Hedgehogs and stress.

 

Hedgehog rehabilitation and the stress of captivity.

 

By Gill Dixon PGCE,MA,BHScHons,RGN.

 

Background.

I have chosen to write this article because I believe that many hedgehogs are put into situations of unnecessary stress and distress, often unwittingly by the very people who are caring for them. This article applies to the native wild European hedgehog only. (Erinaceus europaeus).

I am myself a hedgehog rehabilitator (rehabber), and am aware of the ever-diminishing numbers of these charming creatures, the desperate need for qualified or trained rehabbers, and the odds that are stacked against the long-term survival of our only spikey indigenous mammal in the UK. I am though, concerned that some people may take up the role of rehabber without a real understanding of their species-specific needs. Humans do have a tendency to anthropomorphize animals, be they domestic or wild and this a matter of serious concern when dealing with any wild species, as it likely to negatively impact their recovery.

I decided to review current legislation and best practice guidelines in pulling together the following information. This article then, is not just my opinion, or anecdotal in nature but based on information to which all rescuers should have due regard. If anyone is found to be causing harm to a hedgehog (whether they are aware or it not) they are breaking the law and can face huge penalties if they are reported and found guilty.

Hedgehog rescue is not for the faint hearted. It is a huge commitment, with rehabbers working at all hours of the day and night for no financial reward, often dealing with horrendous injuries.

It is fair to say that the welfare of hedgehogs in the UK is really down to a few excellent wildlife hospitals and small army of volunteers.

It is wonderful that we have these volunteers but very sad that rehabilitators of these endangered mammals do not have to undertake mandatory training nor are their premises or practice subjected to compulsory and regular inspection. Indeed there is currently no framework of inspection or acceptable practice when it comes to rehabilitating hedgehogs in the community and absolutely anyone can set up a hedgehog rescue. Vale Wildlife hospital publishes a number of useful documents for rehabbers and I have found other world-renowned centres, to be very generous with their knowledge and expertise. There are a number of groups on social media where rehabbers can ask for help, share knowledge or get support. Many vets do make spot checks on the premises of rehabbers whom they support.

Just loving hedgehogs is not a good enough reason to become a rehabber, and fortunately those that go into the vocation for the wrong reasons, rarely last long under the weight of the demands of the role. Some rescuers are forced to retire because of the sheer weight of the workload and/or an inability to turn injured animals away, resulting in the individuals become exhausted or ill.

Hedgehog rehabilitators should have a sound knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology and wherever possible attend a recognised course. In addition to this, many rescue centres will be happy to talk to interested individuals and groups, or mentor ‘would be’ rescuers.

They should also be aware of the zoonotic conditions carried by hedgehogs and should not themselves be immuno suppressed.

It is important to have a sound knowledge and pay due regard to current legal requirements and animal welfare legislation. Legislation can be a confusing topic but it is important that all staff working with wildlife are aware of their legal requirements. As legislation is continuously evolving it may be necessary to research species-specific information on a case by case basis.

There are some useful guidelines in the Good Practice Guide for Wildlife Rehabilitation centres (see references).

Ideally some sort of protocol should exist between rehabbers and their vets, but this seems to be the exception rather than the rule, and it should be acknowledged that there are very real cost implications to caring for wildlife, for the rehabilitator/rescue centre.

Vets have a duty of care to administer first aid to injured wild animals, but anything beyond that is a matter for the individual practice and they must of course consider financial and resource implications as well as the welfare of the animal in their ultimate decision making.

I have been awakened to the fact that the hedgehog rehabilitation world is a contentious one, with some very strong opinions and occasionally some rather defensive responses and outdated practice. This is balanced by other excellent examples of extremely good care. Of course, individual rescues will have their own unique practices, ideas and personal ethics and I for the most part can and do live with these differences as simply that, differences. However, there are some practices that I strongly disagree with such as keeping hedgehogs endlessly in hutches for a whole myriad of given reasons, but I base that on a knowledge of wildlife behaviour and current research and best practice, not just because it offends and upsets me.

