disABLED

While watching the TEDTalk in class, I was shocked by the definition of "disabled". I think it does such a disservice to individuals that are considered to have a disability. All of the words used to define this word were degrading and limiting. It was heartbreaking to hear a woman who is considered "disabled" read the words that were (and still are) used to describe herself, and the words used as antonyms for her, such as "healthy" or "wholesome". Someone with a disability can be both healthy and wholesome, and saying these words are antonyms for these individuals is horrible and incorrect. I also thought it was interesting how she talked about the approach taken (which described the bottom up approach) of how someone with a disability is viewed and immediately tried to be "fixed". She explained that doing this is worse than the actual pathology of the diagnosis. It made me happy to be part of a profession that focuses on the top-down approach and takes someone as they are and equips them to do what they want to, no matter what. As a society, it's (WAY PAST) time to start enabling individuals of all abilities.