How can society be more inclusive to people with disability?

[Major-Tom]

Changing a culture is a lot harder than changing policy. As an observer, I've seen that people are usually polite to people with disabilities, but still uneasy about it. I imagine that doesn't feel great when you are disabled, be it physically, mentally, whatever it may be.

You can't legislate behavior in that way, but the optimistic side of me hopes that because of a greater societal understanding of disabilities in the West, we can keep making inroads on this.

[Salus Maior]

More disabled accessibility in architecture would be one.

[Tyranosaurus Pigeon]

Physical disability: quite easy, public sector. In the private sector, not easy. But a lot could be done with workplace grants. Better than worker subsidies which would lead to partitial upgrades and restriction of the worker to o ly aa
Few roles.

[Tyranosaurus Pigeon]

well ig it starts by, mankind has gotta be better about being homies one with another.

Problem is, some people will still be dicks about it no matter what.

Dumbing it down that far shows the futility of trying to treat EVERYONE as though they might be mentally impaired.

Bigot =/= Dick

A MtF transexual very likely considers an actual dick, and hormones etc, to be a disability. As long as those shape their life they aren't fully responsible for bigotted views. Any more than a person with autism who lacks empathy, or a person of very low IQ who can't understand how the habits they were raised with are demeaning to others.

I think generalizing for "all disabilities" is a bad approach. We should at least consider "visible" and "invisible" disabilies separately!

[Nazi Flower Power]

The harsh truth in my view, is that most non-disabled people won't care, they don't want to be taking care of a disabled person. Once your body breaks down on you, people will push you towards a nursing home or hospice so that you'll die sooner. Once you're not as physically capable, bosses or decision makers will move to get you fired or dismissed.

The only way is to avoid becoming paralyzed for as long as possible or to take care of yourself in staying in physical shape. You either fix, limit, or conceal your disabilities where possible if you still want to be useful. If you're more of a burden than a benefit, people will look to abandon you by default.

It is nothing new, there is always going to be a bias towards rewarding ableism. People want someone who wins rather than loses. Plus in our species' hunter gatherer origins or phase, whoever couldn't survive was abandoned to their fate for the sake of splitting resources with the rest of the tribe that was still productive.

The best solution I could devise was for them to stay with extended family if that is in the cards, but to stay they'd have to provide some non-physical boon such as if they could babysit for free whilst the working parents are away at work, and can avoid the costly daycare options.

Why do people have to work to deserve a place to live?* Disabled people are worth investing in even if they can't turn a profit. It's so dehumanizing and disgusting to only see how much value people have economically. And not all of us have friends or family we can stay with. We're not "losing" because we can't make the billionaires richer either. Life is more than just money and productivity.

*If they cannot work any significant amount due to disabilities

The ironic thing is that Sai sits around lecturing people like this even as he is unemployed.

So it's not like he has any moral high ground to criticize you.

[Jeriga]

By recognizing chronic mental illness as a disability and that even those who can work sometimes need a mental health day every now and then.

[Resilient Acceleration]

I for one believe in the transhumanist salvation of widespread bodily engineering that will take away man's fate from God's pitiful design flaws and put it into our own choices. The goal is to not "conform" to societal normalcy (of which is already lacking), the goal is to far exceed it.

hm, yes

but how far shall we exceed our humanity? we already know that not all we perceive to be disabling are in fact so -- that fact underlies the concept of neurodiversity, for instance

were it in our power to do so, are we, then, to eliminate from the human species potentially disabling conditions such as the autism spectrum (even in their milder, potentially beneficial intellect-altering manifestations) for the real possibility of greater individual peace of mind, never mind social cohesion?

The capabilities of the brain are insanely poorly understood, and there's so much more than just "fixing" "autism". Not the nonsense espoused the film Lucy, but more of a full exploration of the brain's mental capabilities and possibilities of experiences. Think of a blind person from birth who will never truly perceive "color", until modern technologies of eye implants gave them the capability to do so. Or how humans' ability to communicate with languages and perceive abstract ideas, nearly unheard in all other species, results in the emergence of civilization. There's so much in this universe that we can't directly perceive except through scientific papers, simply due to the brain's (and additional sensors') biological limitations, and overcoming such limitations with (obviously still far away, but not impossible) technologies will be the way to go. It won't even be mandatory - people will adopt it because they want it, and people who don't will be like forest tribes that refuse to modernize.

