Ableism and Its Relation to Cultural Pluralism - Term Paper Example

Ableism: Related to Cultural Pluralism" Ableism is an attitude displayed towards individuals with disabilities. Every culture has a different notion for such disabilities some take it in a scientific manner, some as a religious sin while others take it as destined or ill-fated. Ableism is an act of social chauvinism and bias to look down upon those who struggle hard to uplift themselves against all odds. Ableism is known as disability and individuals with such disabilities are called handicaps. Perception about such discrimination persists since ages and therefore remained enforced in the societies as well as cultures possessing negative approach and categorizes individuals with disabilities. Such discrimination imposes misperception in the minds and psychological makeup besides hampering the cognitive development of the individuals with disabilities. The attitude shown towards such individuals by the societies carries a deep psychological connotation. Besides, government intervention not to institute disabled individuals and discrimination in terms of health care facilities, education and openings to perform efficiently in every aspect of life some of the cultures and societies still categorize individuals (Ableism: Disability Does Not Mean Inability). Introduction Secondary Research According to Johnson, "Ableism is the conscious or unconscious belief that persons with disabilities are inferior to persons without disabilities" (Interpersonal Communications Glossary). Ableism is considered as the chief notion in disability rights. According to the terom provider Thomas Hehir, ableism could be defined as "the devaluation of disability that results in societal attitudes that uncritically assert that it is better for a child to walk than roll, speak than sign, read print than read Braille, spell independently than use a spell-check, and hang out with nondisabled kids as opposed to other disabled kids" People are found to use varied abusive language to indicate the disability persisting in the individual such as the word lame is frequently used by individuals against those who are physically challenged or against those who are slow or do something wrong. (The Transcontinental Disability Choir: What is Ableist Language and Why Should You Care?). Recent literature review suggests that in the western world majority of the members belonging to the disability culture acknowledge and commemorate the continuation of disability culture as a cross culture to portray the positivity of disabled individuals. Keeping apart the subjugation, an understanding must be assigned towards skill, talent, hilarity, narration, speech, characters, convictions, assessments and approaches for existence and prosperity. This is well notable from conventional culture since a differentiation persists amongst the destructive labels of prevailing culture and new constructive demonstrations of divergences (Dupre, 2012). However, besides understanding the prevalence of cultural diversity persisting in education, disability culture has never gained any significance. According to Gilson et al, (2002), disability prevailing in the community is observed by means of diagnostic lens. The investigation of disability institutions involves vibrant of enlightening domination and also demonstrate the mannerism, how personal, cultural as well as structural echelons of domination traverse to generate "ableism. An understanding for disability culture paves the way towards conjectural imminence and also for the hegemonic actions displayed by the prominent culture with respect to the coercion. This is imperative for the social workers to think beyond the set social norms as well as to concentrate on the significant assessment of prevailing disability culture with respect to power (Dupre, 2012). Ableism is considered to be a conviction not to have any disability. Observation reveals that schools preach not to practice disabilities and ableism or practice multiculturalism and whatever little differences persist must be accepted; but in real sense they promote discrimination in terms of community, moral, gender or age of the individual. Multiculturalism in the course of pluralism scrutinizes ethnicity as a political pitch (Dupre, 2012). Ableism Prevailing in Schools In the situation where understanding about the disability is lacking, disabilities are assumed to be the resultant of negative stereotypes. Since disabilities are accompanied by depression of being disabled, it becomes imperative that culture must be promoted to fix individuals with disabilities and this reduces the pace of the developmental processes. History reveals that Louis Braille developed Braille script in order to understand and express self and also to keep abreast with the current trends, indicating that ableism has been prevailing in the society from ancient times. To keep pace with the developing world such individuals have to struggle hard and in the process they lag behind which culminates into depression as well as inculcate the feeling of being inferior. However, such failures should not be taken as drawbacks and individuals should stop attempting to keep the pace. It is imperative that one must learn from the nature, insects such as spiders spin their webs by falling and rising again and again but still in the end they gain success in spinning their webs. Such an approach must be adopted by disabled individuals and should not give up at any cost. Making constant attempts not only provides encouragement and close to the motive but also provides one