Disability History

Why Learn About Disability

• learning from past mistakes

• “those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it”

Disability History Challenges

• lack of documentation, accounts, research of disabled people in history

• little data availabe from formal services/treatments by “professionals”

• lack of representation

People With Disabilities Were Often

feared, isolated, devalued, viewed as a burden, considered morally “wrong”

People With Disabilities Have Historically Experienced

abandonment, starvation, torture, caging, execution and segregation

Early Civilization Functioned Within

the religious model

Early Civilization (BCE-CE 500)

• disabled and non disabled lived together

• low life expectancy → complications, eugenic reasons

• little/no evidence of devices or supports used

Ancient Hebrews

disability was associated with punishment from God

Greeks

beleived body and soul were connected → physical disability seen as a flaw in the soul

People With Mental Illnesses in Early Civilization Were Often

starved, chained, whipped, caged or killed

Hippocrates Established

the first sanitarium for wealthy families

• others were tortured, chained, killed, displayed for entertainment, homeless, etc.

Middle Ages Functioned Within

primarily the religious model

Middle Ages (600-1500)

disability viewed throught Christian lens → primarily negative

• some compassionate treatment (e.g. charity for disabled people)

• disability and illness were connected to sin and punishment from God

Where Were Disabled People Sent in the Middle Ages

sent to monasteries to be looked after, prayed over, healed, removed from society

Treatments at Monasteries Included

prayer, exorcism, herbs, incantations, lying on of hands

The Renaissance Period Functioned Within

shift from religious model toward medical model

• mental illness viewed as sickness rather than possession

The Renaissance Period (1500-1700)

people with mental illness/intellectual disabilities were sent to asylums to be housed/seperated from society

Asylums

often provided little to no treatments

• functioned more like prisons → patients were chained or caged

What Happened to Women in the Renaissance Period

thousands were killed during witch hunts

• if women gave birth to a disabled child they were a witch → so they were killed

Progress During the Renaissance Period

inclusion of deaf people → taught to read, write and speak

Early America Functioned Within

a blend of the religious and medical model

Early America (1620-1800)

disability = punishmnet from God

medical remedies questionable → worse than the disability

What Was Established During the Early America Period

some medical schools and hospitals

• practiced procedures like “bleedings” to release poisions or a fever

The Industrial Revolution (1790-1870)

• citites growing, more hospitals and medical advancements

• advent of sterile medical procedures made it safer to undergo medical intervention

Working During the Industrial Revlolution

• disabled people exlcuded from workforce

• jobs unsafe and resulted in injury (first workers’ compensation programs)

• people with disabilities were often excluded from employment

First Workers Compensation

providerd medical benefits and wage replacement

Eugenics (1840-1950)

idea that human population could be “improved” through controlling reproduction

Darwin’s Origin of Species

natural selection & selective breeding inappropriately applied to the human race

• people considered “unfit” should not reproduce

Actions of Eugenics/WWII

1. immigration laws to turn people away

2. sterilization to prevent reproduction

Immigration Laws Excluded People Considered

mentally or physically defective or unable to support themselves

Eugenics/WWII Propaganda

propagated belifed that disabled people are dangerous and unwanted → beliefs still held today

Eugenics/WWII Was A

global phenomenon but practices differed between countries

Germany Sterilization Law Was Passed in

1933

Sterilization Law Principles Were Later Used to

eradicate Germans and Jewish Germans

Sterilization Law

propaganda used to emphasize low value of disabled peoples lives (e.g. burdens)

Hilter’s Proposed Euthanasia Law 1939

secret order to deliver “final medical assistance” → T4 Killing Program

Hitler’s T4 Killing Program Included People With

physical disabilities, depression, war veterns

T4 Killing Program - Killing Methods

killing methods became more barbaric (e.g. gas, injection, starvation or shooting)

T4 Killing Program - 1941

program ended due to public opposition → after 300,000 deaths

Independent Living Movement

people with disabilities challenged the idea that professionals should make decisions for them

