Psychology and disability
Published in the Springfield republican 2018
Carrie Writes
Psychology and Disabilities
Carrie Barrepski
In October, I was asked to speak to psychology classes at Springfield College about living with disabilities. I have always enjoyed speaking in front of groups, sharing my life experiences.
I spoke to a group of students majoring in health sciences, occupational therapy and physical therapy. I started off by talking about the history of disabilities, using the medical model where a disability was viewed as something to be fixed or hidden away in an institution in the 1960s and 1970s. After I was born, my parents were told by a doctor that my disabilities were severe enough that I should be institutionalizedbecause I would ruin their lives.
I also touched on the stigma of living with a disability, where people treat you differently and only judge you by your disability instead of focusing on the person rather than their disability. I also talked about the importance of being your own person being in charge of your own life and being independent.
I always like to share the story of how I learned to be my own self-advocate. In high school, I had teachers and paraprofessionals making decisions and making accommodations for me, leaving me very sheltered. When I went to college, I had to quickly learn how to arrange for my own note takers, talkingto teachers about accommodations and speaking up for myself.
One of the most valuable lessons is I have learned is the importance of being a self-advocate, while living my passion and purpose.