Accessible Diversity: Acquired Disabilities Part 1: Disability Definitions

Presented by: Cameron Wells

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Introduction

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I (Cameron Wells) acquired my own disability as the byproduct of a stroke September 29, 1995.

As a child, prior to that time, I knew little of disabilities.

I underwent massive brain surgery and was left with diminished capacity in the left side of my body and a degree of neurological damage.

This is What I See… That’s My History

On March 20, 2020 an article by reporter Naama Weingarten detailing my life story was picked up several community newspapers in the lakeshore area.

How Many Among us Have Disabilities?

Earth’s estimated�disability population

1

5

%

Almost 1 in 5 have a known condition classified by science.

The Global Disability Population in Context

,

,

,

Disability as an Umbrella Term

Disability

Those conditions evident to the world.

Those conditions not evident to the world

Despite the mind’s tendency to immediately jump to one type or another when it comes to disabilities to understand the 1 billion people accounted for we must recognize some conditions do get eradicated, some get discovered, people don’t self identify and disability covers a massive range.

Disability Vernacular

Adaptation

Human

GIFT

Mind

How We Should be Viewed

B

L

E

Adaptable: Able to adjust to circumstances with dignity and composure.

Disability Types

Physical; the most visible and thought of type of disability. Includes paralysis, vision and hearing impairments.

Intellectual: Includes learning disabilities and anything that would impair “normal ” cognitive function. Types such as Down Syndrome may manifest visibly.

Psychological: Where the mind has little to no control. Examples include schizophrenia and PTSD

Psychological

Emotional

Intellectual

Physical

Disability Is Not a Hat

We Tend to See Effect Not Cause

Disability goes well beyond what we can easily see.

Disability & Able Life: 2 Halves of

a Complete Picture

A

B

Disability

Fundamentally there is no difference between a person with a disability and one without. The often-simple minor genetic alterations do not take away a person’s humanity, dreams, needs or potential.

Able Bodied/ Minded

Mutual Support

When we Think of Disabilities

Often our first thought is to think about the physical as in:

VS

Disability is a Matter of Identity

Changeable

Medical science is ever changing. What was once hopeless might not be add infinitum.

A Matter of Support

How a person is treated and the level of respect shown determines the person’s outlook/ ability to cope.

Not Interchangeable

Sometimes society will hear a disability term similar to another and draw conclusions about what the condition is and means.

A Matter of Familiarity

If a child is born with it they will accept it as simply what life is as they will not know any other way of being

Generational

Some conditions may be passed on in families, even if they lie dormant in some members they occur in others.

Unique to the Person

Every disability experience is unique to the individual, their strength and their outlook.

When Disability Disguises Itself

some people with disabilities are unaware of their condition as they and those around them make excuses and/or psychologically condition them against accepting this truth. Such masking includes:

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• Blaming others
• Extreme arrogance in attitudes
• Changing topics to veer away from this
• Refusal to see a doctor
• Insisting the situation is something else
• The attitude that disability is somehow w wrong

Invisible vs. Visible

What we see readily is a small percentage of disabilities

Visibility

Mental health conditions represent a large number of conditions we will not understand without training

Relateability

Sensory Awareness

Behind the Scenes

What we observe on first glance should always be taken with a grain of salt.

Whole Truth?

Time spent with a person is the most accurate indicator aside from medical testing

Time

What we see is often easier for us to process

Our eyes and ears tell us there is a disability

Psychological vs Emotional

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Psychological

Emotional

Watching For Triggering Behaviours

In emotional or psychological disabilities knowing what might cause a reaction can help one avoid an extreme situation.

Disability Definitions & Time

Disability definitions change with time as our understanding grows.

Formerly seen as incapacity but emphasized the physical/ quantifiable properties.

Presently includes invisible conditions, regarded more as a limitation or something calling for adapted life.

When Disability Groups Adapt to the Times

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An outstanding example of this need to adapt to the times is the Italian Canadian HandiCapable Association who in 2017 had its board elect to replace all instances of the word mental with intellectual in their company literature.