Also, I don't view neurodiversity as "bad". It's better described as a problem of social structures, like a total nerd that can't fit in high school filled with party-going jocks. Even people like Peter Thiel believe that a population with a mild form of Asperger's is needed for society to technologically advance, as they're far more likely to commit themselves to their passion without caring about risks (that is, risks as perceived by society) or external social demands, even if the society around them then views their interests with skepticism, ridicule, or outright hostility. Resulting in explosive advancements throughout history, from arts to technological entrepreneurship (for the lucky ones. Obviously, most of them will fail due to simple statistics - 75% of startups fail). I tend to agree with this opinion, thus my full support on efforts to cater to people who need them so that they can explore their full potentials previously unknown to outside observers.

But it is still a fact that after we're born with certain kinds of conditions, we're largely stuck for life with it with little or hard-to-reach alternatives if we ever desire to. This is since the body, the brain, the genes, all are undesigned organic matters. Flesh. And there's no truth in flesh, only betrayal. There's no strength in flesh, only weakness. There's no constancy in flesh, only decay. There's no certainty in flesh but death.

[The Temple of the Computer]

Problem is, some people will still be dicks about it no matter what.

Dumbing it down that far shows the futility of trying to treat EVERYONE as though they might be mentally impaired.

Bigot =/= Dick

A MtF transexual very likely considers an actual dick, and hormones etc, to be a disability. As long as those shape their life they aren't fully responsible for bigotted views. Any more than a person with autism who lacks empathy, or a person of very low IQ who can't understand how the habits they were raised with are demeaning to others.

I think generalizing for "all disabilities" is a bad approach. We should at least consider "visible" and "invisible" disabilies separately!

Autism =/= Sociopathy. Just because I have autism does not mean I completely lack empathy.

[Deacarsia]

I could get behind trying to make disabilities a thing of the past. It's unlikely, but our medical technology might become good enough to where replacing a hand or anything else, is easily done and won't cost an entire mortgage or more to finance.

Yea, that would be ideal. We only can pray that this might happen someday and work for it.

[Grazilina]

I think being inclusive to people with disabilities starts with changing society's mindset on disabled people. Often non-disabled members of society automatically assume someone isn't intelligent or socially there just because of a noticeable physical impairment. Therefore, we need to switch non-disabled people's mindset, and that disabled children and adults are just the same as everyone else, with possible additional difficulties in their way of life. For example, someone in a wheelchair might have another person or caretaker with them to help them in public. Typically, when another person talks to the person in the wheelchair, they direct it towards the caretaker instead of the disabled person that can clearly think for themselves and hold a conversation just fine. Therefore I'm not surprised there isn't more inclusivity. It's all at the heart of the way everyone interacts and reacts to disabled people, and making them feel accepted in society is the first thing needed to change laws like housing and accessibility.

[CoraSpia]

I think being inclusive to people with disabilities starts with changing society's mindset on disabled people. Often non-disabled members of society automatically assume someone isn't intelligent or socially there just because of a noticeable physical impairment. Therefore, we need to switch non-disabled people's mindset, and that disabled children and adults are just the same as everyone else, with possible additional difficulties in their way of life. For example, someone in a wheelchair might have another person or caretaker with them to help them in public. Typically, when another person talks to the person in the wheelchair, they direct it towards the caretaker instead of the disabled person that can clearly think for themselves and hold a conversation just fine. Therefore I'm not surprised there isn't more inclusivity. It's all at the heart of the way everyone interacts and reacts to disabled people, and making them feel accepted in society is the first thing needed to change laws like housing and accessibility.

The thing with talking to the other person is something I've experienced a lot as a blind person. The person with me never knows what I want to order before I tell the waitress now, for example.

[Katganistan]

I don't wish to delve too much in this because it's a topic that is too close to home but one thing that needs to change in our social approach to be inclusive to people with disabilities is to stop shaming those who have disabilities that aren't readily visible. This idea that you have to look sick enough outwardly to be worthy of help. Some disabilities are internal, or psychological and do not necessarily present with physically visible symptoms. We need to understand that. And more to the point, we need to stop being dismissive of these people.

Yup. It's no one's fucking business if someone is 'disabled enough" to be entitled to use handicapped parking if they have the official placard or plates.

It's no one's fucking business to tell someone to move from priority seating because they can't see their disability either.

By the same token: if you are not disabled, don't try to use the accommodations meant for those who are -- that just makes you an asshat.

[Katganistan]

I’m always amused when some other poster gets completely gobsmacked when I say “In order to treat people equally, it is sometimes necessary to treat them unequally. Some folks need a wheelchair ramp. Some folks need a little extra time to complete an assignment. We cannot expect everyone to function equally on the exact same playing field, and it is wrong to do so.

As Reppy said: the biggest part is education. When people know about a condition, they no longer fear it. If they do not fear it, they can at least respect it.

That is the difference between equal treatment and equitable treatment.

