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Are Hidden
Impairments Recognised Within
"The Social Model of Disability"???
Are hidden impairments recognised within the "social model of disability"?
Generally organisations promoting the social model of disability, particularly
self led organisations feel that it's important to steer away from referring to
medical conditions and concentrate on the discrimination that people with
medical difficulties are presented with. So with so much voicing that there
isn't a need to use medical labels for disabled people means that much of the
paperwork and procedures from services available are now trying to steer away
from medical references individuals have.
Resulting in major difficulties for those members of society whose medical
conditions are not getting noticed. If you look at people with dyslexia or ADHD
you will often see they are seen as lazy or naughty rather than gaining
recognition for their medical condition. With education and health authorities
wanting to save money or other reasons this results in many not getting
recognition or appropriate support for their impairment! Because of the pressure
from many supporting "the social model of disability" saying its wrong to use
medical labels prevents many people with Dyslexia and ADHD getting the
recognition needed to be a "disabled person"! The person doesn't think they are
disabled the think they are "lazy" or "naughty" because that's what they have
been told throughout their life. The professional services are not recognising
these people as "disabled people" maybe to save money maybe due to prejudice
they have resulting with more hiding of these peoples medical condition. So they
are not disabled people! Are they?
Is this important? Well I certainly think it is very important because there has
been so much movement towards "disabled people" being part of an inclusive
society over the last 20 years. We now see mainstream schooling available within
the UK for disabled people. However naughty children are expelled from school!
Why because they are not "disabled people" yet many have a medical impairment
and while this impairment may not directly course "being naughty"! It may
display with naughty behaviour because society perhaps through education defined
rules and conditions that children have to fit in with. Unfortunately people
with some of these hidden impairments are unable to fit in with these procedures
and rules without appropriate support. Resulting in what looks like naughty
behaviour from the child and parents being blamed for not bringing their
children up properly.
All this because of the medical condition being hidden so as I've said so many
times "it may not be important what the medical reason for someone using a
wheelchair to understand the needs to design for wheelchair users" however maybe
there is a need to know that medical condition that "a naughty child has"
because then that child wouldn't be naughty! They would be recognised just like
other "disabled people". So is the "social model of disability" causing
discrimination within the disability community. Well I certainly think the
social model of disabled people need to make appropriate adjustments to ensure
people with hidden impairments aren't kept hidden! What do you think? Would you
like to add your views here if so, E-mail me your views.
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