 

Stress.

Hedgehogs are shy, solitary, nomadic nocturnal mammals, hard wired to be wild, to hunt and to procreate and to live as far away from human intervention as possible. Sadly, with increases in human population and the decimation of natural habitat, hedgehogs and humans clash ever more frequently, and the need for rescue centres has never been greater than it is now.

Stress is an enormous factor in the capture of our only spikey indigenous mammal.

The moment they are handled and placed in captivity they are stressed.

I thought it might be useful, to consider some of the situations that may create stress and rather than it just be my opinion to embed this information in law and legislation and research relating to hedgehogs.

 

Are hedgehogs protected in Law?

Hedgehogs do have some (limited) degree of legal protection in the UK.

• they are listed on schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) which makes it illegal to kill or capture wild hedgehogs, with certain methods listed
• they are also listed under the Wild Mammals Protection Act (1996), which prohibits cruel treatment of hedgehogs
• a species of ‘principal importance’ under the NERC Act, which is meant to confer a ‘duty of responsibility’ to public bodies

They also fall under the auspices of the The Animal Welfare Act 2006, The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

I have no doubt that the British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (BWRC), would be strongly concerned about some of the practices currently undertaken by a few good-hearted individuals. Being well meaning, and making decisions based on improving the profile of a rescue, increasing revenue or attracting crowds rather than on the absolute welfare of the individual animal is both unethical and illegal and carries huge penalties.

Some rescue centres keep hedgehogs for years because they are not fit enough to be released, having perhaps suffered an amputation or been certified as blind. I am

fairly ambivalent about this practice and can live comfortably with that choice IF the animals are kept in an environment as near to a wild one as possible.

In April 2007, the Animal Welfare Act came into force in England and Wales. This new legislation was designed to replace the protection of Animals Act 1911, which did not apply to free-living wildlife. The Animal Welfare Act legally enforces any person who has responsibility for an animal to adhere to the “five freedoms” and provide: • freedom from hunger and thirst; • freedom from discomfort; • freedom from pain, injury or disease; • freedom from fear and distress; and • freedom to express normal behaviour .

It is impossible for a hedgehog to express normal behaviour in a hutch, therefore containment within such an environment should always be kept to an absolute minimum.

My own motto own is, rescue, rehabilitate and release, and that is exactly what I aim to do as soon as it is safe to do so.

Current U.K. legislation relating to protected wildlife allows sick, injured and orphaned individuals to be taken into captivity either for treatment and release when fit or to be humanely destroyed, and for no other purpose.

Whilst a hedgehog is in a rescue they are considered to be ‘protected’.

“An animal is a “protected animal” for the purposes of the Animal Welfare Act  if— (a) it is of a kind which is commonly domesticated in the British Islands, (b) it is under the control of man whether on a permanent or temporary basis, or (c) it is not living in a wild state

Hedgehogs are wild animals, and the Wild mammal protection act clearly states that:

‘In this Act "wild mammal" means any mammal which is not a domestic or captive animal within the meaning of the Protection of   Animals Act 1911’

 

The BWRC says clearly and unequivocally that

‘Accommodation for permanently disabled casualties should be a separate entity. Adequate space should be provided and the habitat enhanced to mimic the natural environment of the species, whilst allowing close monitoring and good standards
of husbandry and veterinary care.’

Keeping hedgehogs endlessly in hutches, boxes or small enclosures is therefore stressful and illegal.

They go on to say ‘The BWRC does not condone the permanent captivity of any wild animal.’

Personally, I have made the decision on several occasions to allow a hedgehog to undergo back leg amputation or have become aware that they are fully blind and have chosen not to have them euthanised. I believe everything should be given a chance, but those that have been rehabilitated have gone to large (I am talking acres ) secure areas where they can be monitored and live their lives as naturally as possible. I appreciate that I have been lucky and this is not always possible, but they should never and I repeat NEVER be kept long term in a hutch, in someone’s house or a barren enclosure no matter what their injuries are.

