Christians social constructions of disability

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Christians social constructions of disability

• Studies of
• adult church attenders without disabilities,
• church leaders and
• adult church attenders with cognitive
  disabilities
• Jeff McNair, Ph.D., Professor of Special
  Education
• California Baptist University

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Social Constructions

• The social construction of disability is based
  on the theory of social construction, which
  asserts that meaning is created, learned and
  shared by people. Created meaning is then
  reflected in the behaviors, objects, and language
  used by people.
• (Bogdan Biklen, 1977)

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Social Constructions of Disability

• Obstacles to inclusion of people with
  disabilities in community life are not based
  solely on the persons functional limitations,
  but rather on societys response to people with
  disabilities people with disabilities have
  experienced constructed obstacles leading to a
  lack of inclusion... (Devine, 1997)

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Social Constructions of Disability

• Obstacles to inclusion of people with
  disabilities in community life are not based
  solely on the persons functional limitations,
  but rather on societys response to people with
  disabilities people with disabilities have
  experienced constructed obstacles leading to a
  lack of inclusion... (Devine, 1997)
• In most developed societies it is now widely
  recognized that the severe economic and social
  deprivations encountered by disabled people
  cannot be explained simply with reference to
  individually based functional limitations
  (Barnes, 1995)

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Social Constructions of Disability

• Obstacles to inclusion of people with
  disabilities in community life are not based
  solely on the persons functional limitations,
  but rather on societys response to people with
  disabilities people with disabilities have
  experienced constructed obstacles leading to a
  lack of inclusion... (Devine, 1997)
• In most developed societies it is now widely
  recognized that the severe economic and social
  deprivations encountered by disabled people
  cannot be explained simply with reference to
  individually based functional limitations
  (Barnes, 1995)
• Disability is then a form of social
  disadvantage, which is imposed on top of
  physiological impairment (Tremain, 2002)

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Social Constructions of Disability

• Obstacles to inclusion of people with
  disabilities in community life are not based
  solely on the persons functional limitations,
  but rather on societys response to people with
  disabilities people with disabilities have
  experienced constructed obstacles leading to a
  lack of inclusion... (Devine, 1997)
• In most developed societies it is now widely
  recognized that the severe economic and social
  deprivations encountered by disabled people
  cannot be explained simply with reference to
  individually based functional limitations
  (Barnes, 1995)
• Disability is then a form of social
  disadvantage, which is imposed on top of
  physiological impairment (Tremain, 2002)
• They also see themselves as pitiful because they
  are socialized into accepting disability as a
  tragedy personal to themselves (Oliver, 1990)

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Social Constructions of Disability

• Obstacles to inclusion of people with
  disabilities in community life are not based
  solely on the persons functional limitations,
  but rather on societys response to people with
  disabilities people with disabilities have
  experienced constructed obstacles leading to a
  lack of inclusion... (Devine, 1997)
• In most developed societies it is now widely
  recognized that the severe economic and social
  deprivations encountered by disabled people
  cannot be explained simply with reference to
  individually based functional limitations
  (Barnes, 1995)
• Disability is then a form of social
  disadvantage, which is imposed on top of
  physiological impairment (Tremain, 2002)
• They also see themselves as pitiful because they
  are socialized into accepting disability as a
  tragedy personal to themselves (Oliver, 1990)
• Disability becomes the primary basis of
  identification, one which mutes other
  characteristics (Fritsch, 2004)

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For example, social constructions of Down syndrome

• It is a family tragedy
• It is a genetic disorder (trisomy 21)
• It results in severe mental retardation
• Children suffer from the syndrome
• It ruins families
• The only option is prevention through prenatal
  diagnosis and abortion

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For example, social constructions of Down syndrome

• It is a family tragedy
• It is a genetic disorder (trisomy 21)
• It results in severe mental retardation
• Children are suffer from the syndrome
• It ruins families
• The only option is prevention through prenatal
  diagnosis and abortion
• I would suspect many of your constructions of
  Down syndrome may also be largely negative

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But we have a choice.

