By: Kelley Challen, Ed.M., CAS
Director of Transition Providers, NESCA
I lately listened to a podcast the place the host shared that she avoids utilizing the time period “incapacity” as a result of she doesn’t need her little one to really feel restricted.
This actually made me assume. The phrase “incapacity” can really feel heavy and tied to stigma, however it’s not synonymous with limitation. In truth, it doesn’t describe something about an individual’s potential or specify what they’ll or can not do. It’s merely a time period—a authorized one—that ensures entry to equal rights, lodging, and alternatives.
Sure, folks with disabilities may use instruments, helps, or lodging to study, work, and navigate the world. However needing these helps isn’t a limitation—it’s about discovering methods to thrive and share distinctive strengths and talents.
As a mum or dad {and professional} who doesn’t determine as disabled, I imagine it’s important to mirror on our personal emotions and biases concerning the phrase “incapacity.” If we keep away from utilizing it as a result of it makes us uncomfortable, how may that impression our youngsters as they develop and study to advocate for themselves?
Once we don’t educate youngsters to know and embrace the time period “incapacity,” we would unintentionally restrict their entry to the instruments, rights, and alternatives they deserve to understand their potential. Moreover, if we keep away from utilizing the time period “incapacity” or reframe it after we hear it, we implicitly educate our youngsters that it’s a “soiled phrase” and probably affiliate it with disgrace.
Understanding incapacity as a authorized time period is especially necessary as a result of many important providers and protections are solely out there to those that determine as having a incapacity. These embrace:
- Individualized Schooling Applications (IEPs) and 504 Plans, which offer lodging and assist in class settings.
- Standardized testing lodging, akin to prolonged time, different check codecs, or assistive expertise for standardized exams just like the SAT, ACT, and school entrance checks.
- Vocational Rehabilitation Providers, which supply profession counseling, job coaching, and office lodging.
- Social Safety Incapacity Advantages (SSI/SSDI), which offer monetary help to eligible people with disabilities.
- School incapacity assist providers, which may embrace precedence registration, note-taking help, different testing preparations, and extra.
- Office lodging underneath the People with Disabilities Act (ADA), akin to modified work schedules, assistive expertise, or accessible workplace areas.
- Entry to impartial residing applications and neighborhood helps that assist people with disabilities navigate housing, transportation, and every day residing wants.
We are able to’t break down stigma if we’re afraid to call it. Let’s change the narrative: Incapacity is only a time period, not a measure of somebody’s potential.
Concerning the Creator
Kelley Challen, Ed.M., CAS, is an knowledgeable transition specialist and nationwide speaker with over 20 years of expertise supporting youth and
younger adults with various developmental and studying skills. Since 2013, she has served as Director of Transition Providers at NESCA, providing individualized transition assessments, planning, session, teaching, and program improvement. She focuses on working with college students with advanced profiles who could not have interaction with conventional testing instruments or applications. Ms. Challen holds a BA in Psychology and a Minor in Hispanic Research from The School of William and Mary, together with a Grasp’s and Certificates of Superior Graduate Research in Threat and Prevention Counseling from the Harvard Graduate College of Schooling. She is a member of CEC, DCDT, and COPAA, believing it’s important for all IEP contributors to have correct details about transition planning. Ms. Challen has additionally been actively concerned within the MA DESE IEP Enchancment Undertaking, mentored candidates in UMass Boston’s Transition Management Program, and co-authored a chapter in Expertise Instruments for College students with Autism.
To schedule an appointment with one in all NESCA’s transition specialists, please full our on-line consumption type.
NESCA is a pediatric neuropsychology follow and integrative therapy heart with workplaces in Newton, Plainville, and Hingham, Massachusetts; Londonderry, New Hampshire; the higher Burlington, Vermont area; and Brooklyn, NY (teaching providers solely) serving purchasers from infancy by way of younger maturity and their households. For extra info, please electronic mail information@nesca-newton.com or name 617-658-9800.
