Learning about disability culture - Essay Example

Learning about Disability Culture LEARNING ABOUT DISABILITY CULTURE Prior to learning about disability culture, I had had experiences with young children with disabilities working for a charity organization in my hometown. However, my exposure to disabilities in adults was limited, and I found the introduction to this group quite informative. Some of the ideas that I had never considered included the fact that manifestation of disability in adulthood differs significantly from that in children (Stone, 2009).

While I did understand that the better adaptation processes of adults enabled them to compensate for disability, I learnt with interest that disabilities manifest in various ways for different adult development stages. This I found to be consisted with mainstream culture in society, which holds that people change and develop as they go through their lifespan. I have also learnt that disabilities take various forms and that how one disabled person may behave is not the same as how others may behave.

In addition, it was interesting to note that some people with disabilities find the term to be discriminatory, and a hindrance, especially as some feel that they go through the same issues as able-bodied people and achieve similar results (Stone, 2009). Probably the most important information gathered during the learning activities was that individuals cannot outgrow their disabilities. While this ultimately makes sense, my time volunteering to work with disabled children has made me not question what they will become when they grow up.

I agree with the contention that those with disabilities, especially learning disabilities, normally have ability or abilities that can outshine their disabilities (Stone, 2009). Whether because of natural gifts or as devices for compensation and adaptation, these other abilities are dependent on the disabled persons. I enjoyed a video that we watched during one of the classes, in which a man working with a group of community leaders told them about what life and school is like for children who are disabled was an informative activity.

One of his illustrations actually struck me when he contended that expecting something from those with disabilities who are not capable of accomplishing the set task is commonplace in society and in school, which I agreed with. In addition, this problem has been found to lie with societal ignorance, rather than with individuals suffering from a disability (Stone, 2009). There is a need for society to be concerned and educated about working with disabled people. People with disabilities also have to overcome issues and obstacles that are beyond whatever disability they have.

This is especially in reference to the expectations of society from them, as well as the behavior of society towards them (Riddell & Watson, 2013). I have learnt that overcoming disability as one grows up is a difficult challenge, as well as the fact that the general public and school systems make it even harder for people with disabilities to function. However, it still amazes me that so many people with disabilities have managed to accomplish so much. As well as their struggle against low self-esteem that is either because of ill treatment from society or self-consciousness, I was also drawn to the many levels of struggle that people with disabilities go through.

However, the most critical issue identified was discrimination, even with all the laws passed in Congress to make the workplace conducive for people with disability (Riddell & Watson, 2013). Overall, by learning about discrimination, we can get to understand the various abilities that these individuals have and viewing them as abilities, rather than focusing on their disabilities. ReferencesRiddell, S., & Watson, N. (2013). Disability, culture and identity. Harlow: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Stone, J. H. (2009).

Culture and Disability: Providing culturally competent services. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.