History of Disability By Kaylee Cook

Introduction to Disabilities

The term disability refers to any condition, whether of mind or body, that interferes with a person's ability to function in their environment either by preventing them from doing certain things or slowing them down (Friedman & Owen, 2017). In the United States alone there are approximately 57.8 million people living with disabilities and the majority of people will acquire at least one type of disability during their life (Peacock et al., 2015). With the prevalence of disabilities within the world it is important to understand the psychology of disability. Historical and contemporary views on disabilities have significantly shifted, but many stereotypes still persist in society as a result of various cultural perceptions. 


Historical and Contemporary Overview

Conditions for people with disabilities still are not perfect, but the rights of individuals with disabilities within the United States have come a long way over the years. In the 1800s, many people with disabilities were discriminated against and denied entry into the country as the government desired able-bodied individuals who could potentially contribute more to society (Marini & Stebnicki, 2018). However, the humiliation of people with disabilities continued late into the 1800s with the passing of Ugly Laws. These laws prohibited individuals with physical disabilities or deformities from entering public spaces, which severely impacted the ability of people with disabilities to show their independence or earn a living. During the 1900s, individuals with disabilities faced forced sterilization as a result of the eugenics movement. The eugenics movement was a movement obsessed with creating humans with what at the time was considered the most desirable traits, so in order to prevent undesirable traits from spreading the government allowed forced sterilization of many people with disabilities. 

Movements toward equality and better treatment of those with disabilities began gaining momentum in the 1900s (Marini & Stebnicki, 2018). Legislation such as the Smiths Fee Act, Vocational Rehabilitation Act, Social Security Act, Education for All Handicapped Children Act, and the Americans with Disability Act in the 90s brought great change and awareness to the discrimination of people with disabilities. Changes in legislation have deeply impacted the public perception and attitude towards those with disabilities as well as helped those with physical disabilities to gain greater access to public spaces. The United States is still affected by deeply rooted prejudice and stigmatization of disabilities, but the country appears to be moving towards equality and equity for those with disabilities. Marini and Stebnicki (2018) suggest that public opinion is strongly influenced by feelings of pity as well as admiration. Changes in law are not enough alone to obtain equality as there is still a need for changes in the perception of disability at the individual level in order to support laws advocating for people with disabilities. A law is nothing unless people choose to follow it. Greater recognition of disabilities in the modern era is likely to lead to much greater acceptance. 

Visit the link to the side for more information: Timeline for History of Disability

Stereotypes and Stereotypical Thinking

There are several stereotypes and stereotypical patterns of thinking that people may apply when interacting with a person who has a disability. Stereotypes are widely accepted beliefs that are generalized, oversimplified, and often false. Stereotypes can be harmful as they can impact how people without disabilities react to people with disabilities. People with disabilities are sometimes stereotyped as child-like, helpless, dependent, unable, or worse attention-seeking (Shakespeare, 2013). However, Shakespeare (2013) asserts the reality of the situation by describing people with disabilities as normal people with strengths and weaknesses. People with disabilities need to be treated with equity. When given equal opportunity people with disabilities can achieve great things. There have been many famous people whether musicians or athletes with disabilities who have excelled in their careers, but these individuals likely faced harsh stereotypes. People with disabilities learn to live with their disabilities in the same way that every other person learns to live within their environment.

Stereotypical patterns of thinking tend to be rooted in social prejudice and beliefs of ableism. Ableism is a type of discrimination and social prejudice based on the assumption that people with disabilities need fixing (Reber et al., 2022). For example, assuming that someone who is disabled cannot do something or must be missing out on life due to their disability. Stereotypical thinking is not always meant to be harmful such as inquiring if someone needs help, but there are many patterns of stereotyping that are harmful and have detrimental effects. Individuals with disabilities are not helpless or inferior.  Stereotypical ways of thinking of someone with a disability as inferior lead to prejudice and are the same as discriminating against someone for their race or gender. 

Stereotypes related to disability have in some ways changed over time. With the passing of laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, there has been a reduction in stereotyping of people with disabilities due to greater understanding among the public (Peacock et al., 2015). People fear what they do not know. In historical times, people with disabilities were labeled as cursed or insane and persecuted (Marini & Stebnicki, 2018). In the past, individuals with a disability were seen as weak and useless and even denied entry into the United States. Due to enhanced knowledge of disabilities in contemporary times and modern accommodations, these patterns of thinking have been minimized, but other stereotypes still persist. 

Cultural Perceptions

A person's culture can affect how they view, understand, and interact with people with disabilities. For example, in traditional Native American cultures, the concept of disability is often absent (Marinin & Stebnicki, 2018). Native Americans see individuals with disabilities as the same as anyone, but as having a different way of functioning. Native American people will typically assist those who are disabled in engaging with the community, which is part of the reason that in Native American cultures, disability is not stigmatized. However, traditional Western views on disability are quite different. European Americans tend to have a culture that strongly values one's contributions to society and independence. In this culture, disability is often stigmatized as individuals tend to believe that disabilities are associated with inferiority and helplessness which contrasts cultural values. In modern times these beliefs are being challenged as people begin to see that people with disabilities can be independent and hard working. 

References

A history of disability: from 1050 to the present day. (n.d.). Historic England. https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/disability-history/

Friedman, C., & Owen, A. L. (2017). Defining disability: Understandings of and attitudes towards  ableism and disability. Disability Studies Quarterly, 37(1). https://doi.org/10.18061/dsq.v37i1.5061

Marini, I., & Stebnicki, M. A. (2018). The psychological and social impact of illness and disability, (7th ed.). Springer Publishing.

Participant. (2017, January 9). Disability | How you see me [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwW6mYdJ7Xc

Peacock, G., Iezzoni, L. I., & Harkin, T. R. (2015). Health care for Americans with disabilities — 25 years after the ADA. The New England Journal of Medicine, 373(10), 892. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp1508854
[Photograph of dancing people with disabilities]. (n.d.). https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/missing-from-workplace-culture-disability-pride-ndpathways/

[Photograph of disability statistics]. (n.d.). https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/socialsustainability/brief/world-bank-group-commitments-on-disability-inclusion-development

[Photograph of people with disabilities]. (n.d.). https://udservices.org/which-term-use-people-with-disabilities/

[Photograph of prosthetic leg]. (n.d.). https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2019/04/23/disability-is-not-a-dirty-word-handi-capable-should-be-retired/

Reber, L., Kreschmer, J. M., James, T. G., Junior, J. D., DeShong, G. L., Parker, S., & Meade, M. A. (2022). Ableism and Contours of the Attitudinal Environment as Identified by Adults with Long-Term Physical Disabilities: A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127469

Shakespeare, T. (2013). Facing up to disability. Community Eye Health, 26(81), 1-3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3678304/

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