Dr Liz Mullineaux BVM&S, DVM&S, CertSHP, MRCVS, a recognised specialist in Wildlife Medicine (Mammalian), Scientific Advisor to Secret World Wildlife Rescue and  co-editor of the BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties states that keeping hedgehogs in cages for months over winter is unnecessary and not in the animal’s best interest. They can be released at 550 grams (the added weights of 600g and 700g given as guidance have no scientific basis) and at any time of the year (unless the weather is particularly inclement). Bunnell (2002) would contest this by saying that weight per se is not a good indicator of health but the weight/size ratio must be taken into consideration.  They do survive just as well in the wild and they should be given the opportunity to return to the wild as soon as they are fit enough. That is both ethical and good practice.

Hedgehogs, like all wildlife are hard wired to be just that, wild. The soul focus for life is to survive and to procreate and anecdotal evidence suggests that animals released into large secluded areas have been observed trying tirelessly to escape. However, in a study by Morris and Warwick in 1994 (cited in Wildlife on-line) hedgehogs were found to live long and productive lives in enclosed gardens and so the jury is out as to whether this is good or bad practice and it must be a matter for personal choice, ethics and beliefs, but any decision made should ALWAYS be in the best interest of the animal.

The BWRC states: -

‘Whilst there is no specific legislation relating to permanently disabled casualties, it should be remembered that the various defences in wildlife legislation for anyone in possession of a protected wild animal relate only to the purpose of tending it and returning it to its wild state. The inference, therefore, is that it is not acceptable to keep such animals in captivity.

Ambiguity arises over the cases where eventual release would not be possible either at the time of capture or during treatment (e.g. a one-winged bird or blind mammal). It will become apparent that these casualties are not covered by the exclusions of the Act. It has not yet become a legal argument that these animals should be euthanised but it should be remembered that the animals in question will be protected by the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.’

Therefore, keeping wild hedgehogs in captivity should be done with care and concern and currently captive hedgehogs should not be part of any breeding programme. The BWRC clearly states that

‘Breeding must be avoided unless participating in a registered bona-fide breeding scheme.’

This may though be considered to fly in the face of recommendations of good practice laid out in the Animal Welfare Act which states

‘A designated “Protected animal” is An animal is a “protected animal” for the purposes of this Act if— (a) it is of a kind which is commonly domesticated in the British Islands, (b) it is under the control of man whether on a permanent or temporary basis, or (c) it is not living in a wild state

9 Duty of person responsible for animal to ensure welfare (1) A person commits an offence if he does not take such steps as are reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure that the needs of an animal for which he is responsible are met to the extent required by good practice. (2) For the purposes of this Act, an animal’s needs shall be taken to include— (a) its need for a suitable environment, (b) its need for a suitable diet, (c) its need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns, (d) any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals, and (e) its need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

Normal behaviour can surely be considered as breeding, but it is safe to say that no wildlife body would currently agree to captive hedgehogs being bred as they are unable to escape the potentially unwanted advances of a prospective mate.

Indeed, breeding females that are too young/old can result in the loss of the babies by natural death or by cannibalism by the mother. This can happen simply if the mother hedgehog has suffered unnecessary stress as well, to which any rehabber will attest when dealing with a disturbed nesting site.

One huge cause of stress is the unnecessary handling of hedgehogs

The BWRC clearly states that

‘Each volunteer must be aware of the varying needs of the different species and be conscious of the need to keep human contact to a minimum.’ This is for the welfare of the animal and the handler in regard to zoonotic disease transmission.

Dr Mullineaux, suggests that this is especially relevant to salmonella which poses a significant risk and so hedgehogs should not be kept in kitchens or over handled.

Recently I was horrified to see pictures posted on social media showing hedgehogs being handed around to members of the public at a stately home open, day after day in an effort to raise awareness and funds, by a rescue centre. Videos of hedgehogs can and should be used to raise awareness and wild hedgehogs should never be used as exhibits, something that is strongly objected to in a recent communication with the Vale Wildlife rehabilitation centre. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (a Charity dedicated to protecting wild hedgehogs), rather disappointingly would not be drawn to give an opinion.

