Schlaff C
Muskegon Public Schools, Michigan 49440.
Am J Occup Ther. 1993 Oct;47(10):943-8. doi: 10.5014/ajot.47.10.943.
People continually redefine the meaning of disability for themselves through interaction and interpretation. Negative assumptions about disability result in low expectations for persons with disabilities and contribute to policies that keep them in isolation and out of the mainstream of life. Disability rights activists have begun to strip away some of the old stigmas and assumptions by redefining the meaning of disability to themselves and to others, and by organizing themselves into groups for purposes of discussion, education, and protest. Their efforts have resulted in improvements in attitudes about and opportunities for persons with disabilities. They need to remain vigilant to maintain the rights they have won, as well as to address new issues. Those who are interested in equal opportunities for persons with disabilities need to become advocates. Persons with disabilities learn to advocate for themselves through interaction with others who are committed to activist goals. They also learn through trial and error, gaining strength as they experience success, and they learn through formal advocacy training. Occupational therapists can actively contribute to the redefinition of disability through self-reflection and through advocacy training.
人们通过互动和解读不断为自己重新定义残疾的含义。对残疾的负面假设导致对残疾人期望较低，并促成一些使他们处于隔离状态、远离生活主流的政策。残疾权利活动家已开始通过为自己和他人重新定义残疾的含义，并通过组织起来形成团体以进行讨论、教育和抗议，来消除一些旧有的耻辱感和假设。他们的努力已使人们对残疾人的态度和残疾人获得的机会有所改善。他们需要保持警惕，以维护已赢得的权利，并应对新问题。那些关注残疾人平等机会的人需要成为倡导者。残疾人通过与致力于实现活动家目标的其他人互动来学会为自己辩护。他们也通过反复试验来学习，在取得成功时获得力量，并且通过正式的宣传培训来学习。职业治疗师可以通过自我反思和宣传培训，为残疾的重新定义做出积极贡献。
