Helping People with Disabilities Help Themselves
Promoting the I CAN Attitude
by
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Chapter l
Understanding and Relating to People with Disabilities
The primary attitude toward people displaying certain traits of a disability is still basically negative. People tend to overreact, criticize, or make fun of the inability to perform in a “normal” set of patterns. As a special education teacher, I often went with my students on outings or field trips. We were often met with stares, finger pointing, rude comments, ridiculing, or even mimicking of the mental or physical impairments or behaviors.
Rude remarks or behaviors usually have a psychological effect upon the persons with disabilities. This is reflective of the time I was with a group of people with mental disabilities in a state van. The state van was clearly marked with the symbol of the mental retardation training program where the clients resided. Stopped at a traffic light, the people in the car adjacent to us began making faces and yelling out rude comments. Victor, an adolescent in the van, yelled out the window, “You retard!” He had heard this phrase so many times that he thought the phrase was a derogatory comment to demean all people. A few of the higher functioning people in the van became upset over why they were constantly the subject of ridicule.
This incident, combined with many similar ones, resulted in feelings of failure and hopelessness. Ridiculing causes many people not to try because they believe what they have heard and experienced. They develop negative attitudes and are convinced that they cannot achieve many things. Regardless of the age or skill I was trying to teach, the usual comment I would hear in the beginning was “I can’t.” After continually being reminded that “I can’t” was a phrase which was not allowed, attitudes changed. Many of my students would inform a new student that they should not say “I can’t” or there would be consequences. By prohibiting that one small phrase, unbelievable progress was made.
When given the "I Can" attitude with support and love, an individual can progress both physically and mentally despite the negative reactions toward his/her disabilities. An important fact to remember is that people with disabilities are people, too. Their feelings can be hurt just like any other individual. Positive involvement with a person who has disabilities makes a huge difference in their outlook on life and progression toward needed goals. Modeling, encouraging people with disabilities to respond, and mimicking positive behaviors builds strong personalities. Positive behaviors can be learned and strengthened by the following methods:
a) Praise people with disabilities in areas that they have attempted and accomplished.
b) Spend quality time doing activities they enjoy.
c) Show love and compassion.
d) Treat all people, regardless of the circumstances or disabilities, with respect. Put yourself in the place of the person with disabilities.
e) Resolve all problems peacefully and in a direct manner.
f) Work together on different daily living skills, i.e., dressing or eating appropriately.
g) Make learning a fun project.
h) Relate learning experiences to everyday living.
i) Give consistent and honest messages.
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About the Book
Helping People with Disabilities Help Themselves is a book about several disabilities that people of all ages may encounter. If you are a person with a disability or know of someone who is, this book will help one cope and succeed by using positive thinking.
The author, Barbara Jean Young, has over thirty-four years of experience in various areas of disabilities. As a special education teacher, a retardation specialist, a parent advisor to deaf, blind, and babies and preschoolers with multiple disabilities, and a sign language instructor, Mrs. Young has worked with people of all ages, from infants to adults, having a variety of disabilities. In this book, she tells personal stories of how she was able to help each individual live a more successful and meaningful life.
Ironically, in mid-life, Mrs. Young suddenly suffered several disabilities herself resulting from a serious automobile crash involving a drunk driver. In a twist of fate, Mrs. Young had more severe disabilities than most of the people she was helping. Through this experience, she is able to provide the reader with a special insight into what it is like having a disability, and how to cope. Through her experiences, Mrs. Young explains in her book how to assist people who have disabilities and help them attain a more positive attitude.
This book also has a special section after each chapter listing references that can be used to seek help for people who want to learn more about disabilities.
About the Author
Barbara Jean Young is a retired Special Education teacher. She is highly respected for her accomplishments working with persons with various mental, emotional, and physical disabilities and their families.
At the core of this book is the “I can” approach used by Mrs. Young to help adults and children with disabilities.
Mrs. Young is a graduate of the Special Education program at the
Her thirty-six years of experience occurred in many settings other than the classroom. Mrs. Young worked at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind as a parent advisor, visiting homes of families that had infants or preschoolers who were deaf, blind or had multiple disabilities. She taught Special Education in public schools, in schools for the deaf, in a mental institution and in a juvenile detention center. She also taught deaf sign language at junior colleges, Arizona Disabled Adult Education and Easter Seal.
Mrs. Young has unique prospective regarding disabilities. She understands the feelings of persons with disabilities. In mid-career, she was severely injured in an automobile accident. She was in a coma for almost three months. When she awoke, she was unable to walk or speak. Some four years of using the “I can” attitude enabled her to recover and resume her career.
It is hoped that this book will be of help to Special Education students, teachers, parents, family members or any person who interacts with persons with disabilities.