The Creation of Disability

Abstract

I am writing this article to express the conviction that social services must share the blame for the high rates of unemployment of the people these services brand as having disabilities. Perhaps I should go further: the social service system must share the blame for the creation of the devastating stereotypes that the general public holds—stereotypes, unfortunately, that guide the actions of employers, too. These convictions come from my personal experiences working within a manufacturing company and subsequently being involved in my community's efforts to initiate supported employment. My company has been credited with maintaining a commitment to hiring people who were believed by professionals to need extensive professional supports. My purpose is to describe the themes that have emerged from the obvious contradictions between the labels and low expectations that accompanied people to employment and our delight in discovering the exaggeration of their disability.