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REVOLUTIONARY COMMON SENSE LIBRARY
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HALLOWEEN
and the
MASK OF DISABILITY
Revolutionary Common Sense by Kathie Snow
www.disabilityisnatural.com
The end of October brings us to the one day in the year when kids of all ages can be someone else, simply by donning a mask, wearing a costume, or painting one’s face. It’s a fun time for all!
It’s also a time to reflect. To one degree or another, we all wear masks—day
in and day out. In the mornings, we put on the masks that turn us into employees,
teachers, students, or a variety of other roles. Later in the day, we take
those off and put on other masks: parents, wives, husbands, lovers, baseball
players, scrapbookers, and more. In between are the masks we wear as advocates,
volunteers, and a wide variety of other roles. It’s a fluid, sometimes
unconscious, process.
But what about people with disabilities? For too many, a disability condition
creates a permanent (and negative) mask in the eyes of society. The disability
is used to define the person: his abilities, potential, character, and more.
Decisions about where and how a child is educated—in an inclusive or
a segregated setting—are often based solely on the label. Whether an
adult enjoys a real job in the community or is stuck in a segregated “get-ready” environment
is often dependent on the disability. These are just two examples of the many
ways in which we allow the Mask of Disability to hide the real person.
People who don’t have labels wear many different masks throughout their
lives—and from morning to night! We’re free to change them at will:
to discard those we no longer need and add new ones at any time. A mother might
also be a worker and a driver and a knitter and a shopper and a cook and .
. . the list is endless.
Shouldn’t people with disabilities have the same opportunities? Shouldn’t
a child with a disability be able to be a student and a soccer player and a
Scout and so much more? Shouldn’t an adult with a disability be able
to be a worker and a friend and a volunteer and so much more?
What will it take for each of us (and society-at-large) to change our
thinking and our actions so the Mask of Disability no longer defines
the humanity of men, women, and children who have been saddled with
labels? And let’s
always remember, they never asked for a label and a permanent Mask of Disability!
Using People First Language, recognizing disability as a natural part
of life, acknowledging the strengths and abilities of individuals with
disabilities, and ensuring they live real and natural lives in their
communities are just some of the things we can do to discard the Mask
of Disability once and for all!
©2002-06 Kathie Snow, www.disabilityisnatural.com. Clip art from www.clipartinc.com. Permission is granted for non-commercial use of this article: you may print this web page and photocopy it to share with others. Click here to download the PDF handout version of the article. As a courtesy, please tell me (kathie@disabilityisnatural.com) how/when you use it. Do not violate copyright laws: request permission before reprinting or republishing in newsletters, on websites, or in other media
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Copyright © 2001 - 2008 by BraveHeart Press
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Our words reflect the way we think, so let's get rid of descriptors like "handicapped, physically disabled, mentally retarded, learning disabled" and other words that focus on the condition instead of the person. People First Language promotes dignity and respect for all!
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