Shifting the Disability Lens for Stuttering [Mini]
A recent comment read: “Helping kids with disabilities feels good.”
Someone else replied, luckily, to explain part of why this mindset needs to be ‘unpacked’, so to speak. They then went on to explain how even if stuttering isn’t necessarily a disability for an individual, the environment can make it one.
Now, what you’re seeing there is a shift between the ‘medical model of disability’ and the ‘social model of disability’. There are other models, but those are the 2 most commonly discussed ones, and it’s the first shift we need from society.
Here’s a VERY simple explanation of the difference, from the University of Oregon:
The models will change as society changes, and are not exclusive of each other.
The Social Model views disability as a consequence of environmental, social and attitudinal barriers that may prevent people from fully participating in society.
The Medical Model views disability as resulting from an individual person's physical or mental limitations, and is not connected to the social or geographical environments. The Medical Model focuses on finding a "cure" or making a person more "normal."
Located on the University of Oregon’s Accessible Education Center website, “Medical and Social Models of Disability”
Under the social model, the question we hear in our support groups changes from "Is stuttering a disability for me?" to "Do people who stutter face discrimination or inaccessibility in our society?" The answer is a resounding yes.
I see my stutter as a disability, although I don’t consider myself very affected by it anymore. I still encounter societal stigmas and accessibility issues. One example of an accessibility issue is voice diction.
Accessibility issues are interesting because it’s newer for stuttering. In the past, accessibility issues were common for many mobile disabilities, but stutterers didn’t really face them. The rise of technology has created inaccessibility where there previously was not.
Discrimination was faced, yes, really since the dawn of time, but accessibility issues rose with… I’m not sure. Maybe telephones? And have become increasingly common as things become more automated. See the current STAMMA campaign - Don’t Jump In for an example.
Still, a disability does not mean something negative. “Helping someone with a disability” can be advocating for accessibility. It may look like demanding more wheelchair ramps, improving voice recognition, etc.
"Helping someone with a disability" isn't about fixing an individual; it's about creating a more inclusive and accessible society for everyone. By addressing broader social barriers and promoting accessibility, we empower people with all sorts of disabilities to thrive and participate more fully.
More Info:
“Medical and Social Models of Disability”, Accessible Education Center at University of Oregon
Voice Activated, short film (hear StutterTalk episode about it here!)