Are You Able?

While perusing dictionary.com, I came across these definitions, which in themselves give a preview of what is to come. 

nor·mal

adjective

1.

conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural

2.

serving to establish a standard.

3.

Psychology .

a.

approximately average in any psychological trait, as intelligence, personality, or emotional adjustment.

b.

free from any mental disorder; sane.

4.

Biology, Medicine/Medical .

a.

free from any infection or other form of disease or malformation, or from experimental therapy or manipulation.

b.

of natural occurrence.

dis·a·bil·i·ty

  noun

1.

lack of adequate power, strength, or physical or mental ability;incapacity.

2.

a physical or mental handicap, especially one that prevents a person from living a full, normal life or from holding a gainful job.

3.

anything that disables or puts one at a disadvantage

4.

the state or condition of being disabled.

5.

legal incapacity; legal disqualification.

          Thus far, while in my search to undercover words and phrases which can harm, I found a staggering lack of information on discrimination against those who were deemed a “person with a disability.”  Definitions in our dictionary alone classify having a disability as not being able to have a “normal” life.  Then we look at the definition of “normal,” which includes being natural and free from any manipulations.  Normal, in my opinion, is a word often used to ostracize things which are different from what we are comfortable with. 

          This brings us to the history of using the terms disability and disabled.  African-American slaves were historically considered to be inferior because they were considered prone to mental and physical disabilities which made them less than their White counterparts. 

Women were considered prone to mental disabilities, such as “nerves” or hysteria, which made them incapable of participating in the political and social arena during the period of women’s suffrage. 

During the immigration waves during the early nineteenth century, individuals were classified based on the fact that they were immigrants, and could therefore be more likely to be “lunatics” or “idiots.” 

Until 1973, those who identified as gays or lesbians were considered “disabled” or “mentally-ill.” 

While these notions are inaccurate, as we know today, has anyone noticed that they were justified by lumping minorities into the ever-so-scary realm of those with disabilities?  In addition, those who were being discriminated against were often times most angry that they were classified as “disabled,” not that they were being oppressed based on their gender, race, ethnicity, or sexuality. Individuals in positions of power have used the stigma of having a disability to continually oppress those who they wished to control, throughout all of American history (and this is not to exclude other countries from this guilt). 

What has this done over the years is to increase the bias and discrimination against those who have a disability.  It has increased the lack of understanding, decreased tolerance, and created blind judgments against individuals who are worth no less than anyone without a disability.

Frankly, look again at the definition of “disability,” have we not all had moments when we have lacked strength, been disadvantaged, had some sort of blockage preventing us from leading the “normal” life we wish to lead? 

Perhaps you or someone you know has been classified as a “person with a disability,” and face that stigma on a regular basis.

However, here is what I know about individuals with a disability:  you are stronger than most, you are patient, you are tolerant, you have most likely put up with more shit than any other minority group,  and any “normal” person would likely not be able to walk a day in your shoes.  

- References for this blog post are from:

Disability and the Justification of Inequality in American History by Douglas C. Baynton

Retrieved from Race, Class, and Gender in the United States, Paula S. Rothenberg 8th Edition (2010)