Functional diversity, a new term in the struggle for dignity in the diversity of the human being

Functional diversity (disability)

   

Functional diversity is a politically and socially correct term for special needs, disability, impairment and handicap, which began to be used in Spain in scientific writing, at the initiative of those directly affected, in 2005.^{[1] Wikipedia}

Usage

This term is intended to replace other ones with pejorative semantics. It proposes a shift towards non-negative, non-disparaging and non-patronizing terms. The formal justification of the term can be found in the book El Modelo de la Diversidad by Agustina Palacios and Javier Romañach, 2007, ISBN 978-84-96474-40-6. Examples of usage:

• "people with functional diversity" instead of "people with special needs"
• "physical functional diversity"
• "mobility functional diversity", "person who uses a wheelchair", "wheelchair user"
• "motor functional diversity"
• "dexterity functional diversity"
• "visual functional diversity", "people who use screen readers as their primary means of accessing a computer"
• "people with a visual processing functional diversity"
• "auditory functional diversity"
• "mental functional diversity"
• "intellectual functional diversity"
• "cognitive functional diversity"
• "organic functional diversity"
• "circumstantial and/or temporary functional diversity"
• "person with a functional diversity"
• "persons without functional diversity" rather than "normal" or "healthy"
• "people without functional diversity", "typically developing children"

References

1. ^ Javier Romañach and Manuel Lobato. "Functional diversity, a new term in the struggle for dignity in the diversity of the human being" (PDF). Independent Living Forum (Spain) — May 2005.

Functional diversity, a new term in the struggle for

dignity in the diversity of the human being
Authors:

Javier Romañach (jromanac@eid-iberica.com)

Manuel Lobato (mlobato@reterioja.com)


Independent Living Forum (Spain) – May 2005
　
Conclusion
In this article we have identified three elements which define the members of a

group fighting for its rights as different:

• Bodies in which organs, parts or the whole body function differently

because they are internally different.

• Women and men who, due to the different way their bodies function,

perform their daily tasks (moving around, reading, gripping, dressing, going

to the toilet, communicating etc.) differently. (We could say, women and

men who function in another manner).

• A group discriminated against for any of the two reasons given above.

The way we at the Forum for Independent Living propose denominating this

group, to which we belong, is women and men with functional diversity, as we

understand that this is the first denomination in history in which the vision of a

human reality is not given negative or medical connotations, and in which the

emphasis is placed on its difference or diversity, values which enrich the world in

which we live.   Functional diversity, a new term in the struggle for  dignity in the diversity of the human being
 

http://disability-studies.leeds.ac.uk/files/library/zavier-Functional-Diversity-Romanach.pdf

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Independent Living Forum (Spain) – May 20051