We treat those with disabilities in society as incapable beings and only slightly accommodate their needs. Originally those who are disabled or are lacking in certain qualities are deemed different, therefore we segregate those specific groups or individuals into areas away from the main population. It is as if we deem those with flaws to be less than human and unable to be given the same rights as other individuals who are perfectly able-bodied. In reality, there is no perfect human, we must be all flawed in some way whether or not it is an obvious deviation from society’s ideal human being. Humans are in constant need for help and interactions with others. We thrive when given these conditions even if we believe ourselves to be independent workers. What sets us specifically apart from androids is that we, as humans, will be unable to reach perfection and precision where an android can. A cyborg is a human with improvements created to enhance the individual to reach closer to the perfection they seek.
When looking at the concept of how disabilities relate to our humanity we can examine the impact of inclusion laws and relevance through real life. For example, those with “special” needs are set up in classes away from the rest of the student body in school. To be put into the “special” needs course they must fit into requirements set by the law. The individuals must be tested or be observed to have a discrepancy in achievement and ability. These Classes are only given to specific individuals who qualify and are not all integrated classes (Eligibility: Determining Whether a Child is Eligible for Special Education Services). Originally those with disabilities were sent off to a separate school all of their own. In 1971 it became required by law to allow those with disabilities into public school (Timeline of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)). As the ability for disabled children to get an equal education over the years has improved there as still specific areas they are separated.The highs school I went to have a special education program, for various classes all individuals including those in the special education program could participate. One year a class that had previously been integrated into the whole school population no longer became available to the main population. It created a larger barrier as kids in the program had less interaction with the rest of the school population. It was the only class where I ever really got to know someone in the special education program. The classes are now only available for special needs students and separating them from the rest of the population when taking that specific class. Over time it creates a stigma and disillusionment that those who are different will always require more than others and should be hidden from the rest of society. We do not think other problems being as difficult, as we do not see its impact on life. When it becomes out of sight, the problem is out of our minds. It creates an invisible wall between the common population and the individual. This creates a ripple effect, more problems and difficulties then occur for that individual just to go outside. Our image of a human being is greatly flawed as it is based upon ideals that can never be met and reached. We believe we should be empathetic and caring but not overly emotional. People are comprehended to be multifaceted and extremely complex so how would we ever truly to say that a specific average should determine our capabilities and limitations as anything outside the ideal is taboo and deviant, to be frowned upon (Davis).
In the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? we encounter a man named John Isidore who has been deemed unfit in society due to his disabilities (Dick). He is treated/valued at a life less than a human even though he biologically fits the “ideal” human outline as being empathetic. Isidore’s differences create tension in his life and disrupt how society views and treats him. He is unable to gain a life of normalcy as his world has already decided that he should be cast out from the rest. There is no system in place protecting or allowing Isidore the same chances as his counterparts or fellow humans. What makes Isidore so special in the novel is in society he is considered less than human but the reader sees he is the most human character in the book. In the novel to be considered as human, one must show a specific level of empathy. The reader knows he is empathetic when he looks after androids, cares for a spider trying to save it from Pris and all beings electronic or not are seen as living through his eyes (Dick). Isidore is able to empathize with others, as he understands how it feels to be mistreated or discounted just for a flaw he had no complete control over. In his society, he is separated from the main population by his living situation. Isidore lives in an abandoned building with no other people living to associate with or communicate to. John meets the android Pris and treats her as if she were a living creature. In return, her interactions with him are quite different than the humans of his world. She talks to Isidore and speaks up for him when another android decides that they would be better off with him dead (Dick). In Isidore’s work environment, the boss treats him unfairly and often yells at him for any mistake. He is often called a “chickenhead” and is in the lowest possible socio-economic class in the society. The jobs available to him are a select few as it is limited to him just due specific flaw due to no fault of his own. Can you imagine telling a child that they can only choose to be a custodian or a factory worker for the rest of their life due to a deformity or flaw? Would you allow a child born with a deformity to have their life controlled by limitations set before them? People like Stevie Wonder or Stephen Hawking would have never been able to impact the world. Our society would never have the knowledge or development in our modern age without the contribution of everyone in society instead of just the select able-bodied individuals.
