People with mental or physical disabilities "are not strangers to the fact that non disabled people cannot image life with a disability" (CCD, A voice of Our Own: August 2010). This meaning, that people with disabilities hear all forms of discrimination from non disabled people, saying that "they would rather be dead than living with a disability" (CCD, A voice of Our Own: August 2010) in this article it explains how disability contains a lot of hardship and interruptions in order to do normal day to day things, and explains how "disability is equated with pain, suffering, and dependency" which "translates into a deadly compassion, where it is seen as as a kindness to help a person with a disability to die" (CCD, A voice of Our Own: August 2010). What this means to me is that, people with disabilities are stereotyped against and it harms them very much. They are not given a second look from the non disabled, and are just seen as people with disabilities, having no respect.
This article also explains how two people with disabilities "appeared before the House Of Commons Committee, to explain how deadly compassion puts us in harms way and to suggest how to improve medical care and public policy environments" (CCD, A voice of Our Own: August 2010). People with disabilities are strong individuals who struggle with stereotypes and discrimination. Truth is, the people with disabilities need a second look at how many struggle's they go through everyday, and how they cope with their struggles. They do not deserve this kind of mistreatment. If we were put in their position, would we want to be treated with no respect just because we have a disorder? No, we are all equal and deserve respect and rights. People with mental or physical disabilities may be a little different from the non disabled, but should never be looked down upon because they are no different, they are human beings and have feelings and rights just like any other person.
In this article it goes into more detail about the rights of people with physical and mental disabilities, and the laws that CCD has passed about assisted suicide to people with disabilities. This article goes into detail about how assisted suicide should not be an option to anyone and that people with disabilities should not think that they are being treated to "die". This article is a great example explaining that people with disabilities will fight for their rights to be treated equally and that no one should be able to take advantage of these strong individuals. I find it very harsh that non disabled people think of "kindly offering" assisted suicide to the people with disabilities just because they are seen as not strong enough or as "normal" as people that are non disabled. People with mental or physical disabilities should be treated with respect and should be able to get the help they need, other than being discriminated against or looked down upon.
To summarize, assisted suicide should not be a necessary option to people with mental or physical disabilities. Everyone should be treated as equal, and have the right to equal opportunities. Learning from these articles, I find it very sad that society continues to look down upon people with disabilities, rather than taking a second look, just because they are seen as not being able to function as well as the non disabled. The non disabled should not discriminate but rather assist these people because they are no different and deserve to be treated with respect.
References:
Council of Canadians with Disabilities - We are not dead yet
http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/humanrights/endoflife/euthanasia/Canadians-with-disabilities-we-are-not-dead-yet
Council of Canadians with Disabilities - A Voice of Our Own: August 2010
http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/publications/voice/2010/08
- Angelene S
It's really impressive how people with disabilities (physical or mental) cope with all the stigma and discrimination that they receive. No one knows what it feels like or what they have to go through unless they are in that situation. It's like what was said in class, if people with no disabilities are the ones living in a city made for people with disabilities, are they the ones who are disabled?
ReplyDeleteThe willpower and confidence that the individuals have to fight to have their rights is so encouraging. It's upsetting that people marginalize persons with disabilities to the point that suicide is on their thought. No one should ever have to think about taking their own life.
- Kristal
I completely agree that disabled should not be seen as different because of their disability. They already have to cope with their disability and people judging them just makes it even more difficult for them. I also cannot believe that people would offer assisted suicide to the disabled. That’s just horrible. I also like how you added what we discussed in class about if the world was constructed for the disabled, would the non- disabled than be seeing as disabled. I found that a very interesting point! I believe people who judge the disabled should try and live a day in their life and see how difficult it is.
ReplyDeleteGood job!
Melanie.F
Your blog states that people with mental disabilities and physical disabilities should never be looked down upon. In fact, I think they should be looked up to. We take so many things for granted, like walking from class to class and running up and down stairs when in a hurry. It is time we applaud those with physical disabilities who have to take some extra time in doing everyday tasks. It is also time to respect individuals with mental illnesses as they suffer from an illness inside their body. I most definitely agree, assisted suicide should not be an option to those with mental and/or physical disabilities. Too many innocent people are taking their lives and society is to blame because of the lack of support and respect and the decimation that is never needed. We all should be treated as equals, it is about time.
