Physical disabilities are not always visible, but more often than not are. This is not necessarily a negative thing; however it is always treated as one because people tend to treat these people differently and are quite often prejudiced, and sometimes even disgusted or anxious around them. In an article I found, this is explained in an understandable, however still unjust manner. “Because contagious diseases were often accompanied by anomalous physical features, humans plausibly evolved psychological mechanisms that respond heuristically to the perception of these features, triggering specific emotions (disgust, anxiety), cognitions (negative attitudes), and behaviors (avoidance). This disease-avoidance system is over-inclusive: Anomalous features that are not due to disease (e.g., limb amputation due to accident) may also activate it, contributing to prejudicial attitudes and behaviors directed toward people with disabilities.” (Park, 2003). Due to human nature, thinking persons with physical disabilities may have contagious diseases is unfortunately very common and this causes negative attitudes, as well as behavioral avoidance of disabled others.
Due to physical disabilities and the way they are regarded by a majority of the population, older persons who have physical disabilities are no longer respected like they used to be. Many elderly people have gone through a disability as they age as well. “It was detected that life satisfaction levels of elderly people were average, a great majority of them went through mobility disability and there was a significant correlation between mobility and life satisfaction.”(Mollaoglu, 2010). They deserve the utmost respect and should be the most worthy and appreciated members of society. Older persons have a lifetime of knowledge as well as experience behind them and quite often have much wisdom to pass down onto newer generations. However, people tend to judge persons with physical disabilities simply because they may look different. Many tend to believe that those with physical impairments have mental ones as well. Therefore, people are quite often unable to tap into the wisdom of older persons with disabilities. Who knows, maybe if we would just take the time to listen to elderly persons, we would have a world with far less violence, as well as a world with more happiness and fun. My grandmother loves to tell me about her memories growing up, and she often reminds me of how she wishes my generation was more like hers. Though there were crimes then too, she says there were not nearly as many, and she no longer feels safe like she used to, even in the small town we reside in.
Even though I know many people are not treating people with physical disabilities differently on purpose, I do wish that people would take the time to see that they are people too, and realize that it is unfair to judge them based on their condition. Also, I wish that though elderly people quite often go through some sort of physical impairment as their bodies age, they will not be judged and will always get the respect they deserve.
Park, J. H., Faulkner, J., Schaller, M. (2003). Evolved disease- avoidance processes and contemporary anti-social behaviour: prejudicial attitudes and avoidance of people with physical disabilities. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, vol. 27(2), pp. 65-87.
Mollaoglu, M., Tuncay, F. O., Fertelli, T. K. (2010). Mobility disability and life satisfaction in elderly people. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, vol. 51(3), pp. e115-e119.
-Marina R
As a person with a disablity, I find that people treating me different is unintended. Their reaction are just unsure on what to say, and have questions but, are scared to ask in fear of offending me. The thing that people don't always realise is that, I rather you ask question them assume I can't do something.
ReplyDeleteJordan
It is true that some people think that those with physical disabilites have mental ones too, and the reverse is also true! You may be blind but there is no need to yell because you are not deaf! I think society makes a lot of assumptions and it is possibly because disabilites do not affect everyones life to the point where they feel comfortable interacting with people who are different than themselves. From young we are taught that if you are different you will be in a different classroom and have a seperate teacher. Integration of people with physical or mental disabilites is usually something sepereate from "the rest of us" and if more attention and effort was put into integration or educating people about disabilites I wonder if we would be able to communicate better with one another and be just as comfortable talking to someone who can't walk as we are with someone who can!
ReplyDeleteJennilee M.