• We can accept the prescriptive nature of
  societys, social constructionsattitudes and
  behavior
• e.g. there but for the grace of God go I
• OR
• We can embrace a replacement narrative
• Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this
  world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
  mind. (Romans 122)

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For example, constructions of Down syndrome might
be

• Friendly, funny people
• Ryan story
• Amy story
• Caring, gentle people
• Carolyn/Joyce/Irene

• 90 mild/mod MR
• Who they are vs. a changeable characteristic
• If suffering, largely due to discrimination

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Or the TASH definition of people with severe
disability

• Those who are characterized as
• Most at risk for being excluded from the
  mainstream of society
• Being perceived by traditional service systems as
  the most challenging
• Most likely to have their rights abridged
• Most likely to be at risk for living, working,
  playing, and/or learning in segregated
  environments
• Least likely to have the tools and opportunities
  to advocate on their own behalf
• Most likely to need ongoing, individualized
  supports in order to participate in inclusive
  communities and enjoy a quality of life similar
  to that available to all citizens

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Where is the churchin regards to social
constructions about people with disabilities?
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Social constructions we were interested in
assessing

• Knowledge of who people with disabilities are
• Angels unaware by Dale Evans-Rogers

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Social constructions we were interested in
assessing

• Knowledge of who people with disabilities are
• Angels unaware
• Heroes

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Social constructions we were interested in
assessing

• Knowledge of who people with disabilities are
• Angels unaware
• Heroes
• Deviant role perceptions

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Social constructions we were interested in
assessing

• Knowledge of who people with disabilities are
• Angels unaware
• Heroes
• Ministry assumptions
• Whose responsibility?
• What responsibilities?
• Is disability ministry a priority for the church?

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Social constructions we were interested in
assessing

• Knowledge of who people with disabilities are
• Angels unaware
• Heroes
• Ministry assumptions
• Whose responsibility?
• What responsibilities?
• Quality of life issues
• Understanding of suffering
• Causes
• How alleviated

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Social constructions we were interested in
assessing

• Ideas about why disability exists in the world
• Is disability the result of the fall?
• Are people with disability created that way by
  God?
• Biblical notions of disability
• Sin of the parents
• Sin of the individual
• Insufficient faith
• Gods selections
• Individual with disability
• Parents/families
• Object lessons for the larger community

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Three studies were undertaken

• Church attenders (survey)
• Opportunity sampling (89 respondents)
• Sampling occurred at 7 different churches
• Church leaders (survey)
• Random sampling (42 responses, 19 response rate)
• National Organization on Disability accessible
  congregations list
• Church attenders with cognitive disabilities
  (interviews in progress)
• To date, 30 adults with cognitive disabilities
  attending a religious program at a Christian
  church
• Only preliminary results

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A few study limitations

• Mostly interested in cognitive disability/mental
  retardation
• Mostly interested in congenital disability not
  adventitious disability
• Painted with broad strokes
• Christian church attender, church leader
  respondent, or responds yes
• Opportunity sampling
• Tendency toward assent

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Who are persons with disabilities?
(Church attenders CA n89, Church leaders CL
n-42, Adults with disabilities AD n30)
Strongly Agree Agree Im unsure
Disagree Strongly Disagree 1. Persons
with mental retardation suffer from their
disability. CA 8 27 37 19 9 CL 5 31 31 25 8
2. People with mental retardation should not have
children of their own. CA 8 28 28 28 8 3.
People with mental retardation tend to be
sexually deviant. CA 0 8 17 39 36 4. People
with disabilities are heroes because of the
challenges their disabilities present. CA 9 48 2
2 18 3 CL 10 37 18 32 3 Are you a hero because
you have a disability? AD 67 (yes) 20 (no) 13
(I dont know)
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Who are persons with disabilities?

• (Church attenders CA n89, Church leaders CL
  n-42, Adults with disabilities AD n30)
• Strongly Agree Agree Im unsure
  Disagree Strongly Disagree
• 5. Children with mental retardation are Gods
  special angels unaware.
• CA 14 40 22 17 7
• CL 7 15 29 39 10
• Are you an angel because you have a disability?
• AD 53 (yes) 37 (no) 10 (I dont know)
• 6. Persons with mental retardation have a poor
  quality of life.
• CA 2 7 16 55 20
• CL 0 5 18 62 15
• Do people with disabilities have a poor quality
  of life?
• AD 29 (yes) 57 (no) 14 (I dont know)
• Does your disability make you sad?
• AD 52 (yes) 41 (no) 7 (I dont know)

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Who are persons with disabilities?

• (Church attenders CA n89, Church leaders CL
  n-42, Adults with disabilities AD n30)
• Strongly Agree Agree Im unsure
  Disagree Strongly Disagree
• 7. Persons with mental retardation are unaware of
  the fact that they have a disability.
• CA 1 19 34 40 6
• CL 0 8 28 56 8
• 8. Persons with mental retardation and other
  disabilities were created in the image of God.
• CA 35 39 17 8 1
• CL 75 25 0 0 0
• 9. People with or without a disability are equal
  in Gods sight.
• CL 91 7 0 0 2

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Why do people have disabilities?

