Chapter 5 - Integration: Out of Shadowland
After reading the first paragraph, I couldn't help but laugh. The comment made by the postmaster was just too funny because of the total ignorance of it. His argument that he didn't need a wheelchair ramp because he had never seen a single person in a wheelchair in the post office was ridiculous. I am amazed at how some people decide to say things without thinking about them first.
Anyway, this was an interesting chapter because it discussed a part of the disabled population that doesn't get much attention (well, compared to the rest of the disabled population). It was interesting to read about Skinner and behavioral conditioning because I have studied him in both a philosophy class and a couple psychology classes. But to hear the conditions of the mental health homes was apalling. To use descriptive terms linking the conditions to that of the Jews during the Nazi regime in Germany really an impression on how bad it really was. Also, the fact that the conditioning they were using seemed to be relatively ineffective, and yet was still the option of choice was sad to hear.
On the upside, it was interesting to read about the integration strategies being used to incorporate those children with autism and other mental disabilities into the "normal" setting and away from the special classes. Coming from a behavioralist perspective, I think this is the most beneficial conditioning there is because it is coming from the child's peers. It is one thing to be told something by an adult and required to follow it. It is quite another to be told something by a friend or peer and just be expected to follow along. This would be a situation where peer pressure could be used as a tool for conditioning the children away from activities that may cause harm to themselves or those around them.
Anyway, this was an interesting chapter because it discussed a part of the disabled population that doesn't get much attention (well, compared to the rest of the disabled population). It was interesting to read about Skinner and behavioral conditioning because I have studied him in both a philosophy class and a couple psychology classes. But to hear the conditions of the mental health homes was apalling. To use descriptive terms linking the conditions to that of the Jews during the Nazi regime in Germany really an impression on how bad it really was. Also, the fact that the conditioning they were using seemed to be relatively ineffective, and yet was still the option of choice was sad to hear.
On the upside, it was interesting to read about the integration strategies being used to incorporate those children with autism and other mental disabilities into the "normal" setting and away from the special classes. Coming from a behavioralist perspective, I think this is the most beneficial conditioning there is because it is coming from the child's peers. It is one thing to be told something by an adult and required to follow it. It is quite another to be told something by a friend or peer and just be expected to follow along. This would be a situation where peer pressure could be used as a tool for conditioning the children away from activities that may cause harm to themselves or those around them.
posted by True at 9:21 PM
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