Normal People Need Services

Here's something to ponder for Blogging Against Disablism Day: Using disability services or accommodations doesn't necessarily mean that something is "wrong" with a person.

Some folks will argue quite vehemently that anyone who isn't defective or broken has no need for services. That argument doesn't make any sense, though, when you think about it. In today's world, everybody needs services. We don't build our own homes, weave our own cloth, or grow our own food. The vast majority of our everyday needs are provided by other people, regardless of whether or not we happen to fit into some sort of disability category.

What's implied in the "defective or broken" argument is that there is something wrong with needing different or additional services. But really, that doesn't make sense either. Different groups of people use products and services that are specially adapted for their particular needs all the time. If you're female, that means you're going to need different clothing, personal hygiene products, and medical care than if you were male. If you have a light complexion, you may have to put on plenty of sunscreen when you go outdoors in the summer, unlike your darker-skinned neighbors—but that doesn't mean your skin color is a defect, does it? And if you have curly hair, that puts you in a minority of people who need to use different hair care products than most folks; however, you probably wouldn't be too happy if someone were to suggest that your hair texture ought to be "cured" for the sake of efficiency and standardization.

So how did anyone get the idea that it's abnormal to need services? I think it comes mainly from the negative, medicalized language that is so often used in referring to people who have different abilities. In order to get certain kinds of services or accommodations, one must be diagnosed with a disorder or defect. Sadly, this language is used most often to describe children who have different educational needs. It gives rise to a self-fulfilling prophecy that restricts their opportunities to learn, seriously damages their self-image, and stunts their capacity for achievement.

If we use more positive language to describe individuals with different abilities, as suggested by Thomas Armstrong in his article Special Education and the Concept of Neurodiversity, we can provide appropriate services for every child's needs without causing them to lose confidence in their abilities.

No child should ever be taught to think of himself as defective or broken.