Assignment 1 – Defining and Applying Disability Studies
Introduction to Assignment
The accepted definition by disability studies was proposed by Simi Linton and adopted by the Society for Disability Studies and includes the following. Use this definition in your response for Question A:
“Disability Studies reframes the study of disability by focusing on it as a social phenomenon, social construct, metaphor and culture utilizing a minority group model. It examines ideas related to disability in all forms of cultural representations throughout history, and examines the policies and practices of all societies to understand the social, rather than the physical or psychological, determinants of the experience of disability. Disability Studies both emanates from and supports the Disability Rights Movement, which advocates for civil rights and self-determination. This focus shifts the emphasis from a prevention/treatment/remediation paradigm, to a social/cultural/political paradigm. This shift does not signify a denial of the presence of impairments, nor a rejection of the utility of intervention and treatment. Instead, Disability Studies has been developed to disentangle impairments from the myth, ideology and stigma that influence social interaction and social policy. The scholarship challenges the idea that the economic and social statuses and the assigned roles of people with disabilities are inevitable outcomes of their condition.”
About Simi Linton, PhD
“As a writer, consultant and public speaker, Simi Linton is one of America’s foremost experts on disability and the arts. She works with a diverse range of cultural organizations – theatre companies, film and television producers, museums, non-profit arts organizations, universities, and other groups across the country – to improve and increase the way disability is represented and depicted in all art forms.
“As a writer, consultant and public speaker, Simi Linton is one of America’s foremost experts on disability and the arts. She works with a diverse range of cultural organizations – theatre companies, film and television producers, museums, non-profit arts organizations, universities, and other groups across the country – to improve and increase the way disability is represented and depicted in all art forms.
Simi Linton is frequently invited to address national conferences and
speak at seminars of professional associations, museums, universities, and national and regional arts councils. She conducts seminars on disability studies and speaks on topics such as disability and conventions of theatre, gender and disability, and disability and the Holocaust.”Instructions
· Essay responses should each be a minimum of 100 words each.
· There is no maximum word count but please be concise.
· If your responses contain the minimum required words, please make certain that you addressed all portions of the essay.
· Use your own words but also integrate information from the assigned material. Use the word count in the Tools in MS word to check your response.
· Please include specific information as directed from the text or web readings.
· Submit in the correct drop box in .rtf.,docx or .doc extensions only.
Required text and web-readings
Three essay questions are based on the text and article below. Do the readings and research first, then answer the questions in the table.
A. Read Chapters 1-3 in the text:
MOVING VIOLATIONS: WAR ZONES, WHEELCHAIRS, AND DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE by John Hockenberry
B. Review the information at the following website and watch the YouTube:
Go to The World Bank website for Disability and Development. Explore the website and learn about the types of information that the World Bank provides on disabilities. Click on several areas. Then, watch the YouTube “What’s disability to me? Mia’s story” on this website or at the YouTube link below. Finally read the article Disability and Development on the World Bank website or the PDF file below.
Assignment Questions
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Questions – 100 Words Each Response for A, B, and C
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Points
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Question A – Critical Thinking: 100 words (no maximum)
Read Chapters 1-3 in “Moving Violations…” Identify one example from each chapter that specifically relates to the accepted definition of disability studies provided by Simi Linton at the beginning of this assignment. Include the page numbers from the text that relates to your examples.
For example, Linton speaks about the stigmas that people with disabilities experience in social interactions. On page 5 of Moving Violations, Hockenberry describes feeling out of place in many situations. In your response you could describe the example Hockenberry gives on page 5 that causes him to feel out of place. These feelings are due to what Linton describes as a way that society views people with disabilities thereby creating a stigma.
Please note: Moving Violations is considered a classic in the field of Disabilities. John Hockenberry continues to be a key figure in disability advocacy as well. Although this book is older, is is included in this course as it provides an excellent background on diverse disability issues and perspectives. This book will inspire you to learn perspectives of other writers for these issues.
If you have any questions about question A, please submit to the course Q & A in the Discussion area of the course site.
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15
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Question B – Application of Disability Studies: 100 words combined for 1, 2 and 3 below (no maximum wordcount)
Read the website information on the World Bank, the article on Disability & Development (from the website and also a PDF version link on this assignment) and watch Mia’s Story.
1. Provide two examples of the adverse socioeconomic effects that people with disabilities experience as a group. Summarize the examples IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
2. Provide two examples of strategies that the World Bank is initiating to address barriers and challenges for persons with disabilities globally summarized in your own words.
3. Watch “Mia’s Story.” How does Mia’s story represent the challenges people with disabilities experience?
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15
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Question C – Brainstorm one topic: 100 words (no maximum)
Read the PowerPoint Assignment instructions in your course content area.
Research one topic of interest to you that you may want to consider for your course PowerPoint assignment. Include a website for the topic and a brief summary. For each topic, in your own words, explain how the topic is influenced by cultural and political factors. Include all links or other resources that you used for your research – research is required for this response.
Your future PowerPoint assignment will relate to the definition of disability studies in this assignment and is more than just a report of a topic.
Sample response:
“I have chosen the issue of abused women who have disabilities. I am interested in this topic as persons with disabilities and women have historically been disenfranchised from society. In addition, cultural expectations have led to decreased earnings. for women and women with disabilities, and is a power imbalance. The website “Ouch” includes a series on women with disabilities which are reflective of cultural and political factors: “Hitting Home – Stories of Disabled Women.” The stories provide many examples that reflect societal views of women and disabilities that suffer from the consequences of disempowerment.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/closeup/hittinghome.shtmly Kate Ansell Home:
Stories of disabled women by Kate Ansell |
10
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Total Points – Points will be deducted for not including page numbers, resources or links when required.
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40
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