• focused on removing social and environmental barriers

1975 - Education for All Handicap Children Act

• Provided equal educational opportunities

• Promoted education in the least restrictive environment 

• Encouraged students be integrated into regular classroom when possible

Forced Sterilization of Disabled Women - 20th Century

prevent menstruation and childbirth for “practical” concerns

Children of Eugenics

amniocentesis and non invasive prenatal testing

• some tests leads to treatments, other to premature preganncy termination

• termination of extemely serious conditions were non-controversial

Perimplantation testing of embryos for IVF

• e.g. for parents with repeated miscarriages

First Institution Was Built in

1876-2009

Ontarios First Institution

Orillia Asylum for Idiots - 1876

• for peole with intellectual/developmental disabilities

Institutions Viewed As

“social solution”

• a way to create a seperate place for people who do not fit into the new soceity

Institutions Were Inteded to Be

places of care, saftey, education and rehabilitation, housing

What Made Institutional Solutions Seem Logical

industrialization and modernity

Instituionalization Was Understood As

protecting society → reliveing families/community of responsibility

Three Major Influences Behind Institutions

1. institutions were created to provide: education, training and rehab

2. humanitarianism → concern for the welfare and dignity of humans

3. eugenics → society can be improved by encouraging reproduction among people considered “fit” and discouragining reproduction among people considered “unfit”

Life Inside Institutions

residents participated in farming, growing crops, laudnry, cleaning, repairs, domestic work

Why Did Institutions Continue to Grow?

• Population growth

• Medical improvements → increased life expectancy 

• Eugenics 

• Medical model → many institutions were remanded “hospitals” 

• Family burden → families had very few supporters available

Advocacy Groups - Ontario Association for Retarded Children (OARC)

created in 1953 → parents became vocal about poor institutional conditions

• they advocated for better conditions, more funding, community-based services

Why Did Deinstitutionalization Happen

• institutions overcrowded, underfunded and custodial (poor living conditions)

• growing recognition that insitituonal living was not producing original outcomes

Normalization Changed Enderlying Philosophy of Care

a disabled person should live a normal life

• live in the community, particiapte in society, have relathionships, make choices, opportunities for work

What Did Normalization Promote

inclusion rather than segregation

• supported moving people from institutions into communitites

What Made Closure of Institutions Possible

community alternatives began to develop

Deinstitutionalization Resulted In

people with mental ilness becoming homeless of imprisoned

Closure of Institutions - Positives

• reduction in abuse for disabled people

• increase in quality of life

Closure of Institutions - Negative

• little preperation by community for disabled people to be taken care of

• few opportunities for disabled folks in their own communities

• barriers to services (e.g. transportation)

• inadequate policy to ensure high-quality programming/services

Community Living/Integration Has Contributed To

meaningful social relathionships, occupation and skills for disabled people

Concurrent Push for Inclusion Into Society

“All individuals, regardless of ability, should participate within the same environment with necessary support and individualized attention. Inclusion is more than simply placing individuals together - it’s a belief that all individuals belong and are valued”

Benefits of Deinstitutionalization

• improved living situation → felt safe, better quality of sleep, closer to family/friends

