Battling with issues of Discrimination.

When talking to Paula about my inquiry she pointed out that I should be aware of issues of discrimination in small scale studies. As I am working with people with learning disability, and this is a protected characteristic, meaning it is protected by discrimination laws, this is something that I need to be very conscious of.

Although I am not obviously going to treat the adults with learning disability in my study badly, it is important that I am aware of how my actions are interpreted within my inquiry and within my wider professional practice. Discrimination can take two forms, direct; where the cause is obvious, for example not giving someone a job based on their race or religion. Or indirect where the discrimination isn’t always intentional but puts a certain group at a disadvantage for example having steps at a main entrance and expecting wheelchair users to use a back trade entrance.  

When Paula brought this issue up with me I was instantly concerned. The last thing I want is for my inquiry to come across as discriminatory. I thought about how it might be coming across this way and decided that as I am trying to look at the benefits of dance for people with learning then it may seem that I am trying to put this whole group of people together in one category, which of course could come across as discriminatory.

This is not the case, I am obviously aware that people with learning disabilities are all individual, as is everyone, what one person likes another may not regardless of whether they share a learning disability or not. There is an unfortunate culture within social care and the provision of recreational services that assume that interest will be common within this group, and often there is limited opportunity to do much other than arts and crafts, drawing pictures or making things, while it may be true that many of the people that I personally work with enjoy this type of activity, it is also true that an equal number do not, just as in society as a whole.

I in no way wish to suggest through my inquiry that all people with learning disabilities should be taking part in dance because the benefits are A, B and C. This is simply not true, for some it will be something that they never want to do and therefore there would be no benefit to them. But I do feel that if we are going to provide any service to anyone then it should be done in the best possible way, and there should be the greatest opportunity to learn, develop and enjoy. I also know from personal experiences and hearing of the experiences of those I have interviewed as part of my inquiry that this is not always possible as teachers are not equipped to teach the wide range of abilities that may come up against in their current classroom or that there are a lack of classes provided that are adapted to be able to teach those with learning disability, is this a form of indirect discrimination, no one is saying no I wont teach you as you are disabled but they are saying I can teach you because I don’t know how.

This is something that I would like to be able to address with my inquiry, by looking at the benefits of dance for my client group I may be able to see what works best for the majority what benefits are seen, and how this is being achieved by their teachers, or what isn’t working. By doing this I don’t hope to find a one size fits all “this is how you teach adults with learning disabilities” teacher will always need to adapt to the students they have in front of them, as we are each individual and learn and develop in different ways but what I do hope to find are some tools, and tips and method that teachers can have in their armoury. A kind of best practice approach if you like, tried and tested methods that have been seen to provide benefits and maximise enjoyment for a large range of people that will allow us to be more inclusive where appropriate or offer our skills and services more widely.

If anyone has any thoughts on these issues, or perhaps still thinks that this sounds at all discriminatory or narrow minded I would love to hear them. I’m finding as in other areas of the BAPP course it is when you are challenged and start to panic that your thoughts become clearer....