University Daily Kansan / Thursday, January 29, 1987
9
Professor promotes equal opportunities among the disabled
By PEGGY O'BRIEN
Staff writer
Beatrice Wright, professor of psychology, worked with World War II veterans in the 1940s.
According to Wright, blind, paralyzed and disfigured veterans experienced troubled interpersonal relationships while trying to adjust to their disabilities. These veterans received pity and curiosity about their injuries and help that often was ineffective.
While doing this research, Wright became aware that social and physical environments were important to understanding problems of people with disabilities.
Wright said clients in psychological rehabilitation should be co-managers of their treatment. They should also have someone who have decision-making functions
Her experiences led her to publish the book, "Physical Disability — A Psychosocial Approach," a widely used text in rehabilitation psychology. Wright said the book became a classic because it dealt with common problems, no matter what the disability happened to be.
Wright brought up the issue of language when dealing with people with disabilities. "Language can be enabling and disabling," she said.
"You should say. He is a person with a disability," not "he is disabled." she said. "The person is not the condition."
She said that by labeling people with disabilities, people equated them with their disabilities, losing sight of the fact that they have interests, hobbies and talents.
Wright said the process was like stereotyping. She said that just because someone used a wheelchair, or something else, she was being an active, responsible person.
Wright talked about the efforts of the Committee for the Architecturally Handicapped, formed in the early
1970s. The committee wanted to make KU more accessible, and it studied ways people were handicapped by the physical environment.
"They put the responsibility where it belonged," she said.
"With the supportive administration and knowledge, more accessible," Wright said.
The committee worked with the occupational therapy department, and every campus building was measured. In 1971 no curb cuts existed on campus.
Another resource, the Student Assistance Center, was formed in 1978 as part of the reorganization of the Office of Student Affairs. The center offers services for students who are disabled.
Lorna Zimmer, director of the Student Assistance Center, said, "We are very concerned that we offer people an equal opportunity."
She said that according to a federal law, a disability should not prevent a person from working.
She said the center wanted to offer the most educational and fair opportunity.
According to Wright, accessibility is an issue for all people. She referred to the majority of the population as a.b. or temporarily able-bodied. She said that eventually a person needs to have a more adaptive environment.
"Whenever a curb cut is made, we're helping everybody," she said. "Those who don't use it today may need it tomorrow."
Wright said KU got started on an accessibility program before the government mandated one.
"KU has a lot to be proud of. We had a headstart." Wright said.
She said KU was becoming even more accessible as curbs, bathrooms, entrances, elevators and changes were being implemented.
SPRING BREAK 87'
DAYTONA BEACH
$149 You Drive
$215 We Drive
- See our video of Spring Break 86' for more details (call for appt.)
- We will be staying at the Hawaiian Inn Hotel
- The only Indoor heated pool
- Outdoor olympic pool
- 2 Restaurants in hotel
- Right on the Beach
Call: Scott or Tom
842-0883
Deadline—February 15, 1987
Trip limited to the first 150
partiers!
Coctea's second flirting with Greek legend is his most surrealistic, as Orpheus tries to regain his beloved Eurydice from the dead. Visually, it is Coctea at his best - beautiful and cinematic. (1949)
ORPHEUS
Director: Jean Cocteau
7:00 p.m.
Tonight
Join us for a program of 20 award-winning short films chosen from over 750 titles screened at festivals around the world. All 20 films will show at each performance. Look for a special program to be distributed featuring titles and times of all 20 films. (1986)
Tonight
Coming This Weekend "Salvador"
9:30 p.m.
"Morons From Outer Space"
"Three Men and a Cradle"
Woodruff Aud.
$2.00
Beatrice Wright, professor of psychology, displays her book, "Physical Disability — A Psychosocial Approach," which has become a classic in rehabilitation psychology.
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for applications approved from 1/21/87-2/
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THURS. 9:30-8:30; SUN. 1:00-5:00
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cheese
Cheddar, swiss, and cream cheeses baked in our wholewheat shells, spiced up with garlic and oregano. Optional - too with pizza sauce.
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spinach
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