Changing Conceptualizations of Disability - Dissertation Example

 Changing Conceptualizations of Disability 1. Introduction Western society has long been predicated on the idea that education is a universal human right. This goes for all human beings, no matter their level of intellect, or any perceived and actualised disabilities that they might bring to the classroom environment. Of late, the concept of inclusion in schools has been intensely debated. While educators do largely support the idea that children should be included in as many classroom and school activities with their peers as possible, this is not always realistic or prudent (Albrecht, et al, 2001). This is particularly the case in an era of increasing budgetary constraints and safety considerations for all students. As a result, there have been a perceived shift in philosophy relating to the relationship between the changing conceptualisation of the disability and the organisation and administration of inclusive physical activity programmes. It is important to note that conceptualisation is taken to mean the process by which a disability is presented in a particular way. One can use this information and knowledge to interpret this concept via an examination of particular models and theories (Albrecht, et al, 2001). This is the focus of this particular study. Moving forward, it is important to look at the changes and shifts in direction that taking place within physical activity programmes, particularly as they related to disability (Butler & Bowlby, 2007). This relates to the changing attitudes in society related to the delivery of physical activity, particularly in terms of its importance and relevance to developing the entire body, both emotionally and physically. These changes are gradually being realised throughout many areas of society, and are reflected in a shift in attitude and changes in legislative policy. These, in turn, are leading to a change in overall structure and programmes, initiatives, and projects (Butler & Bowlby, 2007). To begin, it is important to note that the way that much of UK society views disability today is radically different than it was even a few decades prior. These changing attitudes have resulted in a populace that thinks differently about disability (Barton, 2013). Individuals tend to conceptualise differently and, as a result, various models have been developed to reflect this shifting mindset over a period of time. Changing attitudes have resulted in a society that is pushing for new rules and regulations in relation to the disabled, with a particular focus on the way that poles of the future will affect strategies aimed at bringing about structure changes that will eventually filter down through all segments of society (Barton, 2013). What needs to be discussed moving forward, then, is that process by which these arguments have been constructed, and how the relationship between these conceptualisations and the disabled are be reflected right down to the delivery of the physical activity programme in general. 2. Models of Delivery 2.1. Social Model The social model aims to explain the basis for the construct of the term ‘disabled’ as arrived at by society at large. In essence, the social model advocates the belief that it is actually society that creates a disabled person, not the individual him or her self (Mulvany, 2010). The needs of the majority are simply not met by people who are considered to be disabled, so a stigma has been attached to such individuals over the years that precludes them from being involved in many activities and functions that are considered to be the framework of the global community. It is important to assess the reality that society has a role to play in changing the attitudes related to the disabled and that members of the populace can truly remove many of the barriers currently experienced by the disabled. It is ultimately up to society to make this shift occur, as disabled people should not be called upon to defend themselves. In essence, the disability of a person should have no bearing upon their ability to interact freely and openly in modern day society (Morris, 2012). The social model explains that role that society has played in this phenomenon over the years and aims to propose ways to correct and right the course moving forward. The social model provides the framework for the creation of the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995, to be discussed in more detail in a subsequent section (Morris, 2013). One of the changing conceptualisations taking place, when considering the social model, is that the approach to disability is becoming more inclusive over time. There is much thought being given to how society can better accommodate disabled people so that the disability is no longer focused upon. In so doing, attitudes are gradually in the process of changing as communities are looking for ways to allow disabled people to participate in activities in much the same manner as the non-disabled already enjoy (Pilgrim, 2007). While there are certainly many adjustments that must be made to accommodate this reality, many of which are labour intensive and require a great deal of up front financial capital, the rewards are worth it to ensure that the disabled among us are no longer excluded from broader society. To better meet this shifting attitude taking place within society, it is important that all event organisers begin to take it upon themselves to ensure that their activity is easily accessible to as many people as is feasibly possible, particularly in relation to the disabled. The strength of the social model rests in its ability to objectify the various barriers currently experienced by the disability, to highlight the problem in the eyes of politicians, and to elicit change via new legislative policies to be implemented throughout society (Oliver, 2010). 2.2 Medical Model Perhaps equally important to this changing conceptualisation are the concepts support by the medical model. This particular line of thinking views a disability that is endemic to a particular individual. As such, the medical model tends to draw attention to the individual disability and the associated medical condition, in line with how the person is treated in the context of society (De Swaan, 2010). This perspective takes the view that the disabled are responsible for their own ailments and that it is not necessarily the role of the majority in society to accommodate them. This is a dangerous perspective to take because it assumes that there is a perceived gap between the ability of the disabled to interact openly and freely in society. Consider an individual bound to a wheelchair that cannot gain access to the community theatre because it is on the second floor and there is no elevator. The medical model supports the idea that the theatre, by de facto reasoning, is only accessible to the disabled unless they can find a way to get to the second floor. This creates a second class mentality within society that is not healthy, and thankfully the changing conceptualisation taking place today negates this belief and moves toward a more accommodating and inclusive environment for all (Drake, 2009). To assume that the medical model should be embraced is to belief in the concept that the difficulties associated with the disabled person should be a burden to be borne by the individual alone and that society has no perceived obligation to work towards better accommodating them. This model, while previously embraced by broader society, is gradually shifting into a deeper acceptance that all individuals throughout all sectors of society should be treated equally (French, 2013). 2.3. Biosocial Model of Disability The biosocial model of disability moves beyond the first two models and acknowledges that society is largely to blame for the disabilities present today and that we have an obligation to pass new legislation aimed at equal human rights for all individuals, regardless of any disability that they might present with. Under this model, society should stop treating people as being disabled, but rather they should move towards a recognition of the impairment that is present and recognise it for which it, which is a life experience (Hughes and Patterson, 2007). A disability does not necessarily preclude a disabled person from living. They must have the freedom to move away from the pain and rejection that society has swept upon them for far too long and towards being included in all of the various activities that a community has to offer. Society must enable the disabled to fully participate, which entails making accommodations wherever possible for a disability the might be present in such a way that does not draw attention to the individual. The reality is that society, through its inaction over the years, have created many of the disabilities that are so prevalent today (Imrie, 2008). Consider regions of the world where medical services are extremely poor and often lacking. Many individuals around the world are impaired because they did not get treatment for an ailment early on, perpetuating the issue and causing a long term disability. If society can alter their way of thinking and develop a better system for allocating resources around the world, then many of the disabilities that we see today can be eradicated. Many of these disabilities are caused by unnecessary amputations as the result of war in underdeveloped regions, and heavy manual labour that is unsafe and leads to many injuries with no possibility of rehabilitation (Seymour, 2008). This can also be reflected in the lack of opportunities afforded to the disabled in many developing areas of the world. This is reflected by the reality that most of medals awarded in sports that para-athletes participate in are won by individuals from developed countries, as the disabled in developing countries do not have the possibility to participate in sporting activities due to a lack of funding. 3. Global Policy Developments Due to years of inaction on the part of society to do more to accommodate the disabled and to stop marginalising their status, various policy developments have occurred to conceptualise this issue into one that works to eliminate stereotypes and strengthen the belief that activities within society should be enjoyable and available to all. Consider the fact that as recently as the United Nations Declaration issued in 1948, the notion of disability is largely ignored (Shakespeare, 2013). In essence, the UN seemed to be supporting a position whereby human rights was to be promoted for all able bodied individuals in the world, but the disabled were not included in this thought process of equal protection for all. It was not until the 2006 Convention on the Right of Persons with a Disability, convened by the United Nations, that the issue of disability was actually discussed and impending policies developed. The perspective from a physical activity standpoint is even more bleak. Going back to 1948, the first ever Stoke Mandeville games saw only a very few disabled athletes take part. By 1960, that number had only risen to 400 athletes from a select few, largely Western, countries. It was not until the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea that the international sporting community began to largely support the rights of the disabled person to participate in sport related activities. Up until this point, the perspective of most members of society seemed to be that physical related activities were reserved for the healthy in the community, and the disabled were relegated to the role of spectator. There was little to no effort made at accommodation or inclusion (Oliver, 2012). Progress is being made on this front in the United Kingdom. In 2005, for example, the Disability Discriminations Act was passed, since being reply by the Equality Act of 2010. This policy shift has set a benchmark and framework by which reasonable adjustments to the way the disabled among us are included within broader society (Bury, 2012). In regard to physical activity programmes and clubs throughout the region, communities are now required to implement policies designed to include the disabled within their activities in a seamless fashion. Failure to do so is now a punishable offence. This changing conceptualisation of the issue if reflective of a society that must no longer marginalise people with a disability. Naturally, the ‘reasonable’ clause in most policies is open to interpretation, but the clear signal is that disability should not equal discrimination (Bury, 2012). The disabled deserve that same access to physical activities as anyone else, and it is generally agreed upon now in Western society that reasonable accommodations should be made to ensure that this happens. Courts will now intervene when necessary to issue a judgement about whether or not a given activity or venue should reasonably be expected to include and accommodate the disabled of the community (Butler & Bowlby, 2007). Courts can also provide guidance as to the best ways to make sure that these accommodations are provided for and will make recommendations about sanctions, should it come to that. Out of these policies has been created the Sport and Recreational Alliance. This group provides event organisers with tools and resources to develop and foster a more inclusive environment for the disabled, and it serves to represent the internists of the national sport governing bodies as well. In addition, disability specific sports have been developed and are growing in popularity. Almost any sport, for example, now accommodates wheelchairs. Among the most well known are wheelchair rugby and basketball, such other sports are including more and more disabled athletes as well. In addition, recent policy initiatives have created entire organisations and activist groups that focus on a specific disability. Consider the Cerebral Palsy Sports Organisation as an example. This group works to develop physical activity programmes that take into account the unique needs of individuals with Cerebral Palsy. Not only is this enabling such individuals with disabilities to gain much needed physical exercise, but it enables them to feel more a part of the community and society in which they reside. Other examples include the Deaf Sports Organisation, Blind Sports Organisation, and the amputee sports organisation. There are a range of sports that fit into each type of disability. Within reasonable accommodations such disabilities can be worked around and individuals can be included in physical activity programmes throughout most sectors of society. Finally, it bears mentioning the the English Federal of Disability Sport has been created to protect the interests of disabled people in sport and physical activity endeavours throughout the United Kingdom. This particular non-profit organisation works to increase opportunities at all skill levels and desired areas of participation. They work with community organisers to ensure that events prove inclusive opportunities for the disabled whenever is reasonably possibly, and it encourages the disabled to take part and become more physically active. 4. Disability Defined It is important to remember that recent policy developments has enabled many individuals with a disability, either physical or mental, to live within and throughout the community in which they reside. At the same time, such individuals are often wracked with economic hardship, high employment, and they experience difficult maintaining fruitful and lasting relationships (Mulvany, 2010). All of this leads a lowered standard of living, and many disabled are depressed to the point that they have stopped seeking out ways to be included and accommodated within the broader context of society. That is the basis for this discussion, as the conceptualisation towards the disabled moving forward must be toward one of inclusion in physical activities that truly being include them in society to the degree that the disability itself is no longer the focus. The term disability is generally taken to refer to any individual that has some type of impairment to normal functioning, such as physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, or mental deficiency. The current conceptualisation is that disabilities provide for a multidimensional experience on the part of the individual involved, whereby their worldview does shift, as does societies perception and expectation of them (Mulvany, 2010). In essence, they are marginalised by some members of the global community and many activities are simply not offered to them because it is felt that they are not worthy or capable of them. 5. Conclusion As the social model reveals, society creates the notion of disability. For far too long, the global community has looked down upon an individual that cannot think or move the same way as the typical person and, as such, opportunities are simply denied them on this basis alone. In recent years, however, this construct has been shifting thanks to changing attitudes expressed by much of society. Also, it is important to understand that the work of disability theory is serving to provide a new direction for society moving forward in terms of how the disabled are both treated and accommodated. One changing conceptualisation focuses on the political and theoretical implications that arise when identifying the differences the exist between people that have a disability and those that do not (Pinder, 2005). The argument is that society largely creates these differences and then forces the disabled among us to function within a box that is largely constructed by people who have no such disability. The disabled, however, can learn to function on their own and attention should not be drawn to the disability, but rather to the individual in question. A further conversation taking place today throughout many segments of society involves the importance of analysing disabilities and impairments from a social approach, whereby accommodation and inclusion becomes the norm and not the exception. It is this second approach and theory that appears to be gaining traction today as the conceptualisation relating to the disabled and physical activity programmes is gradually shifting (Pilgrim, 2007). Consider that disabilities may take various forms, some physical and some mental, yet each individual has a basic human right to be able to take full advantage of what a civilised society has to offer. Why many developed nations, such as the United Kingdom, have taken great strides in this area, there is much work to be done in the developing world. There are still far too many disabled individuals living in the global community, yet being shunned away from participating in basic physical activity programmes (Peters, 2006). Government agencies, such as the United Nations, are gradually working to correct this, but it does require a shifting paradigm on the part of all members of society in order to truly realise a change for the better. References Albrecht, G. et al. eds. (2001). 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