This decision was both because the term mentally could be easily misinterpreted and because in the context it was appearing it is considered in disability circles an outdated term.

My Own Definition

There is no simple or single way to define disability.

My own Definition is disability is anything that temporarily or permanently impairs “normal functionality.”

Viewed But Not Seen

For a person with a disability they may be regarded more based on stereotypes and not seen as an individual.

Close: We have one or have a close friend or family member who does.

1

How We View Disability Depends on How Close We Are to it  

Higher Level

Mid Level

Lower Level

Consider: Disability statistically has struck in every family at some time

1

The Realities ( Textbook Definition Vs. Compensating Strength)

Disability is an massively encompassing term covering physical, emotional and psychological traits.

New Conditions are discovered all the time.

Medical Science sets the baseline for what a condition is and its most likely impact

It is however only a baseline and can’t always account for human strength

While an immediate cure is not always possible., an improved quality of life virtually always is.

Disability may be acquired at any age

What is a Disability?

• There is no simple answer (each would define differently)
• My personal definition is anything that impairs “Normal” function
• There are numerous classifications.
• May be permanent or temporary
• A person may be born with it
• It may be acquired

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Adapt

Allow yourself Opportunities

A

Do not Give in to Despair

D

A

Ask for guidance

P

Practice Until you get it right

T

Trust in your abilities

If I Don’t Have A Disability, Why Should I care?

• Disability life and its able- bodied equivalent are both parts of the tapestry of life.
• We do not have a complete picture of life without these stories.
• Disabilities can be acquired with time and impact everyone in one form or another.
• Able bodied supporters play a great role in keeping those with disabilities at their best with actions and encouragement.

• Maybe there’s something about you-- a physical response or an emotional state you don’t understand, it may in fact be linked to a mild condition you are not aware of.
• There is no roadmap or magic sign that says, “You have a disability.”
• When we hear of disability issues in the news, they tend to be portrayed as one-sided inspirational tales summed up in a minute or two while there is much more to that person’s life than we see or understand.

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Disabilities and able-bodied life are two halves of the same coin.

Disability Context

Many of these are mental health conditions or neurological disabilities only a trained observer might know of.

Many disabilities exist below the surface

Disability is divided into what we can see and process and what we can’t.

What experience tells us

What we are not necessarily made to know

What we Suspect

What we are unaware of

The physical signs

What we are told

What we hear

What we See

What We Might not be Made to Understand & What we Must

We must realize any sport can be made adaptable.

Education

Social Interaction

Athletics

Personal Care

Housing

Employment

What we can do on our own and what calls for support and what we do to keep healthy.

We must look at the elements of a home that must adapt to our needs.

What we choose to learn and how we go about succeeding. Are there accommodations?

What sort of people build us up and which tear us down,

What jobs we can realistically see ourselves doing,

Disability can Change How we View:

Paralysis

Turner Syndrome

Autism

Hearing Impairment

Vision�Impairment

Key Symbols

Little Person

Down Syndrome

.

Invisible�Disability

Mental Health

Deafblind

Key Symbols Cont…

Samantha Newmarch accessibility observer on Handi-Link works as a real estate agent who specializes in accessible homes outlined in this audio clip.

Disability Adapted Sport

In disability life any sport can be adapted from blind judo to deaf hockey. For athletes who acquire a disability this realization is key to keep them in the game. Giving up on sport is too easy when you consider there are many high performance athletes with disabilities putting on a great game. Here we see Goal ball an adapted Lacrosse exclusively by those with vision impairments.

Personal Care

It is your right as a patient to seek answers about your condition until you find a physician knowledgeable in it

Regular monitoring is key following anything traumatic to the body or mind.

Trust your instincts if something seems off, likely it is.

Changes to diet may be called for

Regular exercise is also key.

Describe your symptoms as honestly as you can before getting a prescription that may put you at risk.

End of Part 1

Any Questions?

Previously We Discussed

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

What Constitutes a disability?

What Barriers can it create?

