Growth in Disability Studies Programs

A movement towards disability studies has begun to build momentum. Over the past decade, graduate study programs at universities across the nation have started to develop specific courses of study to better understand mental and physical impairments. From Georgetown University to the California Baptist University, these courses are being defined as a holistic study of the phenomenon of disability through a multidisciplinary approach (i).

Topics addressed include the social, cultural, and political role disability has played in society. Students learn the role people with disabilities have played in the development and implementation of several disciplines, from literature to social policy. Such programs aim to arm students with a knowledge base that will increase disability awareness and, ultimately, promote social change. The emergence of disability studies programs is important for at least two reasons.

First, disability awareness will only grow as these professionals enter society after completing their courses of study. Georgetown University explains that a critical component of their Master of Professional Studies in Disability Studies program is to provide students with the tools to educate and increase awareness across various audiences (ii). Graduates will attain the skill of communicating disability awareness and tolerance to a variety of audiences upon graduation, an invaluable skill necessary in spreading the message for any subject. In this way, graduates will have the ability to communicate awareness and tolerance to demographically or otherwise starkly differing groups of people. This promotes the proliferation of disability education by increasing the effectiveness with which it is taught. More effective disability education, in short, paves the way for awareness and understanding.

More importantly, however, it is a sign that large scale social change is on the way. The near future will see a growing population of working professionals with a deep understanding of different disabilities, across a range of different societal and historical contexts. These professionals will be instrumental in helping to assimilate those with disabilities into the workforce, in counseling persons with disabilities and their families, and in furthering the field of disability education and research. Moreover, the growing number of disability studies courses and the bodies that fill their lecture halls illustrate a growing interest and empathy for persons with disabilities, a critical component to spreading awareness.

The trend in disability studies programs is indicative of a growing number of working professionals with substantial disability training and education. This translates to narrowing the gap between those with a disability, and those without. Graduates will have the resources and experience to collaborate with individuals with disabilities, helping them to become active community members. Business owners must take note of the growing number of disability studies programs and their resulting societal implications. These graduate schools, for example, represent prime recruiting outlets for Human Resource departments, managers, and other professional positions. Disability study program graduates serve exemplary consultants, as well, for businesses looking to implement inclusion training to solidify their company culture.

Disability And Sexuality

Historically society has overlooked the sexual needs of those with impairments. The topic is either completely ignored or brushed aside as being irrelevant as disabled people have been considered to be almost non-sexual. However, the sexual needs of the disabled are very much a reality and there is an urgent need to address them in today's world.

Physically, the nature of the impairment itself determines how sexually active the person can be. Many impairments affect men more than women. With sexual arousal and libido being affected negatively, impotence is a common complaint. Women, on the other hand, may find their fertility completely unaffected by their disability.

The mental effects of the disability however are far reaching. Every culture has always had standards pertaining to how men and women should look and behave to be considered beautiful and attractive. These images almost always strongly stress a certain appearance and way of dressing. People with disabilities often do not fit into this mould. This leads many to consider themselves ugly or unattractive because of their impairment. For those who have suffered the impairment later in their lives, feelings of inadequacy in comparison to the past are common.

Persons with disabilities, whether mental and/or physical, often question their sexual desirability. Performance, sexual positions and enjoyment of the act itself are issues of common concern. It is also natural to wonder about whether they can maintain a long term relationship and have children. These feelings of inadequacy make it difficult for impaired persons to express themselves sexually and thus impair their functioning further.

Today society has woken up to the fact that the issue of sexuality and disability needs to be addressed in a positive manner. It has acknowledged that creating awareness and providing more information on the issue will lead to a better understanding of the needs of the disabled and this will benefit society in general.

Various organisations and bodies have taken steps to ease the problems being faced by the disabled. Resource books addressing concerns like fertility and sustenance of long term relationships have been published to provide support and advice. The numbers of disabled dating sites are also increasing rapidly. These offer dating services and tips as well as information and advice. Further, adult chat rooms allow patrons to interact with others. Some sites also document the experiences of those who live with disabilities, both their own as well as that of a loved one.

By aiming their services both at persons with various disability types as well as those who are interested in dating disabled persons, the disabled dating websites are helping disabled singles connect with potential partners. Further they are also spreading awareness about issues that were hitherto not spoken about openly. All these efforts are contributing towards the creation of a more tolerant and understanding society.

Disability and the Disability Discrimination Act

What is disability?

A disability is a condition that restricts or impairs an individuals' ability to learn, mobilize, receive sensory information, process thoughts or communicate. Disability is a broad term that comprises of physical, intellectual, neurological, psychiatric or sensory disabilities (Disability WORKS Australia, 2008). A disability can be lifelong or temporary (over 12 months), and may be due to a genetic disorder, accident or illness. Disability has been defined by the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) as:

• Total or partial loss of the persons' bodily or mental functions; or
• Total or partial loss of a part of the body; or
• The presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness; or
• The presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness; or
• The malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the persons' body; or
• A disorder or malfunction that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction; or
• A disorder, illness or disease that affects a persons' thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgment or that results in disturbed behaviour (Australasian Legal Information Institute, 2009)

Discrimination against people with disabilities
The Australian Federal Government passed the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities in all facets of life, such as work, housing and education. The objective is for people with disabilities to have an equal opportunity to participate in economic, social, cultural and political activities, and to prevent unfair treatment. Harassment, denying access and imposing unfair terms on people with disabilities is against the law. People with disabilities represent all parts of the Australian community. Recognizing and accepting that to live with a disability is a unique experience, and is a step towards a more respectful future. It is also important to recognise that the term 'disability' is a social construct, and so what is understood as a disability in one culture, can be viewed differently in another culture.

Megan Fox