with innovative ideas. Scientists across the world have not gained success overnight but they worked for years to bestow us with all the inventions upon which gyrates the entire lifestyle of people of the present epoch. All these efforts provide methodology and an approach to combat ableism Methods to Combat Ableism Ability awareness, one of the most imperative motive of the multicultural education involves removal of stereotypes. In order to remove the prejudice approach, teachers and individuals of the educational institutes must take a lead role in building an environment that can evade the disaster being imposed by the disability. An equal social status as well as relationship must be maintained to overcome the barriers like power, emotions and prestige (Combating Ableism in School). Any change in the society by means of social reforms must be implemented to combat ableism. In educational institutes teacher in-service plays a key role in formulating the environment which deals with the disabilities as well as discriminations (Combating Ableism in School). Presenting positive role models to motivate individuals with disabilities to fight with enthusiasm to combat ableism. Presentation of the role models could be by means of video clippings, biographies of famous personalities who stood all odds and acquired success in every aspects of life. In certain cases hiring teachers with disabilities could also serve as a motivation for the students and it helps in eliminating the prevailing bias (Combating Ableism in School). Primary Research In educational institutes, it has been observed that when teachers with disabilities are appointed and such teachers are not only good in teaching and imparting knowledge but also display mannerism and a perfect humane. These individuals gain respect not only from their students but also are the most adorable colleague. They get respect from students and also from teachers. Similar situation holds true at workplace as well as at all other places of human endeavor. Observation reveals that individuals without disabilities take life for granted and they keep venturing in the areas which are prohibited assuming that they are able to meet and accomplish any challenge. Such individuals may get engrossed in any kind of abuse such as substance abuse and make their lives miserable. Such individuals in majority of the cases do not gain much as compared to individuals who struggle to procure positions by facing challenges and life threatening acts of the past. They are careful and understand the meaning of life to a greater extent. Primary research therefore highlights the fact that positive approach in life not only bring rewards but fills an individual with enthusiasm and vibrancies Discussion Considering the importance of ableism in educational institutes and in workplace, now it could be established that individuals attain importance in the given cultural environment by behaving in a desired and progressive manner. Individuals with disabilities become innovative in a sense that by repeated actions they could sort their ways towards development of the method to combat their disability and can stand up as a role model. Conclusion Social work hang about ingrained in terms of disability as a difficulty, this solely depends on the individual defects and that too the limitation of the functional aspect of disability. Pluralist social work endow social workers with the counterfeit conjecture as well as the highlights the contribution of culture in developing awareness and positivity to face the challenges. In order to connect with disability culture, it becomes necessary that social work edification must involve cultural examination to rule out faulty approach. In the present scenario when the competition is hard hitting biased approach not only prevents creativity and inflow of innovative thoughts but also pushes us back from attaining success at the faster rate. One of the leading role model is Braille who provided the Braille script to all the blind individuals, thereby adding meaning to their lives. In a similar manner, every disable must act as a role model for those who have ableism or not. In contrast to the previous epoch when the understanding and depth was not defined, individuals used to give up because of their disabilities but now the situation has changed, amputed limbs get their counterparts and social sphere is gaining understanding to treat ableism with dignity and respect as they are humane. References Ableism: Disability Does Not Mean Inability. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://wps.ablongman.com/ab_koppelman_humandiff_2/64/16423/4204446.cw/index.ht ml. Combating Ableism in School. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://aapf.org/2007/11/combating-ableism-in-school/ Dupre, M. (2012). Disability Culture and Cultural Competency in Social Work. Social Work Education, 31(2), 168-183. Gilson, S. F., DePoy, E. & MacDuffie, H. (2002). Disability and social work education: a multitheoretical approach in Integrating Disability Content in Social Work Education. eds S. F. Gilson, E. DePoy, H. MacDuffie & K. Meyershon, Council on Social Work Education, Inc., Alexandria, VA. Interpersonal Communications Glossary. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://web.me.com/juancolorado/Interpersonal_Communications_Glossary/Index__A_- _M.html The Transcontinental Disability Choir: What is Ableist Language and Why Should You Care? (n.d.) Retrieved from http://bitchmagazine.org/post/the-transcontinental-disability-choir- what-is-ableist-language-and-why-should-you-care. Read More