E. Changing Disabled Identities

The label ‘disabled’ carries with it a ___ that affects all interactions between the disabled person and others, creating what interactionists would call a ‘___ ___’.

The label ‘disabled’ carries with it a stigma that affects all interactions between the disabled person and others, creating what interactionists would call a ‘master status’.

A ‘___ ___’ means it transcends all other aspects of identity and becomes the ___ ___ by which the individual is ___.

A ‘master status’ means it transcends all other aspects of identity and becomes the defining characteristic by which the individual is judged.

The issue of disability becoming a ___ ___ may also be true for the individual themselves, as they learn to ___ ___ first and foremost in terms of their ___.

The issue of disability becoming a master status may also be true for the individual themselves, as they learn to see themselves first and foremost in terms of their impairment.

Gill (1997) is a ___ ___ who became disabled later in life.

Gill (1997) is a polio survivor who became disabled later in life.

Gill argues reconciling your identity as a disabled person with previously held ___ about what being disabled means is a ___ ___.

Gill argues reconciling your identity as a disabled person with previously held notions about what being disabled means is a common hurdle.

Gill argued that ‘when you become a member of the group you have previously felt ___ or ___ for, you can’t help but turn those ___ on yourself’.

Gill argued that ‘when you become a member of the group you have previously felt fear or pity for, you can’t help but turn those feelings on yourself’.

Zola (1982) writes that ‘The very ___ we use to describe ourselves is borrowed from (___ able bodied) ___’.

Zola (1982) writes that ‘The very vocabulary we use to describe ourselves is borrowed from (discriminatory able bodied) society’.

Zola said ‘We are de-___, dis-___, dis-___, dis-___, ab-___, and most telling of all, called an in-___’.

• This could lead to a form of learned ___

Zola said ‘We are de-formed, dis-eased, dis-abled, dis-ordered, ab-normal, and most telling of all, called an in-valid’.

• This could lead to a form of learned helplessness

Learned helplessness describes the way some disabled people may internalise the idea they are ___ of changing a ___, and thus ___ to take ___ to help themselves.

Learned helplessness describes the way some disabled people may internalise the idea they are incapable of changing a situation, and thus fail to take action to help themselves.

It has been argued that policies such as ___ ___ actually encouraged learned helplessness, even if the intentions were ___ ___.

It has been argued that policies such as segregated schooling actually encouraged learned helplessness, even if the intentions were well meaning.

Murugami (2009) argues that a disabled person has the ability to construct a ___ ___ that accepts their impairment but is ___ of it.

• They see themselves a person first, and see their disability as one of their ___

Murugami (2009) argues that a disabled person has the ability to construct a self identity that accepts their impairment but is dependent of it.

• They see themselves a person first, and see their disability as one of their characteristics

Murugami argues that if a disabled person’s abilities are blocked by ___ and ___ barriers, such as ___ ___ or lack of ___, then the blame is directed at society rather than the impairment.

Murugami argues that if a disabled person’s abilities are blocked by societal and environmental barriers, such as poor access or lack of awareness, then the blame is directed at society rather than the impairment.

Watson (2002) agrees with Murugami’s point, quoting a person with a disability, who said ‘I know this is going to sound very ___ to you, but I do not see myself as a ___ ___’.

Watson (2002) agrees with Murugami’s point, quoting a person with a disability, who said ‘I know this is going to sound very strange to you, but I do not see myself as a disabled person’.