ReplyDeleteAshley R.
I totally agree with everything. People with disabilities should definitely be looked up to. All the hardships they go through in life, and the discrimintation and stereotype they receive from then non disabled isn't easy. People with disabilities learn to ignore all the negative things that are said to them, and build the strength to go through out their day to day activities. They are really strong individuals who deserve respect. Its a really good feeling to know how they don't let anything get in their way.
ReplyDeleteAngelene S.
I had a friend in high school who was in a car accident and lost a limb. He fell into a deep depression as a result of his loss. As sad as it is, I often thought that he probably wished he had died in the car like the other passenger did. He wouldn't have had to go through numerous surgeries and even worse, have to deal with the way people treated him and looked at him. I can totally relate to your article and I agree with Ashley that people who suffer from mental and physical disabilities should really be applauded for what they endure every day. My friend now has a baby girl and a prosthetic leg and had of he gave into the thoughts of suicide, or even worse had someone assist in him taking his life, he wouldn't have got to enjoy all the great things life had in store for him!
ReplyDeleteTara
This blog is very insipring! I agree with you 100% when it comes to everyone being treated equally, whether they have mental health issues or a physical disability. Everyone deserves to live their life to the fullest, disabled or not. It is definately not fair for some people to be viewed as less because they are different in some way.
ReplyDeleteAmazing blog!!
- Brettany G.
I agree with your statement, "People with disabilities are strong individuals who struggle with stereotypes and discrimination." In most cases it is not their fault that they have a disability. I believe that they should be treated equally. Where does assisted suicide occur? I didn't know anything about this until reading this article. You are right in saying that everything is equal.
ReplyDelete- Samantha G
Angelene,
ReplyDeleteIt is rather amazing how people are able to persevere through prejudice and prevail. It has always concerned me about the way people with disabilities are treated in the public eye. Often times children in public stare at people with visible disabilities, although in their case innocently, usually the parents are the people making a big deal out of the situation. I have talked to several disabled people who use this example in sharing the “fear” non-disabled people have around the idea of disabilities and many parents try to distract their children from staring because it is “not polite;” however, this always frustrates me, as children will stare at anything they find interesting. They do not see someone who is disabled, but someone who is different in their own way and they are trying to cognitively understand these differences. Of my friends with disabilities, most of them encourage open dialogue about their disabilities and they respect people who ask questions to truly understand and learn; compared with ignorant people who either ignore or stare. I don't like to think that suicide is an option for anyone, but your post made me thing of the movie “Million Dollar Baby” in which at the end, the star requests her only real friend to help her end her life. It is sad that anyone could make it to that stage, but then again, I suppose it depends on ones own opinion of disabilities to produce such an emotion. To be completely honest, it wasn’t until this course, through continuous dialogue regarding barriers, stigmatizations, and stereotypes disabled people face, that I truly thought about all the privileges able-bodied people have in our completely inaccessible society. All I know is that if I was in a situation where I considered myself disabled, I would want to have choices available to me... the same choices I have now.
-Darcie
Assisted suicide should not be an available option. If everyone was treated equally no one would really want to kill them selves. During the summer I work at a camp as a lifeguard, this summer I was doing the process of swim tests where the kids get in the water and swim a certain distance to let us know if they should be allowed to go into deeper parts of the lake or not. About half way through a kid with only one arm was next in line. His counselor asked him if he wanted to try the swim test or if he wanted to sit it out. The boy asked the counselor why he hadn't offered this option any of the other kids. The counselor didn't know how to reply so instead the boy slipped into the water and swam the full distance with out stopping to breath like many of the other children had done. Everyone had this shocked expression on their faces when the boy got out of the water. I handed him is bracelet saying he passed and then he turned to his counselor and said "see, you don't have to treat me differently, I can do everything you can just sometimes a bit slower." That day we all learned that it is important to treat everyone equally no matter who they are or what they look like. Good post! -Brittany L
ReplyDeleteI am glad to have posted this blog. This topic is something that should really be discussed and changed. I don't understand how these innocent people are being treated by trusted professionals. Assisted suicide should never be an option for anyone. Everyone deserves the right to live a normal life, and just because they have a physical disability, they are automatically thought to be a lesser individual. They deserve the best, and they are a great inspiration to many people. These people should be treated with respect, they are no different from any other individual.
ReplyDelete- Angelene