OBJECTIFYING DISABILITIES

Are disabilities objectified?  Who hasn't been emotionally moved when they hear about how an individual lost a limb in battle, or a person that exhibits the will to complete daily tasks from a wheelchair? These types of people have battled against life and overcome the limits life put in front of them and have become inspirations in our society. But Stella Young differs with this conclusion. 

Stella related that the playing field in life needs to be leveled for those that are disabled and that are not disabled.   A disability does not define an individual as an inspiration.  Rather the person with a disability is simply "using their body to the best of its capabilities."  Larsen's Value of a Challenge is turned upside-down with Stella's explanation that disability does not equate to inspiration. Ordinarily, she contended, the reason people with disabilities are seen as inspirational is because seeing how they have to cope with life's challenges makes the rest of the population without disabilities feel like their life is that much easier.  

Larsen's Value of a Challenge myth did play out in Stella's talk when she related a story from when she was teaching a class. A few years back, and about 20 minutes into her lecture at a high school classroom, a student raised his hand and asked when she was going to start doing her speech.  She was a bit confused and asked him, "what speech?"   He said, "you know, your motivational speech?  We usually go into the big auditorium."  She then proceeded to ask the audience if they too were waiting to be inspired, to which she received a few laughs.  

The audience laughed because it was true. They were expecting the woman in the wheelchair to tell them how she overcame great obstacles.  When in fact, she was there to set them straight and help them see disabilities in a different light.  This shows exactly how the audience expected to edified by Stella's challenge and her subsequent conquering of the challenge, which is described by Larsen's Cultural Myth of the Value of a Challenge. 

The processes of premises that Stella used were three-fold.  From Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs she drew from a sense of belonging.  People everywhere want to be accepted into society.  This applies to those that are "normal" and those with "disabilities."  As a society she implores her audience to not attach a label of inspiration to someone with a disability because they were "able to get out of bed and remember their name."  She reiterates that someone that has a disability is simply using their body to its best ability. Effectively placing a basic human need, to belong, her persuasion elicits an emotional response and probable change in future behavior.  

Another process of premise used in Stella's talk is guilt.  Why should the audience assign greatness for merely functioning through daily tasks?  It is not a reasonable assumption that doing the same things that everyone else does should be seen as inspirational.  Stella contends that "[we] are more disabled by the society we live in than by our bodies and our diagnoses."  This is a valid statement that requires consideration and action for society as a whole.  A thought from the Incredible's comes to mind, "If everyone is special, then no one is."  Placing the onus on the audience, who feel guilt for having done this in the past, drives home her point.  
Lastly, Stella created a cognitive dissonance with images she shared versus explanations she gave. Here is one that is similar to hers, and shares the same quote as her presentation.    Stella explains how she views this quote from Scott Hamilton.

"That quote, 'The only disability in life is a bad attitude,' the reason that that's bull**** is because it's just not true, because of the social model of disability. No amount of smiling at a flight of stairs has ever made it turn into a ramp. Never." 

Stella even referred to these types of photos as "inspiration porn."  Her reasoning is that people with disabilities are "objectified for the benefit  of another group of people." Additionally, her comment regarding the feel good quote about attitude really caused me to think.   It also caused some dissonance in my perception about how a good attitude can be beneficial, but not be the way out of disability for some individuals.  Stella effectively used cognitive dissonance to encourage a change in thought.  

Sadly, while I was researching Stella Young, I found that she passed away in December of last year.  Even though she didn't seek to inspire, she was a voice for equality among people with all abilities and was not afraid to go against the norm and speak out for what she believed.