Disability and Culture

Disability culture does not mean that how different cultures treat different disabilities. Disability culture is defined as a set of beliefs, artifacts and expression which are created by the disabled people themselves in which they have described about their life experiences. Some people believe that disability culture is not that culture which they are belonging to.

The elements of our culture include emerging humor and art, evolving symbols and language, beliefs and values, strategies for thriving and surviving, longstanding social oppression etc. The most compelling evidence of a disability culture is the universality and vitality despite of social isolation, imposed immobility, lack of education, generations of poverty etc.

The uniformity and bonding reflects the culture of the disabled people and when they come together in special schools, during creative workshops, at charity camps and in hospital wards then one can say that culture has flourished. The dispelling growth of cultural development bears a significant uniformity to each other.

The independent living movements and the disability rights have expedited the development of our culture. Culture reflects the beliefs and emotional reactions regarding various issues such as exchange of more information but it also includes the transmission of values about the life with a disability. So, the term disability culture has become very popular among the disabled people.

Functions of a Disability Culture

There are four types of functions involved with the disability culture and they are:-

Communication

Symbols, art, rituals and language can be expressed to the whole world as a signal to each other and communication helps in understanding each other.

Fortification

The expression and definition of the value is articulated to the world and enrich the lives of the disabled people and gives them endurance and energy against the oppression.

Recruitment

This expression of culture encourages the disabled people to take active part in the social welfare and be a part of the community and identify their values and culture and offers the group belonging to the other people.

Unification

People with disabilities depend on different genders, ages, socio-economic statuses and races which bring them together as one community. The expression of heritage and beliefs brings them together and encourages the common values and mutual support.

Principles of Disability Culture

These principals are reflected in the conversations, behaviors, art and goals of the disabled people and they include:-

• An acceptance of human differences
• Disability humor which is the ability to laugh on their own situations and at the oppressor
• A creativity and adaptive approach to tasks stimulated by experience and limited resources with untraditional modes of operating
• Skill in managing systems, assistants, multiple problems and technology