Perspectives on Inclusion

At the heart of it, accessibility is about equality. Recently Dr. Whitney Rapp, Associate Professor of Inclusive Education,  says, “It's not just about following the letter of the law but the spirit of the law.” It is our burden and obligation as educators to ensure all students have an equal playing field by making sure our curriculum is accessible - from the start. Accommodations alone are no longer enough.

Watch the following clip, concerning a lecture from the SUNY FACT2 Accessibility Symposium held on November 6th, 2015 'Shifting the Paradigm"

Total Running time of Video (05:35)

Transcript for Universal Design Shifting the Paradigm  Download Transcript for Universal Design Shifting the Paradigm 

There can be no substitute for listening to the perspectives of individuals with disabilities on their disabilities and how they interact with the environment. As you heard in the video, in recent years proponents of the field of disability studies have moved the conversation from the medical model of disability, which views disability as a deficit in the person to the social model of disability, which views disability as the result of an inaccessible environment.  The following blog is written by a woman with a physical disability, muscular dystrophy; she relies on a wheelchair for mobility and personal care attendants for activities of daily living.  She offers an interesting perspective on inclusion and the disabling impact of her environment on her ability to perform major life activities.

Redefining Disability by DeeScribes Links to an external site.

Estimated time: 10minutes