Conclusion

Conclusion

I would like to close this essay with a reflection of the research, and an acknowledgment of the limitations involved. I believe that it is essential, though shocking, to recognise the origins of our societal fascination with the ‘norm’. Eugenics sought to eradicate the people we have now legally protected, but these people are still an ‘out-group’, as explained within social identity theory in chapter one. Throughout this essay, it has felt important to look at the most prominent factors that contribute to inequality and disablism, rather than focusing specifically on each protected characteristic which will undoubtably have specific inequality elements. However, it must be acknowledged that there are absent positions which are beyond the reach of an essay of this length.

I trust that the average person would not say they discriminate against disabled people. Nevertheless, the statistics are there; the imposition of legislation that will hurt the disabled population most is still rife. The UK government chose to action the WCA policy, and it was directly linked to disabled people taking their own lives. Specific public attitudes promoting segregated environments are ever present. I believe that our society has become too attached to ‘seeing is believing’ and in a twenty first century world of immersive media heavy with fake news, it seems to me that keeping public arenas inaccessible and therefore cleansed of disabled people is silencing disability. Limiting the general public’s exposure to disability perpetuates stigma. However, the Equality and Human rights Commission will not stop publishing reports, which collate shocking statistics. These challenges and blockades which society has placed on disabled people will not be resolved without government acknowledgment. Without intervention, more disabled children, teenagers and adults will

definitively suffer. Nevertheless, there is hope, where institutions fail, and impaired individuals are not permitted in public arenas the media can be utilised. As long as disabled people have access to social media, activists such as, Liam O'Dell, Jess Caron and Amy Kavanagh will maintain their voices and their platforms, informing and re-educating where systems fail. Charities such as Scope will continue to campaign with the disabled people they represent. There are 14.1million disabled people and they cannot be perpetually overlooked by society.

Impairments and disability can and will happen to anyone, just as we don’t choose how or where we are born. Disability is a lottery, but health and equality should not be.