The societal perceptions of disabilities was the focus of Friday night’s Ignite Virtual Speaker Series at the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center near downtown.
The speaker series started last October and was created by the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center to feature four presentations centered around Autism Spectrum Disorder to educate people and bring greater understanding to the issues at hand.
“We’re pleased that the Ignite Speaker Series has been well received by the community,” said Karen Scott, marketing and communications manager of SARRC. “We will have been able to reach roughly 500 people.”
Torrie Dunlap, the CEO of Kids Included Together, was one of the speakers at the series, where she talked about the perception of disability in society and challenged the audience to “frame an inclusive mindset.”
Dunlap, who labels herself an “inclusionista,” described the concept of mental models, which shapes how people behave towards others and provides an understanding of where attitudes stem from. Dunlap concentrated on the medical and social model, which are the two most prevalent models of disability.
“In the medical model, the individual with the disability is viewed as defective and in need of fixing,” Dunlap said. “Disability is seen as a disease, as something gone wrong, and it’s up to the doctors and experts to find a cure or rectify the anomaly.”
In comparison, the social model views disability as a social construct and the focus is not on curing the person, but on removing societal barriers that prohibit individuals from reaching their full potential and being successful.
While most people are unaware of these mental models that are constructed subconsciously, the models have driven the formation of public stigma, stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination. In explaining the different disability models, Dunlap stressed the influence that they have on individuals with disabilities, specifically focusing on the impact on children.
“Children internalize what they are told they are,” Dunlap said. “They could see themselves as a burden on systems if that is what they are told they are, or they can see themselves as unique and with many gifts to offer the world.”
Inclusion, a core tenet for Kids Included Together, is the primary objective for the center.
The center also provides educational and training services for educators, healthcare providers and professionals while offering services for people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
“We provide consultation to third party entities in the community,” said Kelsey Schimmel, a clinical consultant for SARRC. “We provide training on what is autism, what are different things you should know about it and the different strategies that are helpful.”
Torrie Dunlap’s presentation drew in representatives from Chandler’s Children Choir, Read Better Be Better, Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Desert Botanical Garden, Career Ability at Chapel Haven in Connecticut and Arizona State University students.
Dunlap encouraged the audience to continue to educate themselves and others to help create a more inclusive community and transform traditional views on disabilities.
“I am not a therapist, I am not a doctor, I don’t have a disability myself, and I don’t have any children,” said Dunlap. “What I am is a learner and a teacher who believes that inclusion is what makes our community stronger and richer. I have been practicing this for over 20 years now and I know that it works.”
Linda LeBlanc, the president and founder of LeBlanc Behavior Consulting, will be discussing how to build connections and therapeutic relationships during the final lecture of the Ignite Virtual Speaker Series Friday, Feb. 19.
Contact the reporter at eforquer@asu.edu.
