- Seriously Affected seldom survive at birth
- Mildly Disabled is likely to survive
- Belief in Supernatural led to two different views:
- Demons; (Evil Spirit) therefore kill them
- Unique; therefore admire and honor them
- Those with Disabilities be Isolated
Greek and Roman:
- Early Period:
- Away from Supernatural to Natural causes Worldly interventions such as:
- Diet
- Exercise
- Natural Herbs etc
- Mind, Body, Spirit
- Next Stage:
- Need for Military Superiority
- Therefore, needed society free of “Defectives”
- Individual is what s/he is, now and forever
- Consequences of the Greek and Roman Philosophy in perspectives of Disables:
- Punishment: Chaining
- Left on Hills to Die
- Thrown off Cliffs
- Locked away
- Drowned
- Father had right to Terminate child’s life
Middle Ages:
- Rigid caste system
- Those with Disabilities were:
- Used as Servants or Fools
- Some were still put to Death
- Disable were used as Jokers
Renaissance:
- Era of Asylum (Refuge)
- Catholic Church accepts those with disabilities as wards of the “State”
- They were cared for in Isolation
- No education at first, but Humane treatment
- Belief: Once Disabled, always Disabled