Disability, the Organization of Work, and the Need for Change

[Excerpt] There is considerable historical and anthropological evidence that impairment is a human constant and that cultural responses to perceived abnormalities of the body and mind vary across time, culture and place. It is equally evident that throughout recorded history western society has systematically discriminated against or excluded various groups of people on the basis of perceived biological inferiority, and that this exclusion became systematic following the material and ideological changes associated with capitalist development. The combination of industrialisation, urbanisation, and associate ideologies including: liberal utilitarianism, Social Darwinism, and Eugenics, provided ‘scientific’ legitimacy to ancient myths, fears and prejudices, and the gradual but intensifying commodification of every day life. As a result \u27work\u27 became almost exclusively associated with wage labour and paid employment. This precipitated the development of an employment infrastructure geared to the needs of those deemed \u27capable\u27 of this type of activity. Hence, those considered incapable of work, and labelled \u27disabled\u27 were, apart from in, and immediately following, times of war, excluded from the workplace. This legacy remains with us today. Discrimination against disabled people is therefore institutionalised in the very fabric of western society; consequently, disabled people encounter a whole range of material, political and cultural barriers to meaningful mainstream employment and social participation

Independent Living, Politics and Implications

[Excerpt] The idea of ‘independent’ living as used by the disabled people’s movement around the world is a radical concept firmly rooted in the ideological, cultural and pragmatic traditions of western society. It is a radical concept because it poses a direct challenge to conventional thinking on disability and combines both an ideological and practical solution to the everyday environmental and cultural problems encountered by disabled people and their families. Furthermore, the notion of ‘independent living’ has the potential not only to enhance the quality of life of people directly affected by disability, but also that of other structurally disadvantaged groups such as women, minority ethnic groups, lesbians and gay men, and older people. In order to explain these claims this paper is divided into two main sections. The first part will examine orthodox thinking on disability and an alternative perspective developed by disabled people themselves. The second will focus on the concept of independent living and its impact on policy development. The conclusion will address the ideological, cultural and practical implications of these developments

‘Work’ is a Four Letter Word? Disability, Work and Welfare

[Excerpt] This chapter suggests that to overcome the problem of disabled people’s ongoing disadvantage in mainstream employment and, therefore, society, a radical alternative strategy is required that poses a direct challenge to orthodox thinking on work, and associate policies that centre almost exclusively on disabled workers. Building on long standing analyses from within the disability studies literature, it is argued that an holistic approach is needed that includes: a/ the reconfiguration of the meaning of work for disabled people; b/ the de-stigmatisation of associate welfare provision; and c/ that the theoretical and practical foundations for such an approach have already been laid (Abberley 2002: Barnes 2000: 2003: Oliver and Barnes 1998). It begins with an overview of theoretical considerations with reference to the concept of ‘independent living’ for disabled people and the social model of disability. Attention will then centre on the organisation of labour, the reconfiguring of work for disabled people, and its implications for work and welfare in the 21st century

Disability Studies: What’s the Point?

[Excerpt] While the content of these courses had much to offer in terms of furthering our understanding of the experience of ‘chronic illness’ and the ensuing economic and social outcomes in terms of daily living for disabled people and their families, the central focus always seemed to be either on the physical and psychological consequences of the condition, or the complexity of the relationship between the disabled individual and their social environment. ‘Disability’, usually defined as ‘functional limitation’, was caused by either: chronic illness/impairment or the complex interaction between the limitations of the body and/or mind, and society at large. The dominant ‘personal tragedy’ theory of disability was never seriously questioned and, with one or two notable exceptions, meaningful explanations for society’s responses to, and treatment of, people with impairments, whether real or ascribed, and ‘labelled’ disabled, were conspicuous by their absence

Rehabilitation for Disabled People: A ‘Sick’ Joke?

