Response to Britt T's post

I agree with you, Brittany, about how the media portrays disabled people as "other." These people should simply NOT be considered a separate group from society. They are the same as you and me, just with a little something different. For example, I have a speech impediment and society doesn't see me as something "different." My friends and family know that I have this "disability" and they do not see me as something different...they still see me as the funny young adult I still am.

I believe that the media does want people to stick to this idea of "normalcy" but (as we have been discussing in class) what is normalcy? Why do we follow this stupid idea of who is "normal" and who is abnormal? Why can't we just not focus on either "side of the coin" and just continue with our life? I believe the answer is...there would be no news really. The new reporters thrive on something that is not normal or something that is interesting for a brief moment. Ex) The news would do a report on someone's house burning down for 2 minutes vs. a house that belonged to a disable child for 5 minutes. The media thrives on people's weaknesses and that is HOW they make their "cash flow!!!"

We focus too much on a person's disability and the stereotypes behind it too. There are many videos out their on YouTube that depict someone's disability as a good thing and as a bad thing too, depending on that user's belief system. Ex) I had a cousin who had Down Syndrome (God Rest Her Soul) and the media depicts them as an "other" or something different. I bet their are numerous videos on YouTube that mock people with this disability and that is just WRONG!! We should feel honored to have a person like that in our life~ they teach us how not to judge people in the "wrong light" but as someone who is fighting to work around their disability.

~Chad S.

War and Prosthetics

This week I wanted to focus on a topic that both Jeff and Chris brought up in their presentations. That topic deals with war and prosthetics. Both guys did a great job talking about 2 different situations where guys had to deal with some sort of disability.

According to asme.org, prosthetics were created during the Civil War Era; however, these artificial body parts were created during the 1500s but didn't see a "spike" until the bloody American Civil War. Surgeons during the Civil War would rather do amputations than use artificial limbs during surgery because many surgeons were not qualified with using this procedure. When the Civil War ended in 1865, the US government commissioned the creation of the "Great Civil War Benefaction, an organization to provide prosthetics to all disabled veterans." The first group that created prosthetics was Hanger Inc. This organization is very ironic because the founder, Edward Hanger, was the "first documented amputee of the Civil War."The company is still around today and is the main force behind prosthetics. "Business ads for prosthetics from the time Civil War were usually familiar and tried to depict the primitive technology." (according to unc.edu)

During WWI, with the creation of the telephone and the newspapers field rising, doctors advertised prosthetic ads to help veterans get "back into the routine of things" with these artificial limbs. Even today the field for prosthetics is growing. With numerous of servicemen/women coming back from the war in the Middle East, there are more amputees and people in need of artificial limbs. 

The people that have artificial limbs should NOT be judged or be subjected to harsh humiliation. These people have found bravely for our country and have scarified a part of their body to maintain our freedom and basic inalienable human rights!! These people should not be looked down upon; their deserve the utmost respect from us!! 

http://www.asme.org/kb/news---articles/articles/bioengineering/the-civil-war-and-the-birth-of-the-u-s--prosthetic
http://www.unc.edu/~mbritt/Prosthetics%20History%20Webpage%20-%20Phys24.html
http://www.unc.edu/~mbritt/Prosthetics%20History%20Webpage%20-%20Phys24.html http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/war-and-prosthetics/

Disability & the Media

In class, we explored disability portrayed in the media. I feel as though every film or TV show defines a disability as something that a person must 'overcome' or something that hinders them from succeeding at certain things. I often think that the media focuses so much on a person's disability that we forget they are a human being with feelings. I think that our society is molded to force people who are different to adapt in order to survive. We expect everyone to assimilate to what is convenient for those who fit into the category of normalcy, we created, and the media only sustains this idea. It is understandable that those who have a disability: physical, social, or learning, often need a little more assistance than those who do not have a disability; however, this does not mean that they aren't 'normal' and need to be shown as overcoming a struggle. Also, people's lack of education and experience, as well as their immense exposure to the media, make their view and ideas of disabled persons, extremely falsified. For example, when someone who does not know much about cerebral palsy, but has only seen a show with a character (who, generally, does not actually have the disability in real life) with that specific disability, they base their expectations on what they saw. They do not know that there are many levels of severity of cerebral palsy and what causes the disability. We also have a limited supply of educators and people willing to work with those who need assistance, which I feel, might be a cause of our stereotyping system and the lack of educated people about disabilities, all sustained through the media.

