Phase I: People with Disabilities Presented by: Becky Durbin & Jessica Martin

Definition of Terms: Normal- the absence of deviance, illness, or disability, often a standard by which everything else is measured against (Smart, 2009) Prejudice: An aversive or hostile attitude toward a person who belongs to a group simply because he belongs to that group, and therefore is presumed to have the objectionable qualities ascribed to in that group (Smart 2009, p. 118) Sources: Smart (2009), Lovelace (2015)

Definition of Terms: Discrimination- The act of behaving on your prejudices.Unequal treatment because of group membership (Smart, 2009) Handicapism: Social handicapism is automatically devaluing and marginalizing of (persons with disabilities) PWDs in relationships (Smart, 2009). PWD: Person with a disability PWOD: Person with out a disablity Sources: Smart (2009), Lovelace (2015)

Definition of Disabilities: There are 4 categories of disability: 1.Physical 2.Intellectual 3.Cognitive 4.Psychiatric Sources: Smart (2009), Lovelace (2015)

Increase in Disabilities? There appear to be more disabilities than ever before…why is this so? New and increased definitions of disability by the government Advances in neonatal medicine Advances in emergency medicine and trauma care Aging of the population Longer life spans of PWDs More accurate counting Sources: Smart (2009) p.36, Lovelace (2015)

Common Societal Reactions to Persons with Disabilities Assumptions about level of functioning Focus on limitations Fear Ignore the person Patronize Pity Charity Ambiguity Lowered Expectations Infantilization Sources: Smart (2009), Lovelace (2015)

History or Prejudice and Discrimination Disability has been present in all societies worldwide and throughout all of history (Smart, 2009 p.117). “No other racial, cultural, ethnic, linguistic, religious, political, national, sexual orientation, or gender group has experienced this degree of pervasive and generalized prejudice and discrimination” (Smart, 2009 p ) Sources: Smart (2009), Lovelace (2015)

History or Prejudice and Discrimination (cont.) 1700s- PWDs are almost completely neglected, 80% of people in “poor houses” are PWD’s, Services for Veteran’s who are disabled begins Sources: Smart (2009), Lovelace (2015)

History or Prejudice and Discrimination (cont.) 1800s- Era of the asylum for those with physical and mental disabilities. Some positives of this era include the start of schools for those were blind and deaf, as well as some early mainstreaming. Dorthea Dix fought for rights of PWDs who were institutionalized in aim houses. In 1869, the first classroom for children with disabilities were formed, specifically for deafness, in a regular elementary school in Boston. It was later expanded to include other disabilities. The term “asylum” changed to “hospital,’ “school,” and “institute”. By this year, 125 state schools and institutes in U.S., Sources: Smart (2009), Lovelace (2015) Dorthea Dix

History or Prejudice and Discrimination (cont.) 1900s- Eugenics laws become prevalent. They allow forced sterilization and other such measures. Derogatory terminology persisted through out this era. The first federal funding for services for PWDs started in this era for WWI and WWII veterans. In the mid 1900s parents of children with disabilities organized to stop the institutionalization of their children, as well as allow them entry into the public schools and demonstrated concern about a lack of community support for their children. Sources: Smart (2009), Lovelace (2015)

History of PWDs and Public Education: 1. Brown v. Board of Education (1954) In 1954, the U. S. Supreme Court issued a landmark civil rights decision in Brown v. Board of Education 2. Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) Congress enacted the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in 1965 to address the inequality of educational opportunity for underprivileged children. 3. PARC and Mills During the early 1970s, two cases were catalysts for change: Pennsylvania Assn. for Retarded Children vs. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PARC)and Mills v. Board of Education of District of Columbia. Source:

History of PWDs and Public Education: 4. Public Law : The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 On November 19, 1975, Congress enacted Public Law , also known as The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) On December 3, 2004, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was amended again. The reauthorized statute is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 and is known as IDEA 2004 Source:

Least Restrictive Environment: In the U.S. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), least restrictive environment (LRE) means that a student who has a disability should have the opportunity to be educated with non-disabled peers, to the greatest extent appropriate. LRE is one of the six principles that govern the education of students with disabilities and other special needs. By law, schools are required to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment that is appropriate to the individual student's needs. Courts decide when it is violated, such as in the key court case of Daniel R R vs State Board of Education (1989) Source:

What does justice mean?  Everyone receives equal treatment  Everybody receives what he or she has earned  Everybody receives what he or she needs Sources: Smart (2009) p.216, Lovelace (2015)

What does Social justice mean in terms of PWDs?  Society changes its view of PWDs and provides accommodations so they can function seamlessly through out all aspects of our world and society.  Video link: Sources: Smart (2009)

Why does injustice persist?  Handicappism by well intentioned people  Pity, charity, sensationalization by media, fostering dependence, viewing PWDs  The view that being disabled is different or deviant, focus on health and beauty, empowering those perceived to have heath and beauty  People view PWDs differently based on the degree of the disability, visibility of the disability, and the perceived cause of the disability Sources: Smart (2009) p.216, Lovelace (2015)

What should we take away?  Disability is part of the human experience.  Barriers are not created by disability, but by society’s response to it.  People with disabilities have a right to participate in all facets of life.  Society has a responsibility to remove the barriers that exclude them Sources: Smart (2009), Lovelace (2015)

References:  Lovelace, T (2015). GSPE 503: Social Justice in Special Education PowerPoints. Pittsburgh, PA: Duquesne University.  Smart, J. (2009). Disability, Society, and the Individual. Austin, Texas: Pro-Ed International.  Wrights Law (2015). Retrieved on May 29, 2015 from  Wikipedia (2015). Least Restrictive Environment. Retrieved on May 29 th, 2015 from