I hadn’t planned on working in the disability profession. I was going to be a forensic psychologist. I had a graduate practicum lined up with a prison. Then the flood of ’93 came and the inmates had to move — so I had no practicum.
The only option for a new practicum was working with children with disabilities. I almost quit my graduate program because the way I had been treated by medical and educational professionals was negative, and I wasn’t going to project the myth and stereotypes of disabilities onto children. But I chose to finish, and that practicum turned out to be the best job I could imagine. I think that’s because I looked at things differently. I understood disability culture from my own experience.
Now I work with others to shift their perceptions as well. I have been at Missouri State in this job title for 11 years. My job was originally to provide accommodations for students — make sure we have Braille textbooks or sign-language interpreters, for instance.
However, I wanted to move away from this “medical model” of disability. That’s where you see the disability as a medical condition a person has —so you have to have a professional like me come in and “fix things” for the person.
Now I want to reinforce a shift toward designing inclusive buildings, programs and policies so those who are disabled don’t have to use delayed or segregated accommodations. This is called universal design, which is the design of products and environments to be used by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. This model challenges how we see disability, and asks us to think proactively about all users.
In a perfect world, universal design would be implemented in everything everyone does. People would go beyond what is just legally required. Disability would be valued as part of our rich diversity. I have seen definite improvement regarding this goal, but we’re not there yet.
This is my passion because it’s personal. When I was young, I came up against barriers that just didn’t need to be there. Those barriers were typically based on attitudes deeply rooted in the myths and stereotypes of disability. They weren’t limitations I had physically. They were limitations of how others thought about disability and their assumptions about me that weren’t accurate. That kind of thinking is still going on today.
You, as Missouri State alumni and friends, can be a part of a shift in our thinking. The biggest barriers for disabled people are false assumptions. Employers might think a disabled person can’t do a job or a task.
Co-workers or clients with disabilities might not be invited to lunch or asked to go on that golf trip, because people assume they wouldn’t be interested or can’t participate.
But in my experience, most people with disabilities can do the same things as nondisabled peers; they just might do it differently. For example, someone who is blind can be an accountant. They may use screen-reading software to complete their work. It is simply a matter of accepting that others might complete the same tasks in different ways.
There is value in being different! Focus on each person’s strengths and what is possible. Do things to break down social constructs and the barriers people have unknowingly created.
Universal design and disability pride benefit people of all ages and experiences. You can be a part of the momentum as society shifts from “separate but equal” to full inclusion. I think that’s just the way it should be!
Are you a disabled alumnus?
The Disability Resource Center welcomes contact from disabled alumni who want to tell us what they’re up to now, mentor disabled students or work with us to change how others perceive disability. Email DRC@MissouriState.edu, call 1-417-836-4192 or call the TTY-line, 1-417-836-6792.
What is a disability?
Traditionally, the medical community defines “disability” as any physical or mental condition that significantly limits an area of major life activity. This includes traditional disabilities, such as using a wheelchair or being blind or deaf. It also covers conditions others can’t see — such as having multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, HIV, cancer, severe arthritis, diabetes and more.
Katheryne Staeger-Wilson also defines disability as a social construct. “I use the word ‘disabled’ instead of terms like ‘physically challenged’ or ‘differently abled’ because there’s nothing negative about the word disabled. It does carry stigma but to avoid using the term means you are buying into that stigma,” she said. “I think the disability community is reclaiming the word, owning it and having pride in using it.”
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