against stereotypes

[Optimal]

Hello,

I know that you are all interested in improving and facilitating disabled people’s life, which is our common objective.

I am finishing this year a PhD on disabled people’s mental strength. I already collected interesting results, that I can send you if you desire.

The study is continuing and goes even further. The aim is to prove scientifically that negatives stereotypes associated with disabled people are absolutely not justified.
This study will be a credible support for every disabled people’s rights defender.

However, there is not enough participation yet in order to do any statistical analysis. Your participation is essential!

http://optimal.scm.tees.ac.uk/

In order to have a maximum of participants, I would be glad if you could send this e-mail to a maximum of your contacts. A higher number of participants will allow results to be more efficient and to have a real impact.

“Be part of this study and come to join people who push things forward.”
(P.Turchet, European champion in disabled waterskiing)

Please, feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.
Thank you very much for your support.
Best regards,

Virginie Lemaire
lemaire-v@hotmail.fr
http://optimal.scm.tees.ac.uk/

[mystic59]

   It goes without saying that it takes mental strength to  live in a society with a disability, in which the normal physique is the norm. The normal physique is not only the norm, but the perfect, low body fat, muscularly impeccable body is worshiped in our society. It certainly does take emotional, mental, and spiritual strength to feel adequate in this society with a disability.
   I've been through several profound experiences with shamanic healers. And I can say that I have healed myself.  I can laugh at life's paradoxical antics when I need to. I am a massage therapist.  I workout, and I  practice tai chi, and skydive . And from birth, I've had very mild cerebral palsy. Not bad, but just enough to make people wonder what's up with me. And if I don't mention something about what I know they notice, when I meet someone, they assume that I've been drinking.
   Even though I have been through some powerful and healing experiences, and developed my skill as a massage therapist, which gives me self-esteem, I am still punchy around women about my condition. Because they have ejected me. They say" Ah, you're a sweet man, but not for me".
   So disabled people are strong; they have to be to attain any degree of self mastery today.

[all buggered up]

NOt alll stereotypes are bad. If you are coming out of a bar, and walk with a slightly ungainly grace, fall over, it is a natural reaction to think that the person has been drinking, not that the person has cerebral palsy. A problem with stereotypes is that without them we can't live in the world. By stereotyping we take a short cut to allow us to make decisions about people or things that we assume based on passed experiences. Imagine you couldn't do this sort of short cut appraisal you wouldnt be able to say that I love oranges which is stereotyping oranges.