Blog 8 Ableism

Blog 9 Eliminating Ableism in Education Thomas Hehir Skarlet Pena Quotes: "Cyndi Jones argues that, like the image of the poster child, this image implies that a disabled person is presumed deserving of pity — instead of respect — until the person proves capable of overcoming disability through extraordinary feats (Shapiro, 1994). Both of these dominant stereotypes of dis-ability, "Tiny Tims" and "supercrips," have at their core ableist perspectives, the failure to accept and value disabled ped e as they are." pg 3 This quote stood out to me because when you first meet someone that is disabled some negative thoughts that come to mind are that they are weak or that they can no longer live their lives as a “regular person” but that is not true . I believe that they deserve to be treated for respect and compassion for what they are going through especially for those that are going through life with their disability and without the help of anyone. "I contend that negative cultural assumptions about disability continue to have a negative influence on the education of children with disabilities. The pervasiveness of ableist assumptions in the education of these children not only reinforces prevailing prejudices against disability but may very well contribute to low levels of educational attainment and employment". pg 4 The statement caught my attention because it emphasizes the negative energy that is created when people with disabilities are denigrated or disparaged, which makes them feel inferior to others and depressed about themselves. stating outright or hinting that pupils with impairments are less clever or capable. Regulations about attendance and grading that do not take sensory demands or mental health into account. Discrimination and bigotry result from needlessly separating students with disabilities from their peers, which frequently keeps them from realizing their full potential. "The dilemma parents and educators face around the issue of labeling need not exist if schools employ research-based practices and improve their special education programs." pg 14 "Penny was quickly developing the view, held by most disability advocates, that while disability is not a tragedy, society's response to disability can have tragic consequences for those who have disabilities " pg 2 Schools and parents need to be understanding of the learning capacity of certain students. Not all students learn at the same pace and do not understand things the same way. Whether you are abled or disabled everyone should be treated to the same amount of knowledge, some might need more help to understand but that does not make them any less of intelligent. Society makes disabled people seem as if they are tragic. We must learn to include disabled bodies and normalize that not everyone is the same but at the end of the day we all have the same rights.