Making Meaning of a Personal Experience of Discrimination in Relation to a Disability: An Exploration of the Literature

Abstract

This paper explores the reaction of my colleagues when returning to work disabled after recovering from an injury. Utilising my own world view, I seek solace in discovering why attitudes and behaviours change once someone is disabled. The changed behaviour of colleagues appeared at odds with the pre-accident self image, compared with the post-accident self image. What changed? The person is the same - the disability new. In order to understand the new experience of disability and discrimination and to help answer what changed the behaviour of colleagues, I considered evidence from the published literature. After considering many different models of disability, the social model of disability helped clarify and frame my own experience. Reflecting on this literature and personal experience, there is acknowledgement that society's attitudes are changing slowly through governmental action and the activism of the disabled. However, it is only through progressing education, experiencing disability, and continuing emancipatory research that progress will be made to release people with disabilities from their bonds of prejudice and oppression.