Lately, I, a Social Worker with a disability trying to win money for her graduate degree, have been searching various scholarships for disabled people, as well as the many other things I am. Happily, some of these scholarships have been listed under minority scholarships, which pleases me a lot. Whoa. What? Yes, you read correctly. People with disabilities consider themselves members of a minority group on the basis of disability just as members of other groups do. Some people understand this, others look at me as if I have sprouted polkadotted wings as soon as I mention it.
As happy as I am when people understand this, I understand why people don't. Images
of people with disabilities as sick, helpless, clueless and in need of guidance abound.
The implication is that disability is an intrinsic weakness, not a form of diversity, so those of us who say that though it can be a pain, it is a form of diversity are sometimes accused of wishful thinking and cluenessness.
I am a public speaker and have run into this in many occasions. It is both painful and understandable.
The idea that disability is a medical tradgedy has its roots in a theoretical model of disability known, unorginally, as the medical model. It took off in popularity after World War II when the veterans came back and needed services. Since then, it has been the
main theoretical model used to understand (and marginalize) the disability experience by
those without disabilities. Some of this has been intentional, some the result of teaching.
But the point remains: Seeing disability as a medical tradgedy and those with disabilities as clueless, unintelligent, and in need of guidance has incredible social consequences
for both disabled and non-disabled people. It teaches disabled people shame and pain while teaching non-disabled people oversimplified, stereotypical views of disability.
Fortunately, we have a choice. The model that asserts that the disability experience is
a minority one is known as the Social Model. While it does not answer all questions
about disability and does have its weaknesses (which I will address in a future post)
it is much more respectful, true, and invigorating than the idea that disabled people are
medical anomalies. How would embracing it change YOUR life?
There are not enough scholarships. I cant find one or get one to save my life. They need a needs based schoalrship given to people directly so we can get money for books. It is unreal
Published Author and Poet
Teacher Education Student.