This paper argues that the relationship between disability and rehabilitation is best explained in terms of three distinct but related definitions of disability. The first is the orthodox ‘individualistic’ medical definition; the second, is the more liberal ‘inter-relational’ account and; the third, is the ‘radical‘ socio/political interpretation commonly referred to as the ‘social model of disability’. By adopting the latter it is suggested that ‘rehabilitation’ for people with ascribed impairments and labelled ‘disabled’ is extremely limited in what it can achieve, due to the ongoing cultural bias against this increasingly large section of the population, and the effective de-politicisation of disability and related issues by politicians, policy makers and academics. It concludes with a brief focus on alternative strategies generated by disabled people and their organisations

Understanding disability and the importance of design for all

This paper will address recent debates surrounding the nature and cause of the complex process of disablement and their relevance to understanding calls for a universally accessible physical and cultural environment. It is divided into three main sections. The first part will explore changing perceptions of disability. Attention will centre on the traditional individualistic medical approach, the socio-political understanding or ‘social model of disability’ and the recent ‘biopsychosocial’ model of disability exemplified by the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. This will be followed by a discussion of the usefulness of the concept of ‘universal design’. The final section will discuss the significance of these developments in light of globalisation, associate economic, political and social crises, and the struggle for a fairer and just global society.Peer Reviewe

Understanding disability and the importance of design for all

This paper will address recent debates surrounding the nature and cause of the complex process of disablement and their relevance to understanding calls for a universally accessible physical and cultural environment. It is divided into three main sections. The first part will explore changing perceptions of disability. Attention will centre on the traditional individualistic medical approach, the socio-political understanding or ‘social model of disability’ and the recent ‘biopsychosocial’ model of disability exemplified by the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. This will be followed by a discussion of the usefulness of the concept of ‘universal design’. The final section will discuss the significance of these developments in light of globalisation, associate economic, political and social crises, and the struggle for a fairer and just global society

Rethinking Care From the Perspective of Disabled People

[Excerpt] Although it is now two decades since the United Nations’ International Year of Disabled People, disabled people across the world still encounter severe economic, cultural and social deprivations. The problem is generally worse for those living in rural areas and is especially acute for all disabled people living in low income states. Clearly, health and rehabilitation can no longer be understood solely in terms of orthodox medical interventions and conventional notions of ‘care’. These centre almost exclusively on the perceived limitations of individuals rather than on society’s failure to accommodate disabled peoples’ needs. There is, therefore, an urgent need for an approach that cares not simply about disabled people but also about society and the way it is organized. Responding to this insight, the WHO ‘Rethinking Care’ initiative and Conference brought together disabled people and other stakeholders from high and low income countries to identify key issues and propose recommendations for member states to address this need. Recommendations included the recognition that member nations must adopt a holistic approach that includes the introduction of policies to eliminate poverty and secure equal access to all community based services and facilities. These include medical services, education, employment, housing, transport, public amenities etc. This must be accompanied by the introduction of comprehensive and enforceable anti-discrimination laws and policies to secure the active and meaningful involvement of disabled people and their organizations in all future policy developments. States must adopt a truly inclusive approach to these issues that addresses the needs of all disabled people equally. This includes disabled women, disabled children, and people with complex and/or multiple impairments with potentially high dependency needs. Access to medical and related services is a basic human right must not be determined by the ability to pay. With this in mind several important and practical recommendations were devised for the future implementation of the first four UN Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. These concern medical, rehabilitation, and support services and awareness raising campaigns. Finally, the responsibility for introducing and financing these developments rests with national governments. But where necessary high-income states, international monetary institutions and transnational organizations, should make resources available to the governments of low-income countries to secure the successful implementation of these initiatives

Independent Living, Politics and Policy in the United Kingdom: A Social Model Account

This paper provides a social model of disability inspired analysis of the philosophy of independent living and its implications for policy developments for disabled people in the United Kingdom. It is argued that the policy changes needed for disabled people’s meaningful emancipation pose a direct challenge to current thinking on disability policy in particular and capitalist development in general