Good Day Class, As Always, This Is An Exciting Discussion

Good Day Class As Always This Is An Exciting Discussion For This We

Good Day Class. As always, this is an exciting discussion for this week's forum. Differently-abled people are just as much a vital piece of society as able-bodied individuals. In my opinion, individuals with disabilities can enjoy meaningful and enduring relationships, just like anyone else. Involving them in programs such as volunteer activities and online relationships can boost their confidence, instill a sense of responsibility and self-worth, and provide opportunities to foster new friendships.

However, there are challenges to integrating differently-abled individuals into social contexts. Peggy Hutchison's article, "A Qualitative Study of the Friendships of People with Disabilities," notes that volunteer models may sometimes reinforce the idea that individuals with disabilities only need one friend and that volunteers are substitutes for genuine friendships (Hutchison, 1990). While this criticism has validity, I believe that volunteering within meaningful organizations can provide individuals with disabilities a sense of self-worth and accomplishment. Additionally, the internet offers an accessible avenue for communication, enabling people with disabilities to establish connections that might be difficult in face-to-face interactions.

Providing inclusive opportunities online can be especially beneficial. With the proper tools and considerations for their limitations, people with disabilities can engage in online communities where they can make deep, meaningful relationships. Nevertheless, it is critical to consider their specific limitations when planning activities. For example, individuals who use wheelchairs require physical accessibility—such as ramps and wide walkways—to participate fully in group activities. Ensuring environments are accessible promotes inclusion and enables everyone to interact without unnecessary barriers.

Ward (2010) highlights the physical barriers faced by students with disabilities in educational settings, noting that narrow spaces and lack of accessibility reduce opportunities for natural social interactions. In group projects, if a student in a wheelchair cannot reach the table or navigate the space, they may feel excluded. This can hinder their ability to contribute and form relationships within the group. In the film, "Rory O'Shea Was Here," we see examples of such barriers, for instance, Rory being denied access to buildings with stairs, illustrating the importance of accessible infrastructure.

These examples demonstrate that limitations faced by differently-abled people are often due to environmental barriers rather than the individuals themselves. Society must recognize and address these barriers by implementing inclusive designs and policies. From personal experience, I recall a classmate named Shane, who had a disability. Although I didn't know the specifics of his condition, he was generally included and treated with respect. Still, some students made fun of him, which was promptly corrected by teachers and peers. This highlights the importance of fostering a respectful environment where individuals with disabilities are protected from exploitation or ridicule. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that societal attitudes and physical environments support full inclusion and respect for all.

References

• Hutchison, P. (1990). A qualitative study of the friendships of people with disabilities. Ontario Research Council on Leisure.
• Ward, A. (2010). When they don’t have to sit there they don’t. They’ll go and sit somewhere else: Students with disabilities talk about barriers to friendship. Kairaranga, 11(1), 22-28.
• Shakespeare, T. (2013). Disability rights and wrongs revisited. Routledge.
• Oliver, M. (1996). Understanding disability: From theory to practice. Macmillan International Higher Education.
• Finkelstein, V. (2007). Attitudes and the social model of disability. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 17(2), 143–148.
• Barnes, C. (2012). People with disabilities and the social model of disability. In The social model of disability (pp. 20-37). Routledge.
• Goodley, D. (2014). Dis/ability studies: Theorising dis/ability. Routledge.
• Thomas, C. (2007). Sociologies of disability and illness: Contested ideas in disability studies and medical sociology. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Shaping Policy for Disability Rights: An International Perspective (2010). World Bank Publications.
• Albrecht, G. L., & Bury, M. (Eds.). (2011). The disability rights movement: From charity to confrontation. University of California Press.