Our societal views and ideals must change as they are unrealistic and unable to advance society if we discredited all who are different. The idea that people must be smart, talented, hard-working, sociable, kind, modest and etc. will be the perfect being. If we take out all who don’t perfectly fit into the box we label as a human there would be no real “human”. The variations allow for society to advance as we develop ways to improve ourselves and code over discrepancies for our genes. The possibilities are limitless when viewed or creating for the visage that everyone is in need and there is no one singular person that does not need help in his or her lifetime. In even our everyday lives we rely on others for help. For example, we rely on teachers to learn information, Custodians to help take care of trash and, elected officials to keep the country running and to uphold laws. We are unable to do everything alone it is physically impossible and yet as a society, it states we must be independent and have all the advantages at our disposal. When looking at traits a ‘perfect individual” must have they often contradict. This can be seen when saying an individual must be caring and able to make critical decisions. In the circumstance of war, a critical decision is made costing various lives is the individual still able to be considered caring when knowing the outcome could be death for others? To be so caring and yet able to send people to their deaths it is conflicting roles. The idea of perfection becomes further out of reach creates limitations on human beings(Davis). These limits could be specific actions such as no longer allowing anger to occur or a large variety of actions that deviate from the norm. In extreme cases to keep perfection, we outcast others from society such as Isidore. Those who don’t reach the set standard must live in a certain area or only have some rights, unlike other individuals. Once the individuals are separated they become mentally separated from the main population. They aren’t viewed in the same light and we become unable to comprehend the struggles faced by others in different circumstances.
In American society, those who have a disability are often not treated with the same respect or equality under the system of law. There is a significant increase in the likelihood to be mistreated by a police officer if one is disabled (Myers). The American police force is trained to act and ask questions later, while this may be useful in high-risk situations it does not account for all situations. When approaching a math problem would you use the same methodology to understand the author’s meaning in the text to solve the equation? A specific skill set is unable to be used in all situations as a variety of events could occur that is unable to reach the correct answer. In general, when the police force is only trained in a specific skill set they are unable to solve all solutions accurately similar to the math problem. The lacking in a variety of training causes those with a disability such as Down syndrome to be shot on site instead of being dealt with appropriately. The way the officer deals with the average person would not work for someone with down syndrome as they wouldn’t entirely be able to comprehend what they did wrong or what the officer wants them to do. Those who are disabled or different become victims to the structure around them that is supposed to be there to protect their wellbeing and welfare. The police need to become trained to deal with the situations to protect the lives and no longer increase the risk to be harmed when encountering violent situations based on predetermined life factors.In society, the way we treat an individual with schizophrenia is very different than a child with multiple sclerosis. Both individuals deserve help but not always the same type of help. We need to stop assuming what everyone needs help with and instead preemptively prepare for problems when they arise.This relates not only to the way our society enforces justice, it includes how education is taught, how a building should be made and educating those specific individuals so they also know how to deal with certain situations we believe to be common knowledge.
To combat the ideals set before us we must begin to accept the idea that no one will be able to create the absolute perfect human being. Actions such as creating and building areas accessible to everyone instead of those who are just able-bodied. We must educate enforcers on these how to deal with those with disabilities so they are not mistreated or accidentally killed in our crime system. This way the police force no longer kills on site and allows for those who are unable to understand or comprehend the current situation. Those with schizophrenia or down syndrome shouldn’t be pushed or treated less than human just do to disease or illness they suffer from. The disease does not represent those individuals and they are then being mistreated due to the differences in their DNA or symptomology. When buildings are regulated to be accessible to all individuals the barriers began to break down. The increased interaction with those who are different is able to combat the negative stereotypes and close the gap between humans across the whole world. Once they the change in society occurs we will be able to live in a world with less struggle, pain and, separation. A greater understanding for all individuals on disability can enhance how society could function in the future.
Works Cited
Davis, Lennard J. Constructing Normalcy; the Bell Curve, the Novel, and the Invention of the Disabled Body in the Nineteenth Century. (n.d) Pdf. Retrieved https://eng28105fall15.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/constructingnormalcy_davis.pdf
Dick, Philip K. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. New York: Random House, 1996. Print.
“Eligibility: Determining Whether a Child is Eligible for Special Education Services.” Learning Disabilities Association of America. https://ldaamerica.org/eligibility-determining-whether-a-child-is-eligible-for-special-education-services/. Accessed 6 October 2017.
Myers, Carly A. Police Violence Against People with Mental Disabilities: The Immutable Duty Under the ADA to Reasonably Accommodate During Arrest. Vanderbilt Law Review. Vol. 70 Issue 4, p1393-1426, 2017, https://ezproxy.stevenson.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=123081687&site=ehost-live. Accessed 5 October 2017.
“Timeline of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).” University of Kansas-school of education. https://educationonline.ku.edu/community/idea-timeline. Accessed 8 October 2017.