Description

Refer back to your short essay responses completed during module one. What have you learned in this class that has surprised you? How might what you have learned to be applied in other areas of your life?

 

Course book: Hardman, M., Egan, W., & Drew, C. (2015). Human Exceptionality: School, Community, and Family(12th ed.). Cengage Learning. must be cited

 

 

Thinking About “Disability

 

1. What words or images do you think of when you hear the word “disabled”? “handicapped”? “gifted”?

 

From a person who has a family member with a disability. I feel that most people that have a disability whether it be down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, muscular dystrophy, a brain injury to name a few classify themselves as having a disability. They do not refer to themselves as special needs.

 

When I think of the word “disabled” I think of a person who has a loss of a physical function or learning disability or social interactions that interferes with everyday life.

 

When I think of a person who is “handicapped” I think of a limitation that the individual has due to their environment or the ability to cope with the limitation.

 

When I think of a “gifted” person I think of an individual that has a high degree of mental ability or extraordinary abilities in a certain area or knowledge.

 

2. In the film Big Enough, Anu says (01:05:76) “a couple of times a weekend you are reminded that you are different – someone takes a picture or insists they know how old you are” How do you treat people who are different from you? How would you deal with being constantly reminded that you are different?

 

This struck me hard as an individual it is difficult to have any of your differences point out to you whether it’s how you look, act, laugh, talk or social class. I have always tried to treat everyone as I would like to be treated with dignity and respect and to treat them as an individual no matter what their outward appearance may seem. I raised my children to do the same as well. Treating people as people, in my opinion, is the correct thing to do not to pick out what is “different” from you.

 

I feel that no matter who you are if you are constantly being reminded that you are different it is going to affect your self-esteem and the outlook you have on yourself. I would try to surround myself with positive people in my life that love me and support me for who I am and do not judge me based on my appearance or characteristics.

 

3. What words does your community use to describe different groups of people? Why do you think people in your community use particular terms or choose to use particular terms?

 

From my experience within the community, the word disabled seems to be utilized to categorize people with different abilities. I feel that the majority of the community focuses on peoples abilities. Our community has great resources such as the Gavras Center, ARISE, the Unity House, ARC and several other organizations that teach people skills to live their lives to the best of their ability by providing services and programs to help individuals live their lives with quality and as independently as possible with encouragement and support.

 

Citation:

 

 

Krawitz, J. (n.d.). Big Enough. Retrieved January 31, 2019, from https://www.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/1838561/uiconf_id/32334692/entry_id/1_833vjw16/embed/auto?&flashvars[streamerType]=auto

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