Background:
What is Ageism? Here are two. Robert
Butler (1969) coined the term ageism defined as, “negative attitudes towards
aging”. New Ageism coined later by R. A. Kalish (1979) and C.L. Estes (1979)
came up with a kinder definition of, “the desire to help older people who need
special treatment due to poor health, poverty or lack of social supporters.
Although this positive form of ageism tries to do good, it supports the
stereotype of old age as a time of decline and loss.”
What is a disability? The ADA
considers a person to have a disability if: He or she has a physical or mental
impairment that substantially limits one or more of his/her major life
activities; he or she has a record of such an impairment; or he or she is
regarded as having such an impairment. The ADA is divided into five titles:
Title I requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations for
applicants and employees with disabilities and prohibits discrimination on the
basis of disability in all aspects of employment. It also regulates medical
examinations and inquires. Title II, public services (which include state and
local government agencies, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, and
other commuter authorities) cannot deny services to people with disabilities or
deny participation in programs or activities that are available to people
without disabilities. In addition, public transportation systems, such as
public transit buses, must be accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Title III requires that all new construction and modifications must be
accessible to individuals with disabilities. For existing facilities, barriers
to services must be removed if readily achievable. Title IV Telecommunications
companies offering telephone service to the general public must have telephone
relay service to individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TTYs) or similar devices. Title V includes a provision prohibiting either (a)
coercing or threatening or (b) retaliating against individuals with
disabilities or those attempting to aid people with disabilities in asserting
their rights under the ADA.
ICF is the measurement and policy
formulations for health and disability. It is a universal classification system
of disability and health for use in health-related sectors. ICF is named as it
is because of its stress is on health and functioning, rather than on
disability. Once upon a time, disability began where health ended and therefore
placed in a separate category. ICF is a tool for measuring a person's level of
health and their ability of function in society, no matter what the reason for
one's impairments. It is very versatile and can be used for a number of uses,
like as a planning and policy tool for decision-makers.
The BMW model is focused on the
equal access of information to patrons with invisible or temporary disabilities
that the ADA may overlook. They define an individual with a disability as one
who is despite their health condition; they will experience limiting factors
when accessing information. They believe that disability is socially created
problem and the direct effect of the environment, therefore the more limiting
the environment, the stronger the disability. In the library setting there
should be dialog between the professional and the patron to help facilitate
receiving of information, empower them to retrieve information themselves by
pulling down barriers that blocks this process.
Thoughts:
My in initial statement for my
“elderly” drawing: An elderly woman comes into the library using the walker as
her means of support. Smaller and frailer, she takes her time, trembling as she
placed her books on the circulation desk counter, refusing any help at all. She
doesn’t want to be asked, I already got yelled at by her last week for
offering. Her reserved James Patterson novel is on hold, and she collects the
book. She is so thrilled that her eyes light up. Next she slowly makes her way
to the public computers to check her Facebook really quick, mostly to see pics
of her grandkids. She doesn’t need help, but appreciates if someone would hold
the computer chairs steady for her as she transfers herself from the walker to
the chair. When she pulls out her card, taped to the back of it is her library
card number and pin number, rewritten by me and taped on, so she can see it
better, even with her glasses.
The only thing I found not referenced in these two articles that
always comes to mind when everyone talks about equality and such, in Florida,
especially in the Southeast part (never live down here), we cannot touch
anybody. People are so eager to sue someone that if someone falls, you hesitate
between helping and just calling the ambulance. For us, we have fire rescue
right next to us, so they gladly come over, after we have received the patron’s
verbal permission, to come and help them.
I do often come across the whole gap
in technology with, oddly enough, not the ageing population, BUT the population
of those in their 20s. At least half that come in cannot type, surf the
internet, or even compose an email. I find I have far less issues with the
elderly community, they are eager to learn and only ask for basic help. The
20-somethings want you to do it for them. So maybe this whole technology gap
applies to people in different demographics. Even my father used a computer
into his 80s.
My initial statement for my
“disabled” drawing: A limping older woman leans on her cane to enter the
library to use the computer. But she is seasonal and comes from Canada every
year so she has to see me to update her account. This year, she notices the layout
of the computers are different, there are more computers, than last year. She
comes to see me and I wave and smile, and immediately welcome her without using
my voice, making sure I pronounce my syllables. Then I hand her a pad and paper
– she is deaf. We exchange a simple conversation. She hands me her card, no
changes to her address and phone number, and I update it. I carefully, and
silently, explain the new sign in procedure, but I know she likes a little
extra space and the new layout is tighter and more claustrophobic, so since she
comes in the morning, when the children’s area is empty, I show her how to log
in on a child’s computer. She is thankful for the extra space and less people.
She knows she unknowingly makes “noise” from her throat that is loud, and
prefers to be a bit more secluded. We have no issues accommodating her.
Most of the time, I am not aware that I do not use “people-first language”.
When I write something up, it is more prominent. The community our library
serves are mostly people of foreign origin, mostly Hispanic, so when I talk to
them I chose simpler and more condensed wording. It is easier for them to
understand and easier for me to not have to try and explain when I am alone
most of the day. I switch that mind process off when in general conversation or
writing and then I use people – first language. I know that some people prefer
“hearing impaired”, but I find it interesting that the deaf refer to themselves
as deaf, rather than hearing impaired, or at least the many I have encountered.
I worked at a mental health facility and we had three regular clients who
always called themselves “deaf”. At the library, we have 4 patrons who are
hearing impaired who call themselves “deaf”. Of course in conversation with
others and in writing, I use the term hearing impaired, but I find it
fascinating how “pc” terms are not always used or less preferred.
As for fairness, I can easily see
how allowing the Canadian woman to sit in the children’s area could cause
trouble, but we had a meeting over this, years ago, we figure, as long as no
one complains that she gets to be over there, it is fine. We actually some many
patrons complain that she was too “noisy” and this was our only solution that
would appease both sides and we felt as if everyone won.
When considering disability, I do
feel as if we have to consider all definitions and all aspects of the
situation. Rules and codes are there as a reference and I believe it is up to
the institution to incorporate those rules into their policies, but people’s
individual circumstance varies. There are variable kinds of disability and if I
had to chose which disability definition to follow, I could not. It would need
to be a combination of all three, with wiggle room. To limit ourselves to only
one definition; I feel it would prove moot when the variety of disability is as
unique as the individual.
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