When the handler of that animal at the exhibition was asked by a fellow rehabber, how they knew that animal was not stressed they answered that it did not raise its spines. The hog in question was in fact brain damaged, possibly unable to exhibit usual indicators but this sign in isolation cannot and should not be used as a gauge of stress. Recordings of heart rate and respirations may have been a better gauge but still an inadequate one. A knowledge of how a wild hedgehog normally lives should be enough to dismiss this kind of practice as unethical and potentially harmful to the animal because it is anathema to me.

It has been shown that hedgehogs can and do get used to handling, and to a degree domesticated over time but they always remain genetically wild.

I would urge that handler to read the following article https://www.animal-ethics.org/wild-animal-suffering-section/situation-of-animals-wild/psychological-stress-wild-animals/

in which the stressors and responses to those stressors are clearly documented.

A bullet point summary would suggest causes of stress are: -

·         Predators (humans fall well into that category)

·         New and unknown environments

·         Noise

·         Human intervention

·         Disturbance and transportation

I would urge rescues to reconsider their practice of taking wild hedgehogs to fayres and exhibitions, where each and every one of these stressors is abundantly demonstrated. Fortunately, to my knowledge very few agree to this practice.

I would urge members of the public to NOT engage with stands that have live wild hedgehogs on display (NB Some do take ‘pet’ African pygmy hedgehogs).

I would also strongly discourage rehabbers from collecting animals from the wild to ‘check them over’. If a hedgehog is ill it will in time present itself as such. It is very bad practice (and unlawful) to run and informal check-up centre for hedgehogs that are going about their business after dark. People should not be keeping hedgehogs overnight to ‘check them out’ and should not be lifting hedgehogs after dark to check their weight in terms of hibernation success. Hedgehogs going about their business after dark should be left to do just that.

Rehabbers are urged to read section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 Act which relates to unnecessary suffering. Some may ask Is causing unnecessary stress suffering? That may be difficult to demonstrate and calculate but I believe it absolutely is.

People should report concerns of bad practice to their local Animal Welfare Inspector, Wildlife crime officer or the RSPCA. Bad practice rebounds onto all of us and we are ultimately all considered to be ‘dabblers’, when in fact many individuals and centres are doing excellent work in a professional and competent manner, and have accumulated a vast amount of knowledge and expertise about the animals that they are working with.

It should be noted that the Local Authority has the power to prosecute offences. A local authority in England or Wales may prosecute proceedings for any offence under the Wildlife Act. The sad truth is that I have never heard of such a report or prosecution because rescue centres are autonomous entities and escape the scrutiny that most other organisations and agencies are subjected to.

 

Interestingly in a study by Rudy Boonstra in 2012 he found that: -

‘In mammals, birds, and arthropods, there is evidence of animals showing PTSD-like symptoms in response to stressful events, of mood and anxiety disorders, and of negative moods spreading within social groups. In some species, living in a state of chronic stress appears to be an adaptive response to environmental threats’

So, subjecting these mammals to constantly stressful situations (e.g. an exhibition, a busy and noisy rescue centre, the sound of loud music or equipment) we may be creating a state of chronic adaptive stress that the animal should not and would not otherwise be feeling.

As rehabbers we know that hedgehog rehabilitation is far from ideal. It is not policed, there are no written minimum standards of care and no person or body enforcing ‘good practice’ or inspecting premises and records kept. Experiences with veterinary practices vary and all rehabbers would agree that in an ideal world all admissions would be seen and assessed by a qualified and experienced wildlife vet and then handed over to a rehabber for care. Sadly, though vets have no mandatory wildlife training and hedgehog rehabbers are often seen as (and indeed are) the experts when it comes to successful rehabilitation. Most vets are happy to support rehabilitators as it saves them countless hours dealing with wildlife admissions, many of whom may simply require routine treatment for internal parasites or dehydration, and would indeed be a drain of a veterinary practices resources.

