by Michael Hardman (c) Cengage Learning 2010

1. UNDERSTANDING EXCEPTIONALITIES IN
THE 21ST CENTURY
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2. CHAPTER FOCUS POINTS
Focus 1
How have societal views on people with disabilities changed from
widespread discrimination to a new era of inclusion and
support in the 21st century?
Focus 2
What is the Americans with Disabilities Act?
Focus 3
Why do we label people?
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3. CHAPTER FOCUS POINTS
Focus 4
Identify three approaches to describe human differences.
Focus 5
Describe the role of health care, psychology, and social
services professionals in meeting the needs of people with
disabilities.
Focus 6
What services and supports must be available to ensure a
bright future for people with disabilities?
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4. CASE STUDY: SARINA
 Labels and diagnoses
 Transitional phase of her life/service delivery
 Spent most of her life in large institution
 Now in her late 30s
 Supported living program
 Goals
 Opportunities
 Supports needed
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5. DISABILITY
 Throughout history, people perceived as
different have been vulnerable to such
practices as infanticide, slavery, physical
abuse, and abandonment.
 Twentieth century marked by contradictions
in formal and natural supports
 Parental Involvement
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6. DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
• Amendment to the Vocational Rehabilitation Act
that included a provision prohibiting
discrimination against persons with disabilities in
federally assisted programs and activities.
 Section 504 of the Act stated that “No otherwise qualified
person with a disability…shall, solely on the basis of disability,
be denied access to, or the benefits of, or be subjected to
discrimination under any program or activity provided by any
entity/institution that receives federal financial assistance.”
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7. DISABILITY
 Having a physical or mental impairment
that substantially limits him or her in some
major life activity, and having experienced
discrimination resulting from this physical
or mental impairment
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8. INTENT OF THE ADA
 The intent of ADA is to create a “fair and
level playing field” for all eligible persons
with disabilities.
 To do so the law specifies that reasonable
accommodations need to be made that take into
account each person’s need resulting from his or
her disabilities.
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9. ADA
 Employment
 Transportation
 Public accommodations
 Government
 Telecommunications
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10. DESCRIBING PEOPLE WITH
DIFFERENCES
 A process called labeling is used by every
society to identify people who differ
significantly from the accepted norm.
 Common Terminology
 Disorder
 Disability
 Handicap
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11. DESCRIBING PEOPLE WITH
DIFFERENCES
 When Someone Doesn’t Conform to the
Norm:
 Developmental Approach
 Cultural Approach
 Self-labeling
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12. DESCRIBING PEOPLE WITH
DIFFERENCES
 The Effects of Being Labeled:
 Separating the Person and the Label
 Environmental Bias
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13. AND RESPONSIBILITIES
 The Role of Health Care Professionals
 The Role of Psychologists
 The Role of Social Service Professionals
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14. LOOKING TO A BRIGHT FUTURE
 Community based support
 Development of natural communities of
support
 Formal supports being delivered in the
context of community access and
participation
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