Understanding

Disabilities
 Important Dates in History
400 B.C.
Hippocrates, the Greek physician, wrote the first work on epilepsy disputing that the disorder
was a curse or caused by the gods. He believed that epilepsy was a brain disorder. "It is thus
with regard to the disease called Sacred: it appears to me to be nowise more divine or more
sacred than other diseases, but has a natural cause from the originates like other affections.
Men regard its nature and cause as divine from ignorance and wonder, because it is not at all
like to other diseases."

1601
Elizabethan Poor Laws were passed from 1583 to 1601 in order to aid the deserving poor,
orphaned and crippled. The 1601 law was a consolidation of prior legislation and laid some of
the burden on society by charging a "poor rate" on owners of property. Queen Elizabeth's
government divided the poor into three groups. The disabled poor were placed in the group
labeled "helpless poor."

1751
The Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, with the help of Benjamin Franklin, is the first
hospital to create a special section for the treatment of mental illness and mental retardation.
In 1756, these patients would be chained to the walls of the basement and put on display for a
fee.

1773
Virginia establishes the first hospital solely for the treatment of "idiots, lunatics and other
people of unsound mind."
 Important Dates in History
1817
Thomas H. Gallaudet established the first free American school for the deaf and hearing impaired in 1817. The
school was built in Hartford, Connecticut and was named the Connecticut Asylum at Hartford for the
Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons and later became known as the American School for the Deaf. Gallaudet
was also an advocate of manual training in all schools. Vocational education was added to his school's
curriculum in 1822.

1832
The Perkins School for the Blind is opened in Boston, Massachusetts by Samuel Gridley Howe. Howe became
the country's leading expert on educating the disabled. In 1848, Howe establishes the Massachusetts School for
Idiotic Children and Youth, one of the first of its kind in the United States. His most famous student was Laura
Bridgman, a blind and deaf girl, who became very popular with the public.

1841
Dorothea Dix advocates for separation of the disabled incarcerated in penitentiaries and poorhouses. Her efforts
lead to the establishment of 32 state run mental institutions across the United States.

1968
The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) requires that buildings and facilities that are designed, constructed, or
altered with Federal funds, or leased by a Federal agency, comply with Federal standards for physical
accessibility.

1973
The Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by Federal
agencies, in programs receiving Federal financial assistance, in Federal employment, and in the employment
practices of Federal contractors. The standards for determining employment discrimination under the
Rehabilitation Act are the same as those used in title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
 Important Dates in History

1975
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEaA) (formerly called P.L. 94-142 or the Education for all
Handicapped Children Act of 1975) requires public schools to make available to all eligible children with
disabilities a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment appropriate to their
individual needs.

1984
The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984 generally requires polling places across
the United States to be physically accessible to people with disabilities for federal elections. Where no
accessible location is available to serve as a polling place, a political subdivision must provide an alternate
means of casting a ballot on the day of the election.

1986
Air Carrier Access Act passed. The act forbids the discrimination of people with disabilities regarding air
travel and provides provisions on access and accommodations.

1988
Students at Gallaudet University protest for the selection of a deaf University president. Irving King Jordan is
eventually appointed as the first deaf president of the university.
Civil Rights Restoration Act
"It also specifies that an institution which receives federal financial assistance is prohibited from
discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability or age in a program or
activity which does not directly benefit from such assistance."
 Important Dates in History

1989
Original ADA legislation introduced into Congress and advocacy groups advocate for its passage
nationwide.

1990
President George Bush signs the ADA on July 26. The American with Disabilities Act was a wide-
sweeping civil rights legislation giving protections to individuals with disabilities. Equal
opportunity was established for employment, transportation, telecommunications, public
accommodations and the state and federal government's services.

1992
International Day of Disabled Persons established by UN to create awareness and understanding.

1995
American Association of People with Disabilities is founded in Washington, D.C. "The largest
national nonprofit cross-disability member organization in the United States, dedicated to
ensuring economic self-sufficiency and political empowerment for the more than 56 million
Americans with disabilities."

1999
Supreme Court rules on Olmstead v. L.C. and E.W. stating that the ADA requires public agencies
to provide services in the most integrated setting.
 Definitions of Disability

“The inability to perform an activity in a normal way as a result of an

impairment, such as not being able to walk due to a weakness or paralysis”
-The University of Chicago Medical Dictionary

“A condition that curtails to some degree a person's ability to carry on his

normal pursuits. A disability may be partial or total, and temporary or
permanent.”
-Lombard Canada Glossary
 Myths About Disability
Myth
Disability is a devastating personal tragedy.
Truth
The lives of disabled people are not tragic. What often disables people is the attitudes they encounter and the
environment in which they live
and work.

Myth
Most disabled people are unable to have relationships.
Truth
Many disabled people, like non-disabled people, make choices about marriage, long-term relationships and
having children.

Myth
Disability and illness are interrelated.
Truth
Disabled people can get the same illnesses as other people. Being disabled in and of itself is NOT an indication
of poor heath.

Myth
People with disabilities live very different lives than people without disabilities.
Truth
Overall, people with disabilities live the same as you and I. Although, some ways of doing things may be a little
bit different depending on the type and severity of the disability. For example, someone with limited use of their
arms and legs can drive, but their car will be fitted with hand controls for gas and brakes and possibly a special
handle to grip on the steering wheel.
 Myths About Disability
Myth
Disabled people are dependent on others.
Truth
Disabled people sometimes need help with some things - too often because of an inadequately designed
environment. Nonetheless disabled people strive to be independent.

Myth
Blind people have a sixth sense.
Truth
Some people use and refine their other senses to compensate.