On the whole I have been moved by the level of commitment by people who are all volunteers and who all choose to rescue and rehabilitate because they can, and they genuinely want to help this endangered and charming mammal to survive against increasing odds to the contrary.

I take my hat off to busy rescues, and to the commitment and care shown by the vast majority of my fellow rescuers, and for their desire to share knowledge and information.

However, this does need to be done within the parameters of recognised good practice, legislation and some ethical monitoring of decisions made.

I would encourage all rescues to seek the support of other rescues so that decisions that are difficult can be discussed amongst experienced rehabilitators. I would also encourage rescues to keep abreast of evolving legislation and reflect on their practice at regular intervals to ensure that it is both current and effective.

Importantly I would ask rescuers to always consider the stress that an animal may be feeling as a result of what they are doing to or with that animal and reduce the impact of that as far as is humanly possible.

This article is not written as any kind of witch hunt or to make anyone feel persecuted. It is written absolutely with the welfare of the hedgehog as its focus and to encourage all rehabbers (myself included) to share good practice and consider their own practice and how it might be improved from time to time.

 

Ref

Boonstra, R. (2012) “Reality as the leading cause of stress: Rethinking the impact of chronic stress in nature”, Functional Ecology, 27, pp. 11-23 [accessed on 2 December 2019].

Bunnel T.http://www.tonibunnell.co.uk/casualties.html?fbclid=IwAR2aXWRF1RYmgWxyvjYO__d7BLB5rL4Dwa5BgJILkyjsYvpRw0Gy68B02s8

The Animal Welfare Act http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/pdfs/ukpga_20060045_en.pdf

Good Practice Guidelines for Wildlife centres.

https://www.bvzs.org/images/uploads/BVZS_Good_Practice_Guidelines_for_Wildlife_Centres_011016_.pdf

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69/contents

The Wild mammals protection Act

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/3/pdfs/ukpga_19960003_en.pdf

Vake Wildlife  Hospital and Rehabilitation centre http://www.valewildlife.org.uk/rehabbers-area/

Wildlife online. https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/questions/answer/can-rehabilitated-hedgehogs-be-released-back-into-the-wild

 Rumi needs a retirement home.

Meet Rumi......

She came into the rescue mid July in a very poor state and went straight into an intensive care incubator where she was warmed and hydrated before being moved to a more spacious hutch. Her name came about because I had no room in the rescue at the time and had to shuffle things about to accommodate her. i said 'I have no roomi' and the name stuck.

Her first poo sample revealed a very heavy burden of roundworm and liver fluke and treatment was commenced with some trepidation as she was so very poorly.

Sometimes as a rescuer you find yourself between a rock and a hard place as the hog is full of things that will kill it if untreated, but they are too weak to cope with the treatment which can be harsh and unforgiving.

The  following day Rumi was found cold,unresponsive and tightly curled  and back into ICU she went.

For the next week I syringe fed her with a mix of a variety of highly nutritious feeds, and whilst she was listless and very poorly she accepted enough feed to sustain her.

I gave her the second dose of her treatment expecting the worst but Rumi hung on in there but to my dismay a poo sample revealed lungworms, and more medication had to be added to her already hefty cocktail.

She declined rapidly and I reverted to injecting fluids until she was strong enough to accept oral feeds again and began with those every four hours to improve her strength.

I then discovered that she rather likes scrambled egg and could add various additional nutritious powders to this to increase its benefit.

Then.....ringworm developed on her nose and abdomen and yet more treatment was required. Poor old Rumi.

Rumi has somehow rather miraculously survived it all and is now up and about, coming to the end of all her treatments.

She has just come off her heat pad and is learning to cope in a big outside hutch .

As I have come to know her quite well I realise that she is an elderly lady and I am sure that if Ester Ranzen knew of her she would give her a medal for her fortitude and remarkable constitution.

However like  many things in their twilight years she needs a little help and i feel would benefit from release to a secure and supported garden where she can continue to gain strength and be cosseted a little.

I will keep her here until she is at least 500g before releasing her.

