Ableism

Well, another week has flown by!  We are wrapping up another semester filled with tears, laughter, and knowledge.  We are coming to the end of the "ISMS" and we have learned that we have either practiced them or advocated against them.  This week, we move on to "ableism".  This particular topic is the main reason I returned to college.

In October of 2003, I walked into a day-hab facility for people with mental or physical disabilities for the first time.  I felt like I had finally found my purpose.  After a life of fast-food management, I was at the complete opposite of the spectrum when it comes to a career.  During the interview, the owners were called away for an emergency situation and when they returned, I was surrounded by a group of clients and engaged in an animated discussion on life-skills.  I was immediately hired.  Over the next five years, I worked with this population in every way possible.  From the supervisor of that day-hab, to direct care staff at group homes to finally as a foster parent to a client in my home.  What was abundantly clear throughout was the disadvantages of this population.  Funding was often cut, resources were scarce, and many were treated as if they somehow were the cause of their disabilities.  Things needed to change.  At first, I thought that opening my own residential service would make a difference so I initially enrolled in college to become a Qualified Mental Retardation Professional (QMRP).  After a couple of semesters, I realized that the title had been changed so I was trying to figure out what to do instead.  After talking with a counselor, I realized that the changes needed to happen at the policy level and so, I changed my major to social work and the rest is history.  This population is treated by levels with the most severe being an 8 and the less severe being a 1.  The eligibility requirements to change a client's level is much too difficult even when there is proof that the client's needs warrant a more severe level diagnosis.  This is just one of many changes that needs to be made to the current system.  I absolutely adore this population!  I have found that many are more "able" than most of us and the ridicule, discrimination, and disadvantages that they face must end.

Throughout the years, many actors have played characters with physical and mental disabilities.  I often wonder what exactly they are trying to say.  Is it to bring awareness to the difficulties that they face or does it just cause more ridicule?  One movie that I think completely captures exactly how many developmentally disabled adults feel is "The Other Sister".  There are a lot of dynamics and "isms" in this movie so if you haven't seen it, I definitely suggest that you do. I am including a short clip.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Easter and be safe on your travels.

Until next week....