By Nicol Vargas Trejos – English Teaching and Translation student

Disability is a general term that includes impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Deficiencies are problems that affect a body structure or function; activity limitations are difficulties in executing actions or tasks, and participation restrictions are problems in participating in vital situations. Consequently, disability is a complex phenomenon that reflects an interaction between the characteristics of the human organism and the aspects of the society in which it lives (WHO, 2016). The world is in a constant evolution that forces human beings to adapt in order to survive different challenges and realities. Through this, it can be understood that, eventhough all people should have the same rights, not everyone lives the same privileges.

Over the years, people with different disabilities have had to grapple with the search for equal opportunities. This is not an easy task for a population that represents one of the largest minorities. While it is true that with many efforts, greater openness to the subject has been achieved, there have always been different labels that make the task more complicated. Tags are put in charge of squashing the efforts, achievements, studies, and jobs. What does society do? Unfortunately, not educating yourself, the disability diagnosis is often used to define a person's worth and potential. The norm in these cases can be the prediction of a bleak future with few expectations.

In the past, the society tried to include people with disabilities and, with the best of intentions, they worked on bodies and brains without paying too much attention to their hearts and minds. Nowadays, more and more people are interested in discovering real inclusion, something that is not done, only felt. In the past, it was believed that people with disabilities were NOT capable of doing some things. However, the barriers are to be broken, and it has been shown that the most significant advances have been in the legislative, educational, labor, and awareness-raising fields of society. The media have played a vital role because it has given visibility that did not exist before. Many laws have made educational integration possible, and currently 64% of young people with disabilities have primary education (Gómez-Cotta, 2016).

Many people believe that deaf people can only know sign language, yet many people are fluent in several languages. There are different teaching languages to this population, such as interpretation, translation, subtitling, sign language, and remote interpretation. In English, it can be easy to teach using these methods, and it is essential to know that everything is possible with effort and dedication.

In summary, the world is better accepting diversity. If it is understood that teams are more interesting if seen from different perspectives and talents, it is possible to have inclusive institutions and companies. Still, they are also the most successful because they are not for a specific population. People with disabilities bring significant benefits to projects. Yet, they also get a world of possibilities, and teach what life looks like on the other side. In this way they can develop strategies that are accessible, inclusive, and can be enjoyed by the entire population. In a few years, this will not be a challenge, it will be a reality and a part of everyday life.

 

MOXIE es el Canal de ULACIT (www.ulacit.ac.cr), producido por y para los estudiantes universitarios, en alianza con el medio periodístico independiente Delfino.cr, con el propósito de brindarles un espacio para generar y difundir sus ideas.  Se llama Moxie - que en inglés urbano significa tener la capacidad de enfrentar las dificultades con inteligencia, audacia y valentía - en honor a nuestros alumnos, cuyo “moxie” los caracteriza.

References:
  • Gómez-Cotta, C. (2016, October 15). «Las personas con discapacidad tenemos que demostrar siempre que somos capaces». Ethic. https://ethic.es/2016/10/las-personas-con-discapacidad-tenemos-que-demostrar-siempre-que-somos-capaces/
  • World Health Organization (WHO). (2016, September 21). Discapacidades. https://www.who.int/topics/disabilities/es/