1. Applying Disability Studies in Disability Services
Wendy S. Harbour, Ed.D.
2013 AHEAD Conference Baltimore, MD
© 2013

2. Introductions and Overview
PowerPoint and handout online
Purpose of presentation: “Disability Studies 101” for disability services providers
Models of disability
Ableism
Disability studies
“Cripping” the curriculum: Infusing disability studies into courses
2012!

3. Foundations of Disability Studies
Disability and disability-related barriers are socially constructed; disability does not have to be an inherently negative, pathological condition.
Ableism and oppression are part of the shared experience of disability.

4. The Medical Model of Disability
The Medical Model and Disability:
It’s a problem with the person who has a disability
Disabilities need to be fixed
Professionals are the only hope for a cure or normality
“Over-coming” and normality are goals

5. Socio-Political Models of Disability
The Social Model and Disability:
Disability is neutral
Barriers are “socially constructed” and primarily exist in the environment
Disability is part of the human experience
Anyone can create change
Goal is to change environment to reduce barriers

6. Socio-Political Models of Disability
The Cultural Model and Disability:
Disability defined by time, culture, ethnic group, etc.
Disability is part of the human experience
Attitudes about disability can teach us about our societies
The goal is changing values and attitudes, and keeping “disability” in context

7. Socio-Political Models of Disability
The Political Model and Disability:
Disability is defined by law, policy, and who has power or resources
Political and legal definitions reflect trends in society
The goal is distributing resources and re-defining concepts like “deserving”

8. Interactions and Environment Legal/Political Model
Summary of the Models
Cultural Model
Society and Values
Interactions and Environment
Medical Model
Social Model
Individual
Legal/Political Model
Law and Policy

9. Models Reveal Ableism
“…[T]he devaluation of disability results in societal attitudes that uncritically assert that it is better for a child to walk than roll, speak than sign, read print than read Braille, spell independently than use a spell-check, and hang out with nondisabled kids as opposed to other disabled kids, etc. In short, in the eyes of many educators and society, it is preferable for disabled students to do things in the same manner as nondisabled kids.”
Hehir, T. (2002). Eliminating ableism in education. Harvard Educational Review, 72(1), 1-33.

10. So how can we connect the Models of Disability and Ableism?
Connections…
So how can we connect the Models of Disability and Ableism?
Models of Disability
Ableism

11. The Traditional Models of Disability “Bad”/ “Good”
Cultural Model
Medical Model
Social Model
Legal/Political Model
The Medical Model is viewed as “Bad” and ableist
Other models dealing with the environment are seen as progressive, “Good” and empowering

12. The Traditional Models of Disability “Bad”/ “Good”
Cultural Model
Medical Model
Social Model
Legal/Political Model
What if all the models and aspects of disability can be “good” OR “bad”? Empowering or ableist?

13. Examples: Ableism and the Models
Medical Model
Labels are used Labels and impairments
to define and segregate are viewed in context
individuals and may be empowering
Social Model
Focus on environment Environment is
overlooks intrapersonal changed to reduce
characteristics, creating oppression disability-related barriers
Ableism Empowering
Ableism Empowering

14. Ableism and Disability Services
Ways to apply the theory/models and address ableism: Universal Design Disability Studies Disability in Curriculum

15. Universal Design in Education
Designing the environment for the maximum diversity of learners
Courses, Work, and Activities Services and Policy Architecture Technology

16. Universal Design Choices & Flexibility
Present information in different accessible formats
Assume there will be a variety of users/learners
Use different forms of evaluation or assessment so people can show what they have learned or understood
Allow people to engage or be motivated in different ways
Plan for possible access needs or services (e.g., physical accessibility, interpreters, braille) and ask whether these may work for everyone

17. What is Disability Studies?
Disability studies is a lens for thinking about the world.

18. Disability Studies: Interdisciplinary
Art
History
Identity

19. Disability Studies: Interdisciplinary
Deaf Studies
Attitude
and Activism
Pop Culture

20. Disability Studies: Attitude/Language

21. Disability Studies: Identity
Having pride in oneself
Finding a community
Coming out as “disabled”
Promoting disability as part of campus diversity
No apologies for rights and accommodations – “independence” is what we do with supports and services (everyone is interdependent anyway)

22. Beyond UD and Disability Studies: “Cripping” the Curriculum by Infusing Disability
Avoids disability as just “Disability Awareness Days” or disability accommodations issue; disability becomes part of diversity
Avoids potential erasure of disability happening with UD
Examples:
“Right to Die” in philosophy class
Coding of “norms” in statistics
Disability and the Holocaust in history
Inclusion of authors with disabilities in English/literature courses; finding disability subtext or including disability in discussions of “difference”

23. So What? Applying Critical Thinking
AHEAD documentation guidelines
Disability cultural centers and activist student groups
“Disabilities,” “Conditions,” and “Temporary Disabilities”
Questions about modifications
Professionals as gatekeepers
Faculty concerns about faking or special privileges
Students who don’t want to use disability services

24. Additional Resources
Handout online Bibliography of resources: Disability studies in disability services, universal design, and first-person accounts of disability in higher education

25. Q and A
Contact information:
Wendy S. Harbour, Ed.D.
Taishoff Center,
Syracuse University
805 South Crouse Avenue, 101 Hoople Building
Syracuse, NY
Phone: or VideoPhone: