In a message dated 11/27/01 5:29:26 PM Pacific Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: > Subj:Fw: Paper on Disability-- HELP NEEDED > Date:11/27/01 5:29:26 PM Pacific Standard Time > From:<A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A> > Reply-to:<A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A> > To:<A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A> > Sent from the Internet > > > > Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 8:19 PM > Subject: Paper on Disability-- HELP NEEDED > > > > Hello everyone, > > I was wondering if you could please take the time to read the e-mail = > that follows and give my cousin, who is taking a course at the = > University of Toronto, some assistance. She wants to know what a set of = > words mean to people with disabilities/parents of children with = > disabilities. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated. I am = > going to give her my own opinions as time and my own essay writing = > permit, but I thought some variation of answers might help widen the = > perspective of her assignment.=20 > > Thank you for any help you can provide. > > Jenn > > > Hey Jen, > > I'm sure that you are busy with school but I was wondering if you might = > have some time to respond to me about a few questions for my essay for = > my disability class. I wouldn't say that I have a concrete topic down = > yet, but what I would like to do is focus on the issue of normalcy = > within the context of medical vs social model. > I guess you can't even really call it questions that I have...its more = > like I have some words that I would like for you to respond to - like = > what do they mean for you, is their anything that you like/dislike about = > them, anything you would change, any thoughts really that you have on = > them would be much appreciated. If there is a word you don't want to = > talk about that is fine too. Any stories or points you would like to = > tell outside of the words I have included would be great too...I'll try = > my best to incorporate them. > > Okay so here are the words.... > Normalcy no such thing as normal. > Impairment this is a fairly accurate word if describing a specfic aspect of > disability, such as hearing, mobility.... > Disability... is okay, but not "disabled"... a car is disabled, but a car doesn't have a disability. > > Sexuality>>> WE LOVE It as much as anybody else< but for many it "s hard to get to a relationship> Advocacy: A POWERFUL TOOL>>>> > > Medical Model: THE WORST MODEL UPON WHICH TO BUILD SERVICES AND BENEFITS PACKAGES> > > Social Model: THE BEST ALTHOUGH CAN BE AMBIGUOUS AS EACH PERSON IS AN INDIVIDUAL> > > Culture: SEE AXIS DANCE TROUPE FOR WHEELCHAIR BALLET> :~) > > Media; never enough representation in film or TV...... what little there is, is either focussed on making the person undisabled, or overcoming it to such a degree like climbing Mt Everest, that not many can live up to that height. We need a series (drama) where the mother has CP, and is coping with her family like they do on 7th heaven. Doctors/ 'experts'; ha! Big know-nothings that charge an arm and a leg ... well, not all do, I had a wonderful CP doc growing up. > > mag, 45, athetoid CP,