Myth
Disabled people are courageous.
Truth
Disabled people, like non-disabled people, cope with life in their own individual way.

Myth
Wheelchair users are not mobile.
Truth
Wheelchair users do get out and about. Some usually use wheelchairs, others only when necessary.

Myth
Deaf people cannot speak.
Truth
Deafness does not affect the vocal cords, although it can affect a person's ability to hear and monitor the sounds
they make. Some people who are deaf make a conscious choice not to use their voice while others choose to
speak. The type and degree of hearing loss as well as the age of the person when they became deaf (i.e. before
or after learning to speak English) also influences their speech.
*Adapted from: The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland www.equalityni.org & Michigan Community Service Commission
 Americans With Disabilities Act (1990)
Americans with Disabilities Act. (n.d) In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 28, 2008, from http://www.wikipedia.com

• “Civil rights” for people with disabilities

• Allows people with disabilities to expect
reasonable accommodations in public
places, to allow them to participate more
fully in life activities
• Is intentionally broad in defining “disability”
and “accommodation,” recognizing that
every situation and person is unique
 Title I: Employment

• Employers shall not discriminate

against a qualified employee on the
basis of a disability; employers must
provide reasonable accommodations
– Job applicants
– Employees
– Promotions
 Title II: Public Services and Public
Transportation
• Services in all levels of government must be
made accessible to people with disabilities
– Covington v. McNeese:
• President of the public university stated that “the disabled
had no fundamental right to access the campuses of public
universities.”
• Public transportation must be provided that is
accessible to people with disabilities
– MetroAccess
– Car rentals
– All other commuter authorities
 Title III: Public Accommodations

• Accessibility is guaranteed to people with disabilities in all public

places, such as:
– Restaurants
– Office buildings
– Hospitals
– Hotels/motels
– Movie theaters
– Schools/educational facilities
• All “new construction” (after 1992) must be compliant with ADA
• Older establishments must comply to the extent that the proposed
renovation is “readily achievable” and “easily accomplished without
much difficulty or expense.”
• Historic properties (on the National Register of Historic Places) are
not bound by ADA if the proposed renovation would significantly
affect a historic feature of the building
 Title IV: Telecommunications

• All telecommunication companies in the U.S.

must provide functionally equivalent services to
people with disabilities, particularly those with
speech and hearing disabilities
• Led to installation of teletypewriters (TTY) and
telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
• Telecommunication Relay Services- dual party
communication and translation
• Internet, texting, IM, and e-mail, as well as video
conferencing has revolutionized communications
between the deaf and hearing communities
 Criticism of ADA

• Defines disability in a way that may allow people who

don’t need accommodations to receive them (too broad)
i.e. minor neck and back pain
• “Professional plaintiffs” make money by collecting
damages from non-compliant businesses
• Some employers might generally avoid hiring people
with disabilities to avoid having to comply with the
provisions
• Provisions for people with cognitive difficulties/mental
disabilities are not well defined
• It has become the burden of people with disabilities to
see that it is enforced
– Authorities are unlikely to go after every establishment found to
violate ADA standards
Social Work and Disabilities
 Proper Etiquette (Not Just for Social
Workers!)

•Like your mother always said, it's not polite to stare.

•Use common sense, if you don't know the person, it's none of your
business how or why they are disabled
•When talking, look at the person when you are speaking, not at the person
they are with. Yes, the blind can tell when you aren't talking to them.
•Don't worry about the common phrases you use, disabled people use
them too: i.e. “see you later” and “did you hear about so-and-so?”
•Unless the person is hard of hearing, do NOT raise your voice when you
are talking to them
•Don't assume that someone who is disabled CAN'T do a task or activity, it
is perfectly okay to ask if they can or how they would if it is done in a polite
manner and is necessary
•Unless you know the person, don't ask things to cure your curiousity—
google those questions.
•Do not pet or try to distract service animals
•If someone is hard of hearing or deaf, don't play “can you hear me now”
and if someone is visually impaired or blind, don't play “how many fingers
am I holding up”--and keep your children from doing so as well.
 Things to Consider…

• Disability from birth vs. acquired disability

• Personal definitions and goals (start where the client is)
• Every disabled person/disability is different, even if the
diagnosis is the same!
• Adaptation and STRENGTHS
– What has already been tried?
– What has worked?
– What services are out there?
• Friends and support networks
• “Normal” function vs. loss of function
• Psychological issues:
– PTSD, depression (especially relevant to acquired disability)
 Available Services

• Physical therapy
– CP, autism, MR, etc.
• Occupational therapy
• IEPs (check with school’s special ed)
• Counseling
• Behavioral management plans
• Speech therapy
– ADHD, CP, autism
• Service dogs (not just for blind people)
 Service Dogs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu5zaRY7V5g
 “Universal Access”

• What does this symbol mean to you?

•Why is it a useful symbol?

•Why is it not a useful symbol?

•What messages does it send about the disabled

community?

•How does the sign contribute to popular misconceptions

about disabled people?

•Is there a better alternative?

 Use of Language
What terms do we use to describe
people who have physical or mental • Disabled
problems? • Handicapped
• Physically impaired
What do these words imply about • Crippled
this community?
• Lame
How are some of these terms • Differently-abled
incorrect/misleading? • Deaf
• Hearing impaired
How do they contribute to
perceptions of disability? • Deaf and dumb
• Blind
How do words impact our clients in • Mentally ill
social work practice? • Psycho
As social workers, what can we do • Insane
to be sensitive to our clients? • Crazy
Where to Go From Here?

•Society in general

•Social work as a profession

•The helping professions as a

whole

•Additional services

•Is the ADA enough?

•What can we improve?

•Questions?