disability perspectives: models, language, and identity katherine deibel university of washington
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Disability Perspectives:Models, Language,
and Identity
Katherine Deibel
University of Washington
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 2
Opening comments
• This is not a replacement for a disability studies/ training course
• There will always be exceptions
• I have biases
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 3
Why “handicap” is a bad word
Literal Definitions:• Handicap = Restriction on performance• Disabilty = Absence of an ability
Lack of an ability ≠ Restricted performance
Handicapping in Horse-Racing
Weights are added to the saddles to compensate for differences among the jockeys
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 4
Definitions
• Disability:a human condition that differs from the norm with regard to a particular human ability
• Handicap:occurs when a disability interferes with the ability to perform a task
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 5
So what is accessibility?
“Accessibility is the practice of
arranging things within some context
so that a disability is not a handicap.”
Brian J. Rosmaita
Department of Computer Science
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 6
Interactions
Language Choice
Model of Disability
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 7
What is a model?
• In the STEM fields, a model:• Represents a real-world system• Is abstract or mathematical• Is predictive
• In Critical Theory, a model:• Is a specific viewpoint or philosophy• Incorporates social, political, and
economic factors• Attempts to explain behaviour and
phenomena
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 8
Moral Model of Disability
• Disability:• is a punishment for wickedness / sin• is a burden to the individual and others
• Associated with:• Institutionalization • Self-loathing• Guilt• Blame
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 9
Medical Model of Disability
• Disability:• Is a flaw in the individual• Requires medical treatment / fixing• Limits a person’s livelihood
• Associated with:• Medical innovation• Legal definitions• Fixation on normality / Ableism
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 10
Rehabilitation Model of Disabilty
• Disability:• Is a deficiency that needs addressing• Implies a person is in need of help• Requires renormalization into society
• Associated with:• WWII Veterans• Vocational Rehabilitation• Offshoot of the medical model
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 11
Social Model of Disability
• Disability:• Is a part of life• Has both positive and negative aspects• Is problematic only in relation to certain
social and environmental factors
• Associated with:• Recognizing discrimination• Disability Rights Movement• Inclusion / Universal Design
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 12
So which model is best?
• Bad question:• These models are viewpoints, not predictors• No evaluation function
• My opinion:• Moral model is bad• Social model and Medical model are both useful:
• Medical diagnoses and procedures are informative• However, treatment should be optional• Changes to external factors might be more effective
than medical treatment• Disability is part of diversity• Disability can be positive and negative
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Interactions Redux
Model of Disability
Language Choice
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 14
Models and Language
Model Language
Moralcleansed, purified, burden, punishment
Medicalcure, treat, correct, suffers, confined, defect
Rehabilitationreskilled, rehabilitated, trained, in need
Socialaccommodation, integrate, inclusive, context
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 15
Unhandicapping the Language
• Goal:
Choosing words that maintain the integrity of individuals as human beings
• Approaches:• APA Style Guidelines• People-First Language
• Not about political correctness
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Rule 1: Focus on the Person
• Put the person first:- a person with dyslexia - individuals who are blind
- a dyslexic person- blind individuals
• Do not turn an adjective into a noun:- the blind- dyslexics- the deaf****
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Realities of Rule 1
• “Individuals with _____” is unwieldy:• takes up a lot of space• breaks up the writing flow
• Kate’s Rule of Thumb:
“Individuals with dyslexia” “dyslexic individuals”
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 18
Rule 2: Avoid “weighted” words
• Special• Challenged
• Exceptional• Visually-challenged
• Avoid euphemisms:
• Cripple • Retard / Imbecile
• Spaz / “Joey”• Schitzo / Psycho
• Avoid slurs:
• Confined• Struggle• Defect
• Challenged• Overcome• Heroic
• Avoid words with value judgments:
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 19
Rule 2 applies to pictures too
• They Shall Walk – A foundation to help disabled persons walk again
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 20
Realities of Rule 2
• Context is always a factor:• Retardation, spastic are medical terms• Deficit is a common term in education
• Your model of disability is another:“Unfortunately, there is no treatment or intervention strategy that cures autism…. the attention deficit in children with autism results in an incorrect output, which we wish to correct using a controller.”
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 21
However… there are special cases
• Deaf or deaf• deaf = limited or absent sense of hearing• Deaf = describes a culture• In culture discussions, saying “the Deaf” is
as okay as saying “the Amish”
• Autism Rights:• Beginnings of claims of “Autist culture”• Argues for replacing “normal” with
“neurotypical”
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 22
Practicality: Call for Study Participants
• Scout out or talk with people in the population first
• When in doubt, ask for how they describe their disability
• Two example calls of mine: “Do you have a learning disability or difficulty with
reading?”
“Do you have a physical, mobility, psychiatric, or mental disability OR are you Deaf or hard of hearing?”
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 23
Why do language and models matter?
• One word:
Identity
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 24
Many Facets of Identity
• Internal Identity• Known by the person
• Visible Identity• Intentionally revealed by the person
• Social Identity• Imposed by the social-environmental
context
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 25
Disability is a part of identity
• Disability is an aspect of daily life
• Its presence is both positive and negative
• Its importance is shaped by context
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 26
Implications of Disability Identity
• Aversions to “cures”• Deaf culture and cochlear implants• The Autism Rights movement• Hahn & Belt Paper
• Social implications of being “out”• Learning disabilities and stigma• Invisible disabilities and the hesitancy to
seek out help• “Acquisition of a child by a learning
disability”
CSE 590 W - Computers and Disabilities 27
Conclusions
• It’s complicated
• What is “It”?• Disability• People• Language• Identity• Puppies• Etc.