Ableism and Wasteland

          I will begin with my reflection on the reading. This reading was something very new to me. Until I came to UT and took social work classes, I realized that the term minority represented a lot more than race. Its crazy but I didn't even think of women being minority. After reading this article I learned so much! I always saw people with disabilities as normal human beings although I did wonder sometimes how they managed to get so far. When I got to UT, I came to admire so many students like those with physical disabilities who can't walk, see, or hear. Most people may think that because they cannot do some of the things we can, they are not capable of being successful. being here at UT shows you how equal and even stronger some people are even if they have a disability.
      One of the things that stood out to me the most in these readings was how as Americans, our basic rights have made us become very independent people. We can work where we want to, eat where we want to, and basically do anything we want to that doesn't hurt anybody else. But what about those who can't have their basic rights? What about those who do not choose to be dependent but are forced to? And especially the work issue. The book mentions that work is such an essential part to the American culture and it is true. My family in Mexico put family before work and have an amazing time but here, work goes before anything. So what happens to those people that struggle to work not because they don't want to but because they can't or because they don't let them?
     Another thing from the chapter that stood out to me was how a person's disability overshadows their gender and race. Whether they are men or women, black or white, if they are disabled, they are seen as just that. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was what finally gave them the minority status. For me, being a minority is more of a privilege. Not matter what people think of you and how they see you, it is about what you know you are capable of. This brings me back to the students with disabilities on campus. I look up to them, for fighting for what they believe and being so strong! When some people have a disability, feel discriminated, or for example get hurt at work and just give up, these college students are living proof that everything is possible. And that just because they have an impairment, they are not disabled, they can do the same, if not more, than those who have no impairments.
      As for Wasteland, wonderful movie! When it begun it was nothing like I would have expected. It turned out to be one of the greatest projects I have ever seen! I thought it was amazing that Vik Muniz could give so much back to his community and that although he didn't not help a huge amount of people, he helped people who were in desperate need. He helped people who wanted change, who wanted to truly help themselves. Seeing projects like this shows me that you do not have to have much to make a difference in people's lives, you simply have to believe in them and help them believe in themselves through empowerment. This was truly an amazing films that creates new goals for myself in my life :)