DISCRIMINATION AGAINST DISABILITY

1.

2. 3.

Do you think disabled people are treated unfairly? Give an example to support your answer. Suggest one change that would lead to a fairer treatment of disabled people. Ask one question that you would like answered after reading the passage.

 Many

of us are guilty of discriminating against disabled people, whether intentionally or not. People with disabilities are often treated extremely patronizingly by abled people, as though they were very young children.

 For

example, a person in a wheelchair may be completely ignored and questions such as 'Does he want black or white coffee?' are put to a companion rather than directly to the person.

 If

people in wheelchairs can get around by themselves and so are able to travel alone, they are frequently treated as though they are invisible. Other people simply push rudely past them without paying any attention to them.

 Obviously,

people with disabilities will want to do the same things as able-bodied people. Thus, they will wish to visit museums, art galleries, restaurants and other public places. However, gaining access to such places can be far from easy. Often, the entrance to public buildings is at the top of some steps, which can prove to be an obstacle to someone who is in a wheelchair. Admittedly, some buildings now provide ramps, which makes life much easier.

Since doorways are often rather narrow, wheelchair-users have difficulty in negotiating them. Having succeeded in entering a building, disabled people might well meet another obstacle. The only means of getting from one floor to another, especially if it is an old building, might well be by a flight of stairs. Even if there is a lift as an alternative to the stairs, it may not be big enough to hold a wheelchair. One good thing about modern buildings is that they are usually equipped with reasonably roomy lifts, as well as escalators. This makes life easier for disabled people.

 Nowadays,

many disabled people are able to manage perfectly well at home by themselves. They might have a special lift to get to another floor, and a range of especially adapted appliances to help them fend for themselves.

 It

is when they attempt to go outside that obstacles to ordinary living begin. Society must do all in its powers remove these. Some provision is now being made for people with disabilities, but they need many more facilities. Otherwise society can be accused of ableism.

 Offensive Obstacle Ramp Provisions Ignore Escalator Ground Fend Lift Roomy

Floor

1.

Rewrite the following sentence, inserting the missing adjective:

Since we have had our second baby, our car is too small; we need something a little more________.

2.

3.

What is the British English equivalent of the American English elevator? Rewrite the following sentence, inserting the missing verb from the phrase in bold

Amy's mother died when she was a young teenager, leaving her not only to ________ for herself, but also to look after her three younger brothers.

Roomy Lift Fend

4. 5.

Why should we avoid using the word handicapped? Rewrite the following sentence, inserting the missing noun:

The car stopped suddenly and would not start again; we had to get it moved as it was proving to be an ______ to the traffic behind us.

Offensive Obstacle

6.

Rewrite the following sentence, replacing the words in bold with a noun:

If disabled people are going to be able to make use of the information office, we shall have to install a sloping surface at the front door beside the steps.

7.

Rewrite the following sentence, replacing the words in bold with a verb:

Don't pay any attention to that woman who is waving at us; we're in a hurry and she's one of my neighbours who talks a lot.

8.

What is the British English equivalent of the American English first floor? Ramp Ignore Ground floor

9.

Rewrite the following sentence, replacing the words in bold with a plural noun:

We are going to our holiday cottage for a week and are going shopping for supplies of food and other necessary things first.

10.

Rewrite the following sentence, replacing the words in bold with a noun:

You can take the moving staircase to the next floor; I'll have to take the lift because of the baby's pushchair.

Provisions Escalator

1.

Give two examples of patronizing ways in which disabled people are treated. An example is that a disabled person maybe completely ignored, rather than be asked directly, as his/her companion is asked, what coffee he/she wants. Another example is that those in wheelchairs who can move around on their own are not given any attention by other people, but are treated as "invisible".

2.

What are some obstacles in the way of wheelchair users? Wheelchair users often find that the entrance to public buildings is at the top of some steps. Sometimes doorways are so narrow that wheelchair users have difficulty going through them. Yet another obstacle is that some buildings have only flights of stairs for getting from one floor to another. Even if there is a lift, it could be too small to hold a wheelchair.

3.

How can buildings be designed to be more user-friendly to wheelchair ? Buildings could have ramps, escalators and roomy lifts.

 Patronizing

treatment of disabled people

They are treated as though they were very young

children who could not think or act on their own. They are completely ignored (as if they were invisible). People rush past them without much regard for their safety.

 The

buildings could have roomy lifts to accommodate wheelchairs and other appliances. Escalators and ramps could be installed. Special lifts for disabled people orspecial appliances could be provided.

 The

places they need or wish to visit are not easy to access or have physical obstacles in the way, eg stairs leading to restaurants, museums etc (instead of ramps for wheelchairs). Doorways/passage ways to and in buildings are too narrowthere's no room to negotiate a wheelchair or other appliance. The buildings have no lifts or escalators.

 Does

the writer think that society is doing enough for the disabled? Pick out three statements from the passage to support your answer.

 The

writer does not think enough is being done for disabled people. The following sentences imply this.
Para 3 However, gaining access to such places can be

far from easy. Para 6 It is when they go outside that obstacles to ordinary living begin. Para 6 Some provision is now being made for people with disabilities, but they need many more facilities. Para 6 Otherwise society can be accused of ableism.

 Using

the main points and details from the organizer you completed above, write a summary of about 100 words. Remember to include all the main points. Some details may be left out so that you do not go beyond the word limit.