Homework 1: Privilege & Power
Due in D2L no later than Sept. 18, 2012 at 11 AM

Instructions: Using Johnson’s Power, Privilege and Difference text as your primary source …Answer the three (3) questions below.

Assessment criteria:
a. Critical argument – In addition to making a substantive statement; have you made sure to include the evidence (citations) supporting the statement?
b. Soundness of argument - Is your line of thought logical and complete?
c. Clarity of writing - Can a reader easily follows and comprehend the meaning conveyed in the response?
d. Quality of writing – Is the writing clear of distractions such as poor grammar and spelling?

1. In his book, Johnson explains the construct of privilege; explain what privilege means in relation to being a professional working with people with disabilities. Include an example, using a professional setup which illustrates your response. Remember to cite from the book.
Answer: “This is also true of people with disabilities. Nondisabled people often assume that people with disabilities lack intelligence and are little more than needy, helpless victims who can’t take care of themselves and whose achievements and situation in life depend solely on their physical or attitudinal obstacles that placed in their way. “Privilege, Power and Difference by Johnson (pg. 22)
The privilege that the society’s view for “white” privilege. The society concentrates on the white male and the straight. They control government, schools, polices, jobs and others with sources of power. For instance, I am African American and Deaf, I am stereo-typed as being un-educated especially in the hearing world…until I begin to communicate on a level that’s totally surprising to them.

2. Using the same example as above, explain the construct of power as it relates to a professional and the individual with disability seeking access to services, information or other resources. Remember to cite from the book.
Answer: As a child I often wondered, what would my place be in the real world? I knew it would have something to do with services such as interpreters, vocational rehabilitations, etc. that know American Sign Language. I looked at the professional dealings with the disabled and helping to get services. It is similar for black, Jewish, gay, lesbian, blind, deaf, wheelchair and more. The professionals can seek individual’s service with their power, I believe this is where this rule comes into play “ it’s not what you know it’s who you know”. I also liked what Johnson stated, “In the end, taking responsibility doesn’t have to involve guilt and blame, letting someone off the hook, or being on the hook yourself. It simply means acknowledging an obligation to make a contribution to finding a way out of the trouble we‘re all in and to find condramatic or earth-shaking to help change happen. As powerful as systems of privilege are, they cannot stand the strain of lots of people doing something about it, beginning with the simplest act of naming the system out loud.” (pg. 153)

3. Continuing with the scenario used, craft an argument that illustrate the interplay of the constructs above and the final construct presented by the author, difference. Keep your main argument focus on individuals with disabilities however feel free to use relevant parallels from other groups. Remember to cite from the book …
Answer:Johnson stated, “Ignoring privilege keeps us in a state of unreality by promoting the illusion that difference by itself is the problem. In some ways, of course, it can be a problem when people try to work together across cultural divides that set groups up to think and do things their own way. But human beings have been overcoming such divides for thousands of years as a matter as routine. The real illusion connected to difference is the popular assumption that people are naturally afraid of what they don’t know or understand. This supposedly makes it inevitable that you’ll fear and distrust people who aren’t like you, and spite of your good intentions, you’ll find it all but impossible to get along with them.” (pg. 13)I do agree with his statement that because nondisabled people look at us differently, we have to overcome the stereo-typical comments and changing the minds of the people with the power, we someday will hold the same position of power only on a different scale. The professionals who helped me to get the services I needed, had a level of power only they knew. I believe that the professionals took three perspectives on different ways to dealing with disabled.