I am happy to provide a hedgehog house and feeding station.

She just likes a scrambled egg and a few calci worms and access to fresh water and she will potter about at night before returning to a warm bed.

If you think you could provide that, knowing that she is a wild animal and not a pet, you will need

•  A quiet garden that has plenty of shrubs and places that she can explore and root around.
• Be prepared to offer her food each night 365 days a year (she may well hibernate over winter).
• No ponds.
• No nets or wire fences.
• Security, she needs to be able to roam but not leave the garden.
• To treat her like a wild animal, and not a pet. If she requires handling gloves must be worn.
• You should not be immuno suppressed in any way.
• No small children that can disturb her or access her unsupervised.

I will provide a house for her and a feeding station and am here for advice at anytime but it will be your responsibility to support her. She asks for little and you will be able to watch her potter knowing that you have giving this elderly hedgehog the retirement home she deserves..

 

George Floyds death and the discrimination that is all around us.
by Gill Dixon, PGCE,MA,BHSc Hons, RGN, MuM.

                                                                   news.bbc.co.uk


I was horrified, saddened and incredulous that in 2020 a black man could be filmed ostensibly being murdered by a member of America's criminal justice system. Whatever his history and alleged crimes Floyd was a man who's life was snuffed out in an act of unequivocal racism, in a  first world country that has a long and ingrained history of crime against black people.
Racism is ingrained, often at a subconscious level, that is a level that functions beneath  our awareness .
The incident has aroused international condemnation, rallying support, long lasting protests and a  (repeated) desire for change.
In the UK we cannot divorce ourselves from racism. we see evidence of it on our football fields, in our schools and even recently with the Meghan Markle affair.
In March of this year an article by Jude Lawson suggested that

           There is a catalogue of racist events that are widely acknowledged in our communities
           but rarely acknowledged by white people' 

As a scholar of disability studies I can draw so many parallels to our treatment of people with disabilities in the UK, who are a often a voiceless but  significant minority., at the mercy of people and systems that we can only hope take good care of these individuals and make the right decisions on their behalf. During my time of study there were often unmistakable parallels to be drawn in the treatment of many minority groups in our society.

Attacks on people like Floyd evoke a real sadness in me for those who identify as being part part of minority group, but none more so than for those with disabilities, who remain under represented,  poorly catered for and uncared for in many aspects of our daily lives.
I would like to be able to write an article about discrimination against black people but that is not my area of expertise but I will leave you to draw the parallels between that and the story of disability discrimination which is still rife in our society. Indeed it took legislation just 25 years ago,to even allow people with physical disabilities, access to many of our entertainment and social venues.

In 1997, at age 40 I went to University for the first time . This was in direct response to my not being able to understand why people continue to discriminate against those with disabilities often without being aware that is what they are doing. It was an (ongoing) cathartic journey as the mother of a son with complex and subtle disabilities which have taken me half my life time to fully understand.
It is difficult to explain how it feels to be told that your three old (who had been considered perfectly within the realms of expected development) is likely to struggle with everything in life and learning and may never reach their full potential because of the obstacles in place which prevent him from doing so.
I 'hid' at the school gates  where parents 'boasted' of their children's progress, I marvelled at how easily my youngest son learned, I cowered from talk of first relationships, engagements and babies knowing that my eldest son would probably never experience any of  these things. I withdrew from many of my social contacts with whose experience I could not identify and  I became a  warrior  determined to change the attitudes and outlook of others.

The consequences of the current Covid 19 pandemic and of lockdown has made me realise that I am exhausted, that I need now to stop fighting and believe that someone will take hold of the baton I have been carrying for so long and continue to fight.I really hope so.

But back in 1997 I needed to take a journey, no matter how painful, to bring me to a place of peace within myself, and give me an  understanding of people's behaviour and reactions.

You see people with disabilities, like black people, and gay people and people with mental health issues, chronic illness etc  are just that ...people. Some, are good, some less so, some are likeable, some less so, some funny and some serious, but they are people who are deserving of the respect, kindness and the opportunities afforded to everyone.