Equal treatment is "you all get a bandaid on your left arm regardless of where or how you hurt yourself."

Equitable treatment is a bandaid for a scraped elbow, a cast for a broken leg, and stitches for a gash on your forehead.

Everyone gets what they need, not the same thing.

[Jeriga]

I have moderate-severe persistent asthma. Stop expecting us to be able to power through asthma attacks and fits. Let's make FMLAs more available for intermittent use.

[Luminesa]

First: I live with someone with permanent disabilities, and people need to just be a lot more considerate. We are in a small community, and everyone is kind and caring toward my sibling. However, when we leave that community, there have not been positive experiences often, especially when the focus is on what my sibling cannot do, rather than what they can do. Even if they are profoundly disabled, there are still things they can do. Hugs, blow kisses, use some limited technology, etc. Just having a more positive and open mind can change the day of a person walking around with a sibling with special needs.

Education is a “duh” thing in my mind, special education needs a significant overhaul. With our government currently trying to wreck the education system, obviously there are layers to solving this problem, but advocating as a teacher for children with special needs is close to my heart.

Finally, know that people with invisible special needs are fighting battles you may not understand. In 2019 I had a major dissociation episode while teaching. I was standing in one side of the room. I know where I stood. However, my viewpoint was from the top of the PowerPoint screen. I was looking down over my classroom, for about 3/4 of the class period. Nobody knew. I have had smaller episodes in which I have dissociated, but the trigger was not even a particularly large one, just a lot of stress that spiraled out of control in one morning. Always be aware that people may be fighting battles you cannot see, and don’t be afraid to ask if there is something wrong or if you can help.

[Thepeopl]

It helps if "normal" ppl come in contact with "disabled" ppl in "every day situations".
Like shops, restaurants, parks etc.
It would help if "normal" people would be kind, patient and attentive.
We, society, should treat others with basic respect and courteousness. Education can definitely help.
I love projects like "emotion thermometer in class".
Were children will put their "token" at red(angry/ unhappy), yellow (bit unhappy/ scared/ meh), green (great, happy) and blue (sad). They learn to reflect on their emotions, to talk about it and how to be compassionate with/ understanding of others.
I'd love to teach sign language at pre school, or even better at pregnancy classes. Babies can sign earlier than actually speak.
https://www.educationalplaycare.com/blo ... -children/
Social dogs/ help animals should be normal and easily available.
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources ... ce-animals
https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html

[The Alma Mater]

I’m always amused when some other poster gets completely gobsmacked when I say “In order to treat people equally, it is sometimes necessary to treat them unequally. Some folks need a wheelchair ramp. Some folks need a little extra time to complete an assignment. We cannot expect everyone to function equally on the exact same playing field, and it is wrong to do so.

As Reppy said: the biggest part is education. When people know about a condition, they no longer fear it. If they do not fear it, they can at least respect it.

That is the difference between equal treatment and equitable treatment.

Equal treatment is "you all get a bandaid on your left arm regardless of where or how you hurt yourself."

Equitable treatment is a bandaid for a scraped elbow, a cast for a broken leg, and stitches for a gash on your forehead.

Everyone gets what they need, not the same thing.

"But that's communism".

[Luminesa]

It helps if "normal" ppl come in contact with "disabled" ppl in "every day situations".
Like shops, restaurants, parks etc.
It would help if "normal" people would be kind, patient and attentive.
We, society, should treat others with basic respect and courteousness. Education can definitely help.
I love projects like "emotion thermometer in class".
Were children will put their "token" at red(angry/ unhappy), yellow (bit unhappy/ scared/ meh), green (great, happy) and blue (sad). They learn to reflect on their emotions, to talk about it and how to be compassionate with/ understanding of others.
I'd love to teach sign language at pre school, or even better at pregnancy classes. Babies can sign earlier than actually speak.
https://www.educationalplaycare.com/blo ... -children/
Social dogs/ help animals should be normal and easily available.
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources ... ce-animals
https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html

I do something like that, I always check my students' emotions before we start classes. When children have special needs, it makes an enormous difference to account for their emotional and mental wellbeing during classes. It's very silly that some teachers have an attitude that emotional wellbeing is a counselor's job and "not their job". Just asking a child, "How are you?" can change their entire day.

[Hakinda Herseyi Duymak istiyorum]

More disabled accessibility in architecture would be one.

Changes to mosques and churches so that people with disabilities can pray comfortably.embossed surfaces Ramps and elevators.

[Salus Maior]

More disabled accessibility in architecture would be one.

Changes to mosques and churches so that people with disabilities can pray comfortably.embossed surfaces Ramps and elevators.

Absolutely.