Disability as a Multicultural and Diversity Component Shonda McLaughlin, PhD, CRC John Hopkins University November 1, 2006

What is Multiculturalism? Sue, et. Al (1998) defines ten characteristics of multiculturalism: Sue, et. Al (1998) defines ten characteristics of multiculturalism: 1. values cultural pluralism and acknowledges our nation as a cultural mosaic rather than a melting pot. 2. is about social justice, cultural democracy, and equity. 3. is about helping all of us acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills needed to function effectively in a pluralism democratic society and interact with peoples from diversity background.

4. Transcends race, class, gender, and ethnicity. It also includes diversity in religion, national origin, sexual orientation, ability, and disability, age geographic origin. 5. is about celebrating the realistic contributions and achievements of our and other cultures and involves our willingness to explore both the positive and negative aspects of out group’s and other groups’ behavior over time. 6. is essential component of analytical thinking and challenges us to study multiple perspectives, to develop multiple perspectives, and teach our children how to integrate broad and conflicting bodies of information to arrive at sound judgements. 7. It recognizes “treating everyone the same” may deny equal access and opportunities, and that differential treatment is not necessarily “preferential.”

8. means “change” at the individual, organizational, and societal levels. It is an on-going and long-term process that requires commitment and hard work. 9. may mean owning up to painful realities about oneself, our group, and our group society. 10. is about achieving positive individual, community, and societal outcomes because it values inclusion, cooperation, and movement toward mutually shared goals.

Disability What is it? What is it?

Webster’s definition “1. A disabled condition” “1. A disabled condition” “2. That which disables, as an illness or injury “2. That which disables, as an illness or injury “3. A legal disqualification or incapacity” “3. A legal disqualification or incapacity” “4. Something that restricts; limitation; disadvantage” “4. Something that restricts; limitation; disadvantage”

Images What comes to mind when you hear the word “disabled?” What comes to mind when you hear the word “disabled?” Define disability. Define disability. FDR FDR –Athletic –“Crippled” –“Supercrip” –Inspiration –Not a Whole –Memorial –What’s the significance in the statute?

Language/Needs/Ideas “perpetuates common misconceptions about people with disabilities…” “perpetuates common misconceptions about people with disabilities…” Power does not equal to disability. Power does not equal to disability. Political movement Political movement

Effective Multicultural Counseling (Sue & Sue, 1990) Movement from being culturally unaware to being aware and sensitive of his/her own cultural heritage and to valuing and respecting differences Movement from being culturally unaware to being aware and sensitive of his/her own cultural heritage and to valuing and respecting differences Counselor awareness of his/her own values an biases and how those biases may affect culturally diverse persons with disabilities Counselor awareness of his/her own values an biases and how those biases may affect culturally diverse persons with disabilities

cont.. Developing and increasing the comfort level with difference that exist between themselves and persons being served in terms of race and beliefs Developing and increasing the comfort level with difference that exist between themselves and persons being served in terms of race and beliefs Sensitivity to circumstances that may dictate the referral of a culturally diverse individual with a disability to a member of his/her own race/ culture Sensitivity to circumstances that may dictate the referral of a culturally diverse individual with a disability to a member of his/her own race/ culture Acknowledgment and awareness of his/her own beliefs, attitudes, and feelings Acknowledgment and awareness of his/her own beliefs, attitudes, and feelings

Changing Views Although there has been improvement, we, still, have ways to go. Although there has been improvement, we, still, have ways to go. Progressed from institutionalization – rehabilitation Progressed from institutionalization – rehabilitation –Eugenics –Veterans –Segregation

Implications Consciously, add disability related issues into our conversations. Consciously, add disability related issues into our conversations. Do not be embarrassed of disability. Do not be embarrassed of disability. Own up to our responsibility to include people with disabilities, instead of excluding them. Own up to our responsibility to include people with disabilities, instead of excluding them.

The point is... We all have abilities We all have abilities Many of us have disabilities Many of us have disabilities The focus is on the PERSON and their ABILITIES The focus is on the PERSON and their ABILITIES And now, a word on “ility” And now, a word on “ility”