Medical Science as a baseline .

What persons with disabilities create for themselves

Disability terms (then and now)

Disability symbols

The things we can process and those we can’t .

If You Have any Questions…

Any

Chime

In

Time

At

Employment

For any person with a disability it is vital they know and can assert their own rights especially that of reasonable accommodation which legally binds an employer to allow the worker with a disability equal opportunity for success by making often simple adjustments. The exception is if it would be proven to cause undue hardship.

Social Interaction

Like anyone in society those with disabilities want generally to interact as normally as possible and do not want to feel singled out based on any one factor beyond their control. They have their inner social circles, branching out as does anyone else.

Accessible Education

The concept of mainstreaming has raised much discussion, whether it is appropriate for a student with a learning disability to be in a normal classroom environment.

Some teachers believe disabled students will hold up the process while other teachers recognize these students can best achieve by interacting with peers who may not only aid them in their studies but teach social idiosyncrasies. In some cases, however, a separate environment may be necessary and warranted.

Disability is Everywhere

• There is no large scale population on earth where some form of disability is not present

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• Statistically in every lineage disability has struck

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• It is merely a question of recognition whether by medical knowledge at the time or whether the memory of the person has been lost to time.

A few Key Terms in Disability Life

Term

Built Environment: physical layouts and environment factors that may or may not allow a person with a disability to participate in activities in that area.

Intersectionality: the connections between self identifying groups ex. How disability impacts social justice or women’s rights.

Accessible Design: created specifically with persons with disabilities in mind, primarily for the use of someone with a disability.

Universal Design: may have been designed with persons with disabilities in mind, however can benefit anyone whether they have a disability or not.

Comorbidity: The interplay between multiple disabilities ex. How not having an immune system might impact susceptibility to what cancer treatments can be safely used.

Ableism: Like racism or sexism this refers to discrimination based on one attribute in this case having a disability. It includes derogatory terms, actions and attitudes.

Intersectionality

Intersectionality View

Women’s issues

Cultural Issues

Poverty Issues

Legal Issues

Being a person with a disability impacts each of these.

How this Is Researched: Critical Disability Studies at York University

Sukaina Dada: specializes in refugees/immigrants & disability

Anne Jackson: specializes in media & disability

Michelle Shelley: specializes in justice & disability

Russell Rosinskis: Specializes in mental health issues.

Scott White: his work relates to disability and social belonging.

Dr. marcia Rioux: Runs the international disability rights Group Disability Rights Promotion International

“Disability is not one facet. It is one part of who we are, yet impacts many.”

How The Terms Change with Time

Terms Past and present Cont…

Owning Your Terminology Vs Ignorance

Seems Ignorant

For one using offensive terms to seem cool or to fit in they do not know how others around will perceive this so it is more likely to seem offensive or ignorant. Keeping an open mind does not mean excusing poor judgment as opposed to what can’t be easily prevented.

Understandable

For someone with an impulse control disability such as Tourette Syndrome controlling what is said may be difficult. There may be visable signs such as twitching or lack of eye contact. For those who use vulgarity or derogatory terms to be “edgy” this is not the case.

Physical Disabilities

• The most easily perceived disability
• Often assumed that physical impairment means intellectual as well
• Accessible spaces most commonly created with this in mind

Physical: More Identifiable by Looking

• Physical
• Vision impairment

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• Facial differences

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• paralysis

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• Hearing impairment

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Among others these physical disability types are the types that we are more likely to recognize based on visual cues.

Common Dangers in Assuming

1. We assume a person who has a physical disability has an intellectual one
2. We allow ourselves to be off put/ shy away.
3. We think we know everything about a condition (speak in arrogance)
4. We miss out on getting to know another
5. We may use demeaning or toned down language thereby losing our point
6. We may leave the person with a disability feeling isolated.