Disability and Equal Treatment

My post this week focuses on those with disabilities and how society views these people.  Now during class we discussed how it may be beneficial to recognize those with physical disabilities.  It is my feeling that we as a society recognize these people (subconsciously) as inferior. As unfortunate as that may be I know many handicapped members of society that are proud human beings.  Being handicapped or disabled in any manner has not diminished their pride and confidence in any way.  Through experience however, I do seem to feel that recognizing, or specifically pointing out these flaws in person can be considered quite offensive or demoralizing.  This leads me to my point.  We, as a society should do our best to treat those with these handicaps the same as any other human being.  I feel treating people differently because of their physical appearance is shallow.  With that, treating these people equally will not only boost their inner morale, but it will prevent any offensive societal notions to demoralize these people.  In reality, we shouldn't feel sorry for them.  Simply treat them like everybody else, like other human beings.  

Exploitation and Inspiration

During discussion this week, we brought up the idea of the "Super Crip" and how much media attention is given to the feats of disabled people who achieve things that their limitations do not usually allow. It was mentioned in class that this could be in order to inspire other disabled people, and show that they can pursue dreams of normalcy, however, I think that perhaps these stories are geared towards the 'able-bodied' public. These stories often send the message that if this "inferior" person was able to overcome their obstacles in order to do whatever feat they are being praised for, then as a 'normal' people we should be able to do the same. I find this to be exploitative towards the people whose stories are told. It seems that in the way their stories are told they are in a category somewhere in between inferior and normal. The stories are structured around their disabilities, so the main focus tells us that they are not normal, but they achieved something normal people can regardless. With the focus on the disability, they are still in a different category than able-bodied people, making it impossible to merely admire their accomplishments and not their handicap.

Super Crips

I liked the idea of "super crips" that was mentioned during lecture this week. It's often fascinating to hear stories of individuals with physical disabilities that can overcome their handicap and perform unexpected feats.  But, does our praise of these "super crips" put unfair expectations on all other individuals with physical disabilities?  We are raised to respect disabled people or to "not stare" as a thought that they are the same as everyone else. However, when we recognize some of the miraculous feats that some disabled people are capable of doing, doesn't it directly contradict the idea that they're just like any other "normal" person.  And in turn, doesn't that recognition drawn attention to the fact that they indeed have a disability?  It's all so confusing to me considering that all of us just wish to be morally sound people.  I liken this all to the notion of "color-blind" racism, which promotes the idea that people should disregard race and skin tone thus putting an end to all types of racism.  Denying the existence of different skin tones just confirms the fact that there due to the need to be "color-blind."  It's all so tiring just to think of how we can be better people.  What are your thoughts?

Gender and disablity

As the reading covered there is often a tangled up dance between women and disability. Often just being a woman being considered disabled.  For employers it’s often just the idea that any second you could become pregnant disabling you, along with several other issues with this. I feel like Alicia’s presentation went over it slightly how we expect more out of men. For instance, someone gaining a disability, if they were a women we would be surprised to see them conquer that disability and find a way to work in a normal way.  However with men we actually seem to just expect it from men. And this made me start thinking about how I've seen this relate to even children.  Personal example, I have several siblings, my two younger siblings both have mental disabilities. These disabilities are different, but either way they both work to make it difficult for them to participate in the classroom and often leave them awkward in most social situations. My mother worked hard with the school system to make sure that both of my siblings got the help they needed.  But you were more likely to hear that working with the school to help my sister was significantly harder than for my brother. As well, they would often try to tell my mother that it wasn't possible for my sister to graduate from high school. However, the words would have not been spoken about my brother. This makes me wonder if even in the school system and with parenting there are different gender considerations for learning disabled children.

Joan Welch