11 Disability
Module Learning Objectives (MLO)
In this chapter, you will
- MLO 11.1 Identify foundational concepts related to disability, fashion, identity, appearance, and dress. [CLO 1]
- MLO 11.2 Identify different types of dress worn by people with disabilities in the United States. [CLO 1]
- MLO 11.3 Identify the experiences of people with disabilities in the United States wearing different dress objects reflecting their disability identities. [CLO 2]
- MLO 11.4 Identify different fashion brands that produce and sell dress objects for people with disabilities in the United States. [CLO 2]
- MLO 11.5 Explain the role of dress and appearance in the development of one’s disability identity. [CLO 2]
- MLO 11.6 Examine how dress and appearance of people with disabilities in the United States are represented in the fashion system (e.g., advertisements or retailers). [CLO 3]
- MLO 11.7 Examine social justice issues related to dress and appearance for people with disabilities in the United States. [CLO 3]
- MLO 11.8 Deconstruct your own perspectives and approach to understanding the dress and appearance of people with disabilities in the United States. [CLO 4]
- MLO 11.9 Identify the driving forces of transformative social justice change in the fashion system related to disabilities in the United States. [CLO 5]
A disability is any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities and interact with the world around them. Disabilities may affect a person’s vision, movement, thought, memory, learning, communication, hearing, mental health, and social relationships. Disabilities generally have three dimensions:
- impairment in a person’s body structure of function, or mental functioning, such as loss of a limb, loss of vision, or memory loss.
- activity limitation, for example, causing difficulty seeing, hearing, walking, or problem-solving.
- participation restrictions: affecting daily activities such as working, engaging in social and recreational activities, and obtaining health care and preventive services.
Disabilities can be present from birth, develop over time, be caused by injury, be long-standing conditions, or be progressive.
Required reading
History of the Disabilities Rights Movement
Individuals with disabilities have unique needs that historically have not been met. In addition to needing support, funding, and services, individuals with disabilities have also found themselves discriminated against and stigmatized by individuals, businesses, and potential employers. This led to the rise of a movement advocating for change in the latter 20th century.
Watch this video to learn more about the disability rights movement:
In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed to help support individuals with disabilities living in the United States. This act was revised in 2006 to account for the accessibility issues that had become apparent with the popular use and integration of the Intern