalThe agent of remedy is the individual, an advocate, or anyone who affects the arrangements between the individual and society * Disability is a social construct

Social Model Animation

Deep Sea Diving…in a wheelchair ing_in_a_wheelchair.htmlhttp:// ing_in_a_wheelchair.html Sue Austin

An online poll of 1,000 people. 52% of Americans would rather be dead than disabled. However, the majority of disabled people, if given the choice, would rather live their lives with their disability. (Disaboom, 2008) Different perceptions

“Disability pride represents a rejection of the notion that our physical, sensory, mental and cognitive differences from the non-disabled standard are wrong or bad in any way and is a statement of our self-acceptance, dignity and pride. It is a public expression of our belief that our disabilities are a natural part of human diversity, a celebration of our heritage and culture, and a validation of our experience…” Sarah Triano (2006) Disability Pride

Disability Pride Why Autism is a gift?

Universal Design (UD) is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. – Ron Mace UD is designing for people with a broad range of abilities, disabilities, ages, reading levels, learning styles, native languages, cultures, and other characteristics. – DO-IT Universal Design

Who Benefits?

Order Assist, Video

Less than $1,000 per store 30 new customers per week Who else might benefit? Video Discussion

Infusing JUST design in campus recreation. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 25(3), Planning for an Inclusive Campus Recreation Facility and Program. Recreation Sports Journal. 36(1) Campus Recreation

Think about a physical space, program, policy, area in your unit. How could you make it more inclusive for those with disabilities? What Can You Do?

Disability Resource Center Carrington Hall, Access Technology Center Meyer Library, Rooms 201B – 201G Resources

Dr. Shannon Wooden Associate Professor, English Dr. Telory Davies Assistant Professor, Theatre and Dance Faculty

Questions