My personal nirvana is Equity.

A recent short list.
In February of this year the DWP IDepartment for Work and pensions)  was accused of a cover up when the suicides of people with disabilities awaiting benefits was uncovered https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dwp-benefit-death-suicide-reports-cover-ups-government-conservatives-a9359606.html

Health inequalities are well known and the current pandemic has seen the death of people with learning disabilities receiving care, double .
https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2020/06/02/deaths-people-learning-disabilities-receiving-care-double-previous-year/

In 2019 a Panorama programme exposed the systemic abuse of people with learning disabilities in care establishments  https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2019/05/23/reaction-panorama-programme-abuse-learning-disability-hospital/

I could go on. 

Have there been protests?  Where was the outcry, the rage, the demand for change ? I heard very few angry voices in response to these reports. They went unreported on the news, never made any real headlines. Swept under the carper like so many acts of absolute discrimination against disabled people. It seems that unless one is invested in disability politics on a personal level, there is little interest. 

.

 In 2020 why are disabled people still largely on the periphery of society?

I will try to explain...

The notion of disability is complex and contentious . Who is disabled, who identifies as disabled and whom do others identify as disabled are both surrounded by, and part of, a complex web of social, cultural, medical, historical and experiential perspectives. Definitions of disability depend on who is defining disability and for what purpose.Legal and governmental definitions determine people's legal and practical entitlement to assistance e.g. economic, training, mobility appliances.  Socially accepted definitions determine the recognition of disability by friends, family and co-workers. Definitions are important. They are influential in the recognition of people with disabilities in the political forum, but they are also important because they affect self-identity. As Oliver (1990) suggests, human beings give meaning to objects in the social world. Therefore, if disability is viewed as a tragedy, people with disabilities collectively become victims.The way in which disabled people view themselves must be a focus for a workable definition, and yet such a definition is likely to be very different than one outlined by a person who identifies as being non-disabled.

Sabilios-Rothschild (1970) claims that:

'The disabled, like all other minority groups, tend to be evaluated more on the basis of their categorical membership than on their individual characteristics…

And the fact that (a person) is disabled will colour all his activities and potentialities in the eyes of the non-disabled in such a pervasive way that he will either be considered weak and inferior, incapable of doing anything, or possessed of exceptional capacities and abilities.'

Representation of disability in all arenas is largely negative, and even where positive role models are noted such as in the para olympics descriptors such as 'brave', 'super human', a 'triumph over tragedy' are assigned to a group of people who simply train hard to be the best at what they do, just as other athletes do.

So why does this happen? Of course I could (and indeed) did write a thesis on this but I will endeavor to reduce the word count to something that can be read whilst enjoying a hot drink. A whistle stop tour if you like .

Historical perspectives.
In ancient times those with disabilities were killed  at birth or kept as playthings and objects of ridicule by the wealthy. Cut to the middle ages and they were seen as unworthy or as being punished for wrong doings in a previous existence.
In the eighteenth century people categorised as crippled, and seen to be undesirable, were sacrificed for the common good, a practice that was reawakened in Nazi Germany with the massacre of some sixty five thousand people in the 'mercy killing' programme. This practise survives today under the guise of 'ethnic cleansing'.

With civilisation and industrialisation, came the recognition of a group of people who couldn't function to the expected norms of the time. With increased urbanisation, and employment opportunities being largely industrial, the ability to absorb the disabled into the workforce and community was greatly reduced. Prior to this they were assigned the label 'village idiot' and tolerated, if not nurtured.
In more recent times children with disabilities were assumed to be less intelligent, expectations lowered and they were/are hidden from the public eye in special schools which still rarely exist in the heart of communities. They are removed from their communities, segregated from the wider world, and expected to be grateful for whatever they are offered.

Representation in the workplace.
There is a substantial amount of quantitative evidence to illustrate discrimination in the field of employment opportunities. In a study by the then, Spastics Society (Graham et al,1990,p.5. Cited in Barnes 1991) able-bodied job applicants were