Today, we scanned what will be covered in the model Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Inclusion (Disability Studies). This module will be explored historically, socially, culturally, politically, legally, globally and lastly educational perspectives. Does language matter, the difference of opinions and labels? Intrinsic to all of this was the big question "What is Inclusion?" A class discussion covered a lot of topics but for me, the most meaningful aspect was around the area of language and disability.
Previously, in the Disability Studies modules, I also thought a lot about this topic. Initially, I was shocked by some of the author's use of language that we were introduced to. For instance, the disability activist Mike Oliver, who …show more content…
He appears to overstate things in order to create and highlight change "Over the years, they have isolated us, incarcerated us, ignored us and spoken on our behalf as if they knew what we needed or wanted. They have begged on the streets for us and used us without our permission to raise money to support their bloated bureaucracies and out of touch governing councils' (Oliver, Mike. (Sept 2013) Charity: Who needs it. http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/article/charity-who-needs-it). Another activist who resonated with me was Vic Finkelstein, who at 16, broke his neck when pole vaulting at his local school sports ground and ‘re-entered as a disabled person'. His use of language is exceptionally strong, ‘But nobody seems to have caught on that ‘stigma' is only the sanitised prejudice of able-bodied bigots who discriminate against disabled people, blame us for being treated differently, and then expect us to cope with the stigma imposed on us!' (Finkelstein, (2002) Whose History?). The reader can quite clearly feel his anger here while at the same time experiencing anger themselves at being called ‘able bodied bigots'. On reflection, I remember being incensed when reading some of his articles for the first time. In addition to this,
Previously, in the Disability Studies modules, I also thought a lot about this topic. Initially, I was shocked by some of the author's use of language that we were introduced to. For instance, the disability activist Mike Oliver, who …show more content…
He appears to overstate things in order to create and highlight change "Over the years, they have isolated us, incarcerated us, ignored us and spoken on our behalf as if they knew what we needed or wanted. They have begged on the streets for us and used us without our permission to raise money to support their bloated bureaucracies and out of touch governing councils' (Oliver, Mike. (Sept 2013) Charity: Who needs it. http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/article/charity-who-needs-it). Another activist who resonated with me was Vic Finkelstein, who at 16, broke his neck when pole vaulting at his local school sports ground and ‘re-entered as a disabled person'. His use of language is exceptionally strong, ‘But nobody seems to have caught on that ‘stigma' is only the sanitised prejudice of able-bodied bigots who discriminate against disabled people, blame us for being treated differently, and then expect us to cope with the stigma imposed on us!' (Finkelstein, (2002) Whose History?). The reader can quite clearly feel his anger here while at the same time experiencing anger themselves at being called ‘able bodied bigots'. On reflection, I remember being incensed when reading some of his articles for the first time. In addition to this,