What is disability?
by Heather Miles
1. https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/09/13/paralympic-runners-amaze-fans-with-times-besting-olympians.html
2. My understanding of physical disability has been informed by friendships with individuals who have physical disabilities but are strong activists/advocates for disability rights (Dan Harvey, Jeff Preston)
2.1. http://www.jeffpreston.ca
2.2. http://thewalrus.ca/body-and-soul/
3. Disability can be recognized/ is considered by the law; involved in the construction of litigation
4. Conceptually, the understanding of disability (at least within an academic, medical context) is much different now than it has been historically.
5. Disability is an extremely broad term that attempts to encompass a spectrum of very different exceptionalities, differences, and impairments.
6. Disability is often poorly understood by those who have not been subject to education about what disability means.
7. Diagnosis/ identification of disability, whether professional or not, can be difficult or erroneous.
8. What influences my understanding of what disability is?
8.1. The Media
9. Disability is the state of being/ condition of self wherein one's abilities are considered disadvantaged as compared with the abilities of most individuals.
10. Disability can be physical, mental (cognitive, neurological), or emotional.
11. Disability can be understood as "differently abled."
12. Anecdotes and attitudes from working teachers inform my ideas of disability and working with young learners who have recognized disabilities.
13. The assumptions people have about individuals with disabilities can stigmatize, even oppress these individuals.