Intellectual Disabilities

• May interfere with ability to learn

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• May lead to employment barriers

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• May be visible physically i.e. Down Syndrome

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• Can be misunderstood to mean the person is incapable/not trying hard enough

Ability to Learn

• All people regardless of the disability can be taught and develop their minds
• May require modified education plan.
• Education may be conducted in a more structured environment (life skills class)
• Depending on the severity only minor education adjustments may be needed.
• Generally speaking the education system is not taught how to conduct such classes in a deep enough way.

Employment Barriers

Myth

• Such employees will need excessive accommodations to work at all.
• Such employees are lazy/unproductive
• They can claim discrimination at the drop of a hat

Fact

• Most accommodations are less than $500 and need to occur once i.e. setting up job sharing
• They are glad to work often with better retention rates, less days missed
• They have the same rights as any worker, if shown patience, they will demonstrate patience.

Tokenism & Its Pretzel Logic

Tokenism has historically been used as a supposed way of giving a person with a disability an entry into “dominant society” by offering meaningful work. The trouble is they get stuck there and never get ahead. As cost of living increases rarely does the ascribed value to the disabled worker.

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The sad truth is with this is created an over reliance on government systems leading some persons with disabilities to hesitate to try when they do not feel they need to, thus raising taxes to pay for such systems.

The emotional result on such a worker is not devaluing their jobs, it is devaluing their lives.

May be Visible

• People often assume a disability they can’t see does not exist.
• Many intellectual disabilities have little to no outward signs
• Exceptions include down syndrome
• People most often connect to a disability they can readily process as a disability.

Can be Misunderstood

• With conditions like ad/hd educators may get frustrated, assume the pupil is lazy
• Society might assume they know/understand all about it based on myth/outdated information.
• Based on media portrayal some conditions may be seen in an exaggerated light.

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Emotional Disabilities

• Includes things such as depression, �hyper- aggression, anhedonia (inability to experience joy)
• Can result in high blood pressure, stress, lethargy
• Person affected may seem anti-social
• Tend to come from neurotransmitter imbalances

Mental health: More Identifiable Through Communication

• Mental health
• Stress disorders

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• Depression

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• Eating disorders

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Among others these are mental health conditions we would be more likely to discern by talking to/interacting with a person and are less likely to have obvious physical signs.

Psychological Disabilities

• This covers a broad spectrum ranging from PTSD to narcissism (elaborated on in chapter on disability relationships)
• Often include compulsive behaviour and denial
• Often can only be treated through therapeutic techniques
• Compulsion leads to “cured in a whirlwind” mentality (see next slide)
• One affected may be appear perfectly lucid

Consider: do we look at the unacceptable behavior of a person or do we offer compassion understanding the reasons that led them to an addiction or mental health disorder?

A person with a psychological disability may convince themselves they are cured of the addiction/compulsion etc. in a very short period of time as they start to feel better, they believe they no longer need to be treated or work on it. This creates a substantial risk of relapse and or/amplifying the underlying condition. The tragedy is in that moment they declare themselves cured they fully believe it.

Tragedy Compounded

The young woman alluded to in the previous slide’s anecdote was ultimately convinced by a group of church types to believe that she was cured (despite decades of addiction and mental health concerns including abuse and hallucinations) by attending a few meetings and doing some good works in the community.

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A trustworthy figure has an ethical obligation to support a person as they battle their issues not to enable by saying how righteous someone is and offering ways to mask the pain.

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Addiction is a lifelong battle and trying to substitute the vice of drugs with the vice of praise is no cure.

Recovery is Never Instant

Even if one is cured of their mental health issue physical consequences incurred remain.

Damage

Time

Feeling better quickly is easy. Feeling better continuously necessitates more than one treatment.

Continuous

Being cured in a whirlwind is most unlikely. An alcoholic will still be an alcoholic whether they admit this or not.

A Trap

By their very nature any disability will have lasting impact.

Note *These concepts apply to lasting conditions not those which can be corrected with a one time procedure/ surgery.

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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): a Disability Range

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• Disabilities affect different people in different ways.
• Some may be deemed almost “normal” while others have manifestations that impact them in a more noticeable way. �
• ASD is an excellent example in that some who have it can communicate fluently, hold down jobs and show minimal behavioral changes, while others may be non-verbal and find integration difficult.

