Individuals living with disabilities often experience negative social and cultural interactions both within the general context of society and within intimate interactions with other individuals. The use of labels to acknowledge and differentiate those individuals with disabilities has unfortunately led to the development of stigmas and stereotyping in our society. This is difficult emotionally and psychologically for those individuals that are stigmatized, as well as their immediate family members.
My cousin Rachel is a vibrant and bubbly 23 year old who was born with down syndrome. Growing up, Rachel never saw herself as different, even after she came to learn she had down syndrome. Rachel was assigned a label in life, and without it she would have simply identified herself like every other kid. In middle school Rachel's mom helped her to create a personal advice website for others to enjoy. Rachel is quoted on her site, "Pretty Special World," saying "I have Down syndrome, but everybody can have Up syndrome!" With the help of her parents and brother, Rachel has worked to accept her disability without letting it limit or defeat her. On her site, Rachel explains that having down syndrome is not the differentiating factor that makes her special, rather she "is special because she believes the world is filled with lots of special people and opportunities to show love to each other.” I am always impressed by this positive attitude she and her family uphold despite the societal challenges of labels and stereotypes that they encounter everyday.
However, I know it is not quite that simple. My Aunt and Uncle have worked hard to provide for Rachel and give her the same opportunities as other kids. They constantly work to overcome the many times when Doctors and other professionals told them Rachel wouldn't amount to anything or would be quite limited because of her disability. Rachel has come home in tears some days because she was teased in school or treated differently than everyone else. Overcoming these obstacles, as well as many others in Rachel's life, has placed an emotional burden not only on Rachel, but her entire family.
In the study, “Living Stigma: The Impact of Labeling, Stereotyping, Separation, Status Loss, and Discrimination in the Lives of Individuals with Disabilities and Their Families,” the authors conducted several interviews of 7 mothers who were raising children with disabilities, as well as 8 adults living with various disabilities. Through their research and interview processes, it became clear that there were common thematic trends in the experiences faced by all the individuals interviewed. The mothers and individuals with various disabilities shared of times their feelings were hurt, experiences when they blamed themselves for their child's or their own condition, social situations that isolated individuals with disabilities, and moments of frustration.
Majority of the interviews discussed the negative impacts of using labels and stereotypes, as people without disabilities often wouldn't know how to interact naturally or appropriately with individuals that had disabilities. The interviewees all felt that stereotyping had been limiting to either themselves or their children, because often times the disability would come before the individual in the eyes of society. Both the families interviewed in this study and my cousin Rachel's family demonstrated commonly shared views and experiences in which labeling and other related methods of differentiating individuals with disabilities had posed an emotional burden and ever present challenge in their lives.
After this week's lecture and assigned readings it was made clear that there is tremendous evidence of progress through various movements that support the rights of individuals with disabilities. Legislation such as Individuals With Disabilities Education improvement Act of 2004 and Americans With Disabilities Act have improved both educational and socio-cultural aspects for individuals with disabilities, yet it is clear that policies and legislation alone cannot make a difference. Our society is still in need of further education and growth with regards to understanding, accepting and communicating with individuals with disabilities.
Link to the study: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/store/10.1111/j.1475-682X.2005.00119.x/asset/j.1475-682X.2005.00119.x.pdf?v=1&t=hws3xtrl&s=0233fc3199192b712d35608c38cf1356303f88d5
Link to Rachel Cooperstein's Website: http://prettyspecialworld.com
My cousin Rachel is a vibrant and bubbly 23 year old who was born with down syndrome. Growing up, Rachel never saw herself as different, even after she came to learn she had down syndrome. Rachel was assigned a label in life, and without it she would have simply identified herself like every other kid. In middle school Rachel's mom helped her to create a personal advice website for others to enjoy. Rachel is quoted on her site, "Pretty Special World," saying "I have Down syndrome, but everybody can have Up syndrome!" With the help of her parents and brother, Rachel has worked to accept her disability without letting it limit or defeat her. On her site, Rachel explains that having down syndrome is not the differentiating factor that makes her special, rather she "is special because she believes the world is filled with lots of special people and opportunities to show love to each other.” I am always impressed by this positive attitude she and her family uphold despite the societal challenges of labels and stereotypes that they encounter everyday.
However, I know it is not quite that simple. My Aunt and Uncle have worked hard to provide for Rachel and give her the same opportunities as other kids. They constantly work to overcome the many times when Doctors and other professionals told them Rachel wouldn't amount to anything or would be quite limited because of her disability. Rachel has come home in tears some days because she was teased in school or treated differently than everyone else. Overcoming these obstacles, as well as many others in Rachel's life, has placed an emotional burden not only on Rachel, but her entire family.
In the study, “Living Stigma: The Impact of Labeling, Stereotyping, Separation, Status Loss, and Discrimination in the Lives of Individuals with Disabilities and Their Families,” the authors conducted several interviews of 7 mothers who were raising children with disabilities, as well as 8 adults living with various disabilities. Through their research and interview processes, it became clear that there were common thematic trends in the experiences faced by all the individuals interviewed. The mothers and individuals with various disabilities shared of times their feelings were hurt, experiences when they blamed themselves for their child's or their own condition, social situations that isolated individuals with disabilities, and moments of frustration.
Majority of the interviews discussed the negative impacts of using labels and stereotypes, as people without disabilities often wouldn't know how to interact naturally or appropriately with individuals that had disabilities. The interviewees all felt that stereotyping had been limiting to either themselves or their children, because often times the disability would come before the individual in the eyes of society. Both the families interviewed in this study and my cousin Rachel's family demonstrated commonly shared views and experiences in which labeling and other related methods of differentiating individuals with disabilities had posed an emotional burden and ever present challenge in their lives.
After this week's lecture and assigned readings it was made clear that there is tremendous evidence of progress through various movements that support the rights of individuals with disabilities. Legislation such as Individuals With Disabilities Education improvement Act of 2004 and Americans With Disabilities Act have improved both educational and socio-cultural aspects for individuals with disabilities, yet it is clear that policies and legislation alone cannot make a difference. Our society is still in need of further education and growth with regards to understanding, accepting and communicating with individuals with disabilities.
Link to the study: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/store/10.1111/j.1475-682X.2005.00119.x/asset/j.1475-682X.2005.00119.x.pdf?v=1&t=hws3xtrl&s=0233fc3199192b712d35608c38cf1356303f88d5
Link to Rachel Cooperstein's Website: http://prettyspecialworld.com