Reflection Assignment # 4

The thing that resonated with me most from this semester was the visit from the board of the Arizona Bridge to Independent living. This group of individuals was able to answer a number of questions I have never felt comfortable asking. One of my favorite comments from the lecture when George mentioned that the thing he dislikes hearing the most is, “Don’t stare.” I would never have questioned using that comment. As a person who has worked with children for most of her life, I know I have told one or two kids that very thing. George, and the rest of the panel, agreed that it is much more respectful for them to be asked about their disabilities rather than simply have them ignored.
I have recently noticed I treat people who have a disability, while in passing, differently than I do temporarily abled people. When I pass a person with a disability I will always smile at them. Although this may not seem like a bad thing to do, I recognize that I do not do the same to other people in passing. If a person that I smile do were to recognize that I am only smiling at them, they may feel as though I am “feeling bad for them” or “pitying” them. The reason I do this is because as a person who is temporarily abled, I am fascinated by people who live their lives differently than I do. Even as an adult I staring, rather than asking them about their lives. We need to work to create a more inclusive community by educating people at a young age about all disabilities. I have taken a number or diversity course and have met many different people, but it is still in my nature to stare at individuals. Had I been taught at a young age about more disabilities and how persons can live independently with all different times of abilities, I would be able to better understand the difference between a quadriplegic person and a paraplegic person.
Non-profits, Parks and Recreation, and Tourism organizations can assist our community in becoming more inclusive by creating facilities and events that are more inviting to persons of all abilities. For example, a person who is hearing impaired may not be able to go to the movies with friends or family. Perhaps nonprofit organizations could work with local movie theatres to host events where subtitles will be included. This would allow persons who are hearing impaired to not only get to see new movies in theatres but to also have the social experience from which they often are excluded. Another thing that could be done by these organizations would be to include people first language in all of their business and training materials. The more that people are exposed to people first language the more likely they are to work it into their everyday conversation. Similarly, schools should work to eliminate the use of the “R” word within their classrooms. I have been in many situations where teachers simply ignored when a student would use the “R” word out loud, or worse, the teacher would use the word in front of the class. These are things that could be easily avoided or implemented.
Currently there are a number organizations working to create a more inclusive community including, Best Buddies. This is an organization that has start www.r-word.org. “Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” (Bestbuddies.com) Also, Arizona Bridge to Independent Living is another organization whose efforts towards a more inclusive community have excelled rapidly in the past few years. There are now hundreds of people with disabilities living independently or “interdependently” in Arizona alone. These are organizations that have dedicated all of their efforts towards persons with disabilities, however, all organizations can work towards bettering the lives of all individuals with simple alterations to their current practices.