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July 22, 2006
Disability in the Eyes of the Beholder
Barney Mayse, a disability advocate for The Whole Person, Inc., sent me the following e-mail, which brings up the question about the role perception plays in the costs we pay for living with a disability:
"With the wealth of information on eSight, is there a mechanism for sharing it with employers specifically as an educational tool? I believe that, if those of us with disabilities can educate employers on a broader scale, we’ll all be vying for jobs on much more level playing field.
"Here are a couple of thoughts I jotted down the other day:
- “Would I be disabled in a world where a wheelchair, hearing aid, sign language or the use of any assistive device were viewed as a normal everyday occurrence (which by the way they are)?
- “Would I be disabled in a world where accommodations for service dogs were as common place as fast food restaurants?
- “Would I be disabled if the world not only saw that I have to modify my approach to certain activities due to my disability but also that I can still accomplish on the job what needs to be done?
“When the focus is on disability instead of ability, we reinforce the differences which others can quickly perceive as separating us one from another.
”However, when the focus is on our humanity, shared feelings and our perceptions of the world around us, there is common ground that can be shared from a multitude of vantage points.
“Employers don't hire people for what they cannot do; they hire individuals for their strengths and potential contributions.
”And, when the focus is on acceptance of the reality that we can live in a society that truly values each individual for the person he or she is, amazing things can happen.
”In short, when the focus is on quality of life, the world can be transformed.
”Employers: What is there about me that you cannot accept? If you accept the concept that we are all mirrors of each other, refusing to accept me for who I am (with all my strengths as well as my disability) is refusing to accept yourself. The question then is: Who is indeed the most disabled?”
Here’s your opportunity to use your personal experience to document how you believe the perceptions of others shape your opportunities in mainstream employment.
We’ll summarize this discussion and distribute widely during October Disability Employment Month so you’ll be heard by the right people.
What personal experience can you cite as evidence to confirm or disprove that disability largely lies in the perceptions of others?
Posted by Jim Hasse at 12:46 PM | Comments (16)