Campaign aims to end stigma against disabled
A provocative campaign is calling attention to stigmas against people with disabilities.
“Most ‘disabled’ people are just scamming the system.”
“I could never do what disabled people do. They’re such an inspiration.”
These controversial statements are heard by some on a regular basis.
“It is provocative and we know these statements are hurtful and ugly,” said Karen Gross, media contact at marketing firm Suasion.
“It’s uncomfortable. No one wants to hear it or talk about it. But the reason it’s so important is that there are thousands of people in the state of Pennsylvania with disabilities. It’s isolating … and not only has a negative effect on people with disabilities, but society as a whole.”
The Stigma Project campaign, funded by a federal grant awarded to the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council, aims to make people stop and think before saying something hurtful.
The project came to downtown Washington this week, as “thought bubbles,” or signs displaying some of the statements, were posted around Main Street.
According to a 2014 survey by The Arc of Pennsylvania, 79 percent of people said they feel awkward and uncomfortable with disabled people.
But most people said they do not contribute to the stigma surrounding people with disabilities.
Graham Mulholland, executive director of PADDC, said the decision to put out such divisive statements was not an easy one. After talking with people with disabilities, the group decided the statements were the most effective approach to real change.
“It’s very exciting for us. We’ve been working to try to address the issue of stigma for a number of years, with not a lot of success,” he said.
“With this approach, we decided it’s not about folks with disabilities, it’s about the general public.”
The campaign, which asks, “What are you thinking?,” includes a website with videos, a stigma quiz and a pledge to end stigma.
Chad Underkoffler, information manager of Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living, said he sees the negative connotation associated with the word “disability” in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
“There are a lot of people entitled to assistance that won’t take it because of pride or the stigma,” he said. “There’s the stigma that hiring disabled people is a huge risk. That’s absolutely not true as 51 percent of people who work here (TRIPIL) identify as having a disability.”
The organization, which provides training, support and advocacy, posted the signs throughout Washington to bring attention to the cause.
“A lot of it is just the way we’re raised. We have a lot of garbage in our heads,” Underkoffler said. “Some of these things are very challenging.”
Mulholland encouraged people to realize everyone has similarities and differences.
“It doesn’t mean (a disability) is a deficit,” he said. “People with disabilities have strengths and weaknesses like everyone else.”
For more information, visit www.tripil.com or www.letsthinkagain.org.