• (Church attenders CA n89, Church leaders CL
  n-42, Adults with disabilities AD n30)
• Strongly Agree Agree Im
  unsure Disagree Strongly Disagree
• 1. Parents of a child with mental retardation
  were selected by God to have a disabled child
  because He knew they could handle it.
• CA 8 30 14 28 20
• CL 5 14 19 38 24
•  
• 2. God gives a person a disability because there
  is something special for that person to do.
• CA 9 36 17 21 17
• CL 5 17 15 34 29
• Did God give you a disability because there is
  something special for you to do?
• AD 80 (yes) 10 (no) 10 (I dont know)
•  
• 3. A persons disability is the result of his/her
  parents sin.
• CA 1 3 7 15 74
• CL 2 0 3 17 78
•  

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Why do people have disabilities?

• (Church attenders CA n89, Church leaders CL
  n-42, Adults with disabilities AD n30)
• Strongly Agree Agree Im
  unsure Disagree Strongly Disagree
• 4. If a person with a disability had sufficient
  faith, he/she would be healed of the disability.
• CA 3 11 13 26 47
• CL 0 2 3 24 71
• Have you ever prayed to God to heal you of your
  disability?
• AD 73 (yes) 23 (no) 4 (I dont know)
•  
• 5. People with disabilities have disabilities in
  order to teach those around them lessons about
  life.
• CA 8 27 25 22 18
• CL 10 17 20 24 29
•  

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Issues related to church programs for persons
with disabilities

• (Church attenders CA n89, Church leaders CL
  n-42, Adults with disabilities AD n30)
• Strongly Agree Agree Im unsure Disagree Strongly
  Disagree
• 1. If a fetus is determined before birth to have
  mental retardation the fetus should be aborted.
• CA 2 4 16 21 57
• Should parents abort babies with disabilities?
• AD 17 (yes) 83 (no) 0 (I dont know)
• Would you want to have a baby that has the same
  disability that you have?
• AD 41 (yes) 55 (no) 4 (I dont know)
•  
• 2. If a child with a disability were born to me,
  it would cause me to question my faith in God.
• CA 0 10 10 36 44
•  
• 3. The care of persons with disability is
  primarily the governments responsibility.
• CA 1 6 12 60 21
•  

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Issues related to church programs for persons
with disabilities

• (Church attenders CA n89, Church leaders CL
  n-42, Adults with disabilities AD n30)
• Strongly Agree Agree Im unsure Disagree Strongly
  Disagree
• 4. In order to have a church ministry for people
  with disabilities, you need lots of training.
• CL 15 21 5 49 10
•  
• 5. People at my church build relationships
  between themselves and persons with disabilities.
  
• CL 14 76 5 3 2
•  
• 6. People with disabilities are recruited for new
  church membership.
• CL 10 52 21 14 3
•  
• 7. Persons with disabilities are given the
  opportunity to hold positions of responsibility
  at my church.
• CL 13 56 23 8 0
•  

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Issues related to church programs for persons
with disabilities

• (Church attenders CA n89, Church leaders CL
  n-42, Adults with disabilities AD n30)
• True False
• 8. Persons with disabilities
• are expensive to the church. CL 15 85
•  
• 9. Persons with disabilities
• drive potential members away. CL 7 93
• 10. Persons with disabilities
• take excessive time away from
• other potential areas of service. CL 0 100
• 11. Persons with cognitive disabilities
• are already saved by virtue of their
• disability. CL 10 90
•  
• 12. A person with cognitive disabilities
• has the ability to make a commitment
• to Christ. CL 100 0
•  

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Conclusions

• Disparity at times within and between groups

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Conclusions

• Disparity at times within and between groups
• Responses from PWDs reflect some social
  constructions of disability

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Conclusions

• Disparity at times within and between groups
• Responses from PWDs reflect some social
  constructions of disability
• Persons with disability should be a focus of
  church ministry

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Conclusions

• Disparity at times within and between groups
• Responses from PWDs reflect some social
  constructions of disability
• Persons with disability should be a focus of
  church ministry
• Need for professional writing and research to
  flesh out the replacement narrative (theology,
  biology, sociology, education, arts, etc.).

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• We need to challenge society to reconceptualize
  the way we think about disability and the person
  with the disability (Devine,1997)
• But as Christians, we need to begin by cleaning
  up our own house.

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Christians social constructions of disability

• Thank you for your attention!
• For more information, visit http//jeffmcnair.com
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