• increased choice and control in daily actitivites and rountines

• increased dignity and respect → more autonomy over self-care activities

• increased community integration/inclusion → increased social interactions

Challenges to Deinstituionalization

• Lack of funding 

• Staffing problems → fear of job loses 

• Family concerns 

• Lack of community housing 

• Limited community services

Facilities-Based (1900-1950) - Key Points

• isolation and neglect

• medical model

• person viewed as a patient in need of cure

• condtions resides in the person

Facilitites Based - Terminology and Ideas in PE

corrective therapy, fix the problem

• emphasis on physical rehab

• posture and fitness

• children with mild disabilities were excused from PE

Service-Based (1950-1980) - Key Points

• special programs/services

• educational model

• skill improvement

• people defined as their disability

Service Based - Terminology and Ideas in PE

adapted/developmental/special PE

• much focus on programs based on disability level

Support-Based (1980-1990) - Key Points

• disability viewed as a part of human variation

• difficulties reside in person-environment interaction

• support to allow persons to function in inclusive environments

Support Based - Terminology and Ideas in PE

Adapted PE

• sport becomes prominent

• programs become individualized

• lifespan notion adopted

• definitions based lens on disability and more on adaptions

Empowernment and Self-Determination (1990-Present) - Key Points

• major decisions move to individal not the experts

• focus on choice, decision making, self awareness and self regulated learning

Empowerment and Self-Determination - Terminology and Ideas in PE

Adapted PE

• self-determined PE

Models of Dependency

• personal control, feelings, and values not priorities

• assumed an expert was “in charge” of the facility, services or support

Ontario Human Rights Code (1962)

was the first legislation of its kind in Canada

Ontario Human Rights Code Recognized

the moral, social, and economic consequences of discrimination

• disability not originally listed explicity

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982)

“the roots of the Charter lie in the desire for Canada to gain full control over its Constitution”

Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Section 15: Equality Rights

• prohibition of discrimination

• duty to accommodate

Section 15: Equality Rights - Disability

did not include disability specifically until 1995

• disability added (along with race, sex and religion)

Accessibility for Ontarians With Disabilities Act (AODA) Originated From

the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2001)

• originally the AODA committee, which then became the AODA alliance

When Was The AODA Implemented

in 2005

Who Does the AODA Apply To

all Ontarian organization

The AODA Aims to

identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities

AODA 5 Standards + 1

1. Customer Service Standard

2. Information and Communication Standard 

3. Employment Standard

4. Transportation Standard 

5. Design of Public Spaces Standard 

6. Education Standard (coming soon)

How is Ontario Still Inaccessible

• Slow implementation

• Lack of enforcement → e.g. no repercussions for not following the act

• Lack of prioritization → e.g. other goals pursued  

• Incomplete scope → e.g. primary focus on new builds, not on existing buildings

When Was Accessible Canada Act (Bill C-81) Adopted

in 2019 for accessible Canada by 2040

Accessible Canada Act Applies To

federally regulated organization

• e.g. airlines, banks, telephone companies, trans-provincal transport

Accessible Canada Act Specifies That

persons with disabilities must be involved in the development and design of laws, policies, programs, services and structures

Definition of Barrier From the Accesiable Canada Act

anything including physical, architectural, technological or attitudinal, anything that is based on information or communicators or anything that is the result of a policy or a practice, that hinders the full and equal participation in society

Definition of Disability From the Accessible Canada Act

any impairment, including physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment - or a functional limitation - whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person's full and equal participation in society

Acessible Canada Act - Significat to Include Disabled People into Legislation

• social model at play

• legislation for accessibility removes the focus from indivial accommodations

Example of Legislation for Accessibility

instead of wheelchair user needing a key to get into an accessible door, install a ramp to the front door

Employment Rate of Disabled Canadians in 2022

65.1%

Disability Benefit Act was Passed in

2003

Disabilty Benefit Act Provides

financial support for disabled Canadians

Max Amount Disability Benefit Act Provides

$200/month to eligible people aged 18-64

• due to increased likelihood for disabled people to live under the poverty line, be unemployed, to lose income, experience prejudices

Disability Benefit Acts Stems From

the Accessible Canada Act, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the Poverty Reduction Act

How To Get Disability Benefit

applicants must also qualify for the disability text credit

• nonrefundable tax credit of $9,872

Who Qualifies for Disability Tax Credit

• If a medical practitioner certifies that you have a severe and prolonged impairment in 1 of the categories

• significant limitations in 2 or more categories

• receive therapy to support a vital function

Marked Restrictions of Disability Tax Credit

• You are unable to do the activity, or it takes 3 times longer than someone of similar age with out the impairment 

• The restriction is present all or almost all of the time 

• The restriction has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months

Categories of Disability Tax Credit

Walking, mental functions, dressing, feeding, eliminating, hearing, speaking, vision, life-sustaining therapy 

Disability is a Human Rights Issue Because

• people with disabilities experience inequalities

• people with disabilities are subject to violations of dignity

• some people with disability are denied autonomy