Consider: a disability range indicates it can have a mild to severe impact meaning that definitions can only offer possible impacts, not concrete guarantees.

Our Limits… Our Own or Imposed?

Eating Disorders and Self Image: Its not a Choice

Conditions such as eating disorders can drastically impact the way a person looks at themselves. In society sometimes we look at things from the standpoint of they should be able to control it or if they worked a bit harder it would stop.

It is in fact a deep routed psychological compulsion to view oneself a certain way.

Interview with Tania Lemione baca clinic August 16 2019

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Consider: How often do we jump to the conclusion this person needs a diet/ exercise rather than offering understanding to one with a mental health condition.

Our Role in Supporting�Regardless of the conduction any person with any disability can succeed.�

Individual Equation

Societal Equation

How to Gain Understanding

01

Ask Questions

02

Research

03

Draw on Experience

04

Separate fact from myth

05

Share time with someone affected

The Process of Understanding

The Steps

Curiosity

Asking questions/ researching what you want to understand.

True Understanding of disability life does not happen over night. It takes time and willingness.

Likening

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• Asking what in your experience is this similar to/ different from
• Accepting familiar concepts always tends to be easier

Challenging

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• Separating fact and rumor
• drawing your own conclusions through observation and relationship contact.

Embracing Equality

Conclusions

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• Choosing how you want to proceed
• understanding based on experience what a disability is.

Want to Find out More?

In Person: �CJAM radio U of W CAW Centre

If you have any questions about this material or my radio program please feel free to contact me at any time. I am in studio Friday mornings from 10 am-12 noon.

References

• Google Images: https://www.google.ca/search?source=hp&ei=OYaeXeTbDomJ-gSi_Iv4Aw&q=disability+symbols+&oq=disability+symbols+&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0l3j0i22i30l7.2125.6472..6678...0.0..0.258.3380.0j12j6......0....1..gws-wiz.....0..0i131j0i3.TVmA79HNHo0&ved=0ahUKEwik3NucwpDlAhWJhJ4KHSL-Aj8Q4dUDCAc&uact=5
• Smile Templates: https://www.smiletemplates.com/
• Free Powerpoint Templates: https://www.free-power-point-templates.com/free-game-joystick-powerpoint-template/
• Free Powerpoint backgrounds: https://www.freepptbackgrounds.net/objects/playstation-console-backgrounds
• Slide Ceo: https://slideceo.com/page/1/?s=free&post_type=product
• Slide Geeks.com: https://www.slidegeeks.com/
• All ppt: https://www.free-powerpoint-templates-design.com/
• Freeslide.com
• Slidehunter.com: https://slidehunter.com/
• Powered template: https://poweredtemplate.com/powerpoint-diagrams-charts/free-downloads/0/index.html

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References Cont.

• Slide compass.com: https://slidecompass.com/template/category/powerpoint-templates/
• Slide Model: https://slidemodel.com/free-powerpoint-templates/page/2/
• Freepptbackgrounds: https://www.freepptbackgrounds.net/?s=diagrams+
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6122264_Canada's_Asbestos_Legacy_at_Home_and_Abroad
• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/asbestos-the-magic-mineral-that-was-once-canada-s-gold-1.803733
• https://www.theobserver.ca/2015/07/02/advocates-in-sarnia-calling-for-ban-on-asbestos-use-in-canada/wcm/d8d47400-0b81-7810-9f6d-a7de706d8cd5
• google images “Holmes Foundry”: https://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&biw=1366&bih=635&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=y4yeXbO3H4j2swXV0rOoDQ&q=holmes+foundry+&oq=holmes+foundry+&gs_l=img.3..0j0i30j0i24l3.3643.8942..9218...0.0..0.193.361.0j2......0....1..gws-wiz-img.ZaHnI2sj6F8&ved=0ahUKEwjzyPG-yJDlAhUI-6wKHVXpDNUQ4dUDCAY&uact=5

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