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Take a look at the picture before you read any further. What is your attitude toward the young lady in the wheelchair? Chances are that you might feel a little sorry for her because she's in a wheelchair. That's okay . . . at least, I would hope, you don't see her as incapable or incompetent because of her situation which is known as a developmental disability. This term - developmental disability - is used to describe a life-long disability which is attributable to mental and/or physical (or a combination of both) impairments which are manifested prior to age 18. Frequently this term is used to describe someone who suffers from mental retardantion, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, various genetic and chromosomal disorders (such as Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome) and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorder. The sad part, as I alluded to above, is the fact that many people see a person who is developmentally disabled as being incapable or incompetent of handling their own affairs. This is simply not true!
Throughout history, people with developmental disabilities - and people with disabilities in general - have been viewed as incapable and/ot incompetent in their ability to make decisions. It wasn't until the Enlightenment in Europe (circa 16th century), that this opinion began to change and, even then, it was a slow and painful process. Until this time, care and asylum for a person with a developmental disability was provided largely by their family or by the church (in monasteries and other religious communities) and focused on the basic physical needs of food, shelter, and clothing. For the most part, the prevailing attitude viewed them as either the dimwitted yokel or potentially dangerous (such as demonic possession for a person with epilepsy) .
The movement toward individualism in the 18th and 19th centuries, coupled with opportunities afforded by the Industrial Revolution, lead to housing and care using the asylum model. Persons with a developmental disability were either placed by, or removed from, their families - usually in infancy - and housed in large institutions. Some of these provided a very rudimentary level of education such as distinguishing between colors, and basic word recognition. But, for the most part, they continued to concentrate solely on the provision of basic needs. Conditions in these facilites varied widely, however, the support provided was generally non-individualized with aberrant behavior and low levels of economic productivity regarded as a "burden to society". Heavy sedation and assembly line methods of support (such as 'birdfeeding' and cattle herding) were the norm and the medical model of disability prevailed. Services were provided based on the relative ease to the provider instead of being based on the needs of the person requiring service.
Although major strides have been made in the treatment provided to individuals with developmental disabilities, it can be argued that we still have a very long way to go before people with such disabilities are seen as full citizens of society. Person Centered Planning and Person Centered Approaches address the continuing labelling and exclusion of "socially devalued people", such as those with developmental disabilities. Rather than focusing on what such people can't do, it emphasizes as being someone with capacities and gifts . . .all they need to achieve this is a little support!
Until next time . . .
The movement toward individualism in the 18th and 19th centuries, coupled with opportunities afforded by the Industrial Revolution, lead to housing and care using the asylum model. Persons with a developmental disability were either placed by, or removed from, their families - usually in infancy - and housed in large institutions. Some of these provided a very rudimentary level of education such as distinguishing between colors, and basic word recognition. But, for the most part, they continued to concentrate solely on the provision of basic needs. Conditions in these facilites varied widely, however, the support provided was generally non-individualized with aberrant behavior and low levels of economic productivity regarded as a "burden to society". Heavy sedation and assembly line methods of support (such as 'birdfeeding' and cattle herding) were the norm and the medical model of disability prevailed. Services were provided based on the relative ease to the provider instead of being based on the needs of the person requiring service.
Although major strides have been made in the treatment provided to individuals with developmental disabilities, it can be argued that we still have a very long way to go before people with such disabilities are seen as full citizens of society. Person Centered Planning and Person Centered Approaches address the continuing labelling and exclusion of "socially devalued people", such as those with developmental disabilities. Rather than focusing on what such people can't do, it emphasizes as being someone with capacities and gifts . . .all they need to achieve this is a little support!
Until next time . . .
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