Transcript Postsecondary Students with Disabilities

Beautiful Lives
Reframing Disability Through the Lens of
Positive Psychology
July 2012
AHEAD Conference
Neal E. Lipsitz, Ph.D., Holy Cross
Eileen Connell Berger, MS Ed., Harvard Graduate
School of Education
Students life stories Reframe our work
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Listening for the whole life story
Accentuating the positive
Students seek positive reinforcement
Embrace disability as a plus
Inclusion, a positive community presence
Diversity and disability celebrated
The Power of Portrayal
Images of people with Disabilities in the media
• GLEE captioned video
• Contemporary narratives as those found in
GLEE bring joy, hope and humor to
differences students encounter in each
other preparing high school students for
the diversity they will encounter in post
secondary education.
H’Sien
• Captioned video
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Fifth year doctoral student at Harvard
Spinal chord injury
Paralyzed from the chest down at 16
Wheelchair user
Inclusion transforms health , professional , and
social life
Disability & Psychology
• Stigma-driven research & practice
– Medical research focuses on depression,
substance abuse, etc.
– Incomplete depiction of disability experience
– Social model-focus
• Life satisfaction & subjective well-being
• High levels of quality of life
Medical Model
• Disability is understood as an individual
“problem” (i.e., a personal tragedy)
• Undergirded by beliefs about an inherently
lower quality of life
• Viewed through this stigmatized lens,
disability is seen as something that should
be eliminated
Social Model
• People are disabled by being excluded
from participation within mainstream
society as the result of physical,
organizational, and attitudinal barriers
• These barriers prevent equal access to
education, employment, transport,
housing, social/recreational activities, etc.
• Solutions?
Kevin
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Captioned video
Positive growth experience
Born with severe Cerebral Palsy
Compromised mobility, speech and use of hands
Wheelchair, e-text, scribe, PCA user
Born again and again in each transition he encounters
Remaining positive takes discipline, humor and friends
Ashley
• Captioned video
• At time of taping was a junior at the College of the Holy
Cross
• Has Multiple Sclerosis
• Extreme symptoms upon entering college
• Adaptation to an unpredictable condition
• Value of multiple collaborations on campus
H’Sien
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Captioned video 2.04 to 7.30
The Study of Positive Psychology
Medical model vs. social model
Emphasize strengths
Gratitude, meaningfulness
How to lead a productive life
Whitney
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Captioned Video
Not hiding ,proud
Troubled childhood and youth
Diagnosed with depression and ADHD
Survived practicing habitual positive thinking and speech
Realistic thinker problem solver
Disciplined health care management
Lenore
• Captioned Video
• At time of taping was a senior at Holy Cross
• Lost leg to cancer at age 12
• Lost brother to cancer at 17
• Is going to Law School in the Fall
• Excels at self advocacy
Terrance
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Captioned Video
What advice do you have for us?
At the time of taping was a senior at Holy Cross
Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at 5 years old
Was often misunderstood at the college
Articulates a social model of disability
Advocates for removal of barriers
Ashley
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Captioned Video
2 years later
A senior at Holy Cross in this video
Going to graduate school to become a teacher
Note development from earlier video
Provides advice for student service personnel
H’Sien
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Captioned video
I can do it with your helpCollaborating as a partner with students
They need our optimism and collaboration
Beautiful life standing or sitting
Contact Information
• Neal Lipsitz, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Student Development
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, Massachusetts 01610
508-793-3693
[email protected]
• Eileen Connell Berger, MS Ed., Assistant Director Office of Student
Affairs, Head of Access and Disability Services
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
617-495-9608
[email protected]
References
Blanco, C., et. al. (2008). Mental health of college students and their non-collegeattending peers. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 65(12): 1429-1437.
Kadison, R. and DiGeronimo, T.F. (2005). College of the Overwhelmed: The campus
Mental health crisis and what to do about it. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Hehir and Latus, Special Education at Century’s End:Evolution of Theory and Practice (2002), Harvard Educational Review
Ingstad and Whyte, (1995), Disability and Culture, Disability in Cultural Context, University of California Press
Leadership 21 Committee. (2008). Campus mental health know your rights: A guide for
students who want to seek help for mental illness or emotional distress. Judge David L.
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law: Washington, DC.
Pryor, J.H., et. al. (2008). The American Freshman: National Norms Fall 2008. Higher
Education Research Institute: Los Angeles.
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2000). National
postsecondary student aid survey: Profile of undergraduates in U.S. postsecondary
institutions. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Wolanin, T.R. and Steele, P.E. (2004). Higher education opportunities for students with
disabilities: A primer for policymakers. The Institute for Higher Education Policy
Washington, DC.
Hayward, H., et al (2012 ). Reframing Disability: From Stigma to Social Justice, Harvard University Graduate School of Education
Social Justice Conference
Dr. Lisa Coleman ,
Harvard University’s first Chief Diversity Officer
Our work in Higher Education with the greatest diversity of students , staff
and faculty we ….
“Create
opportunities for students’ full participation to
explore, create, challenge and lead.. to pursue
excellence and the full intellectual and human potential
possible as learners, innovators on the cutting edge
..propelling the best minds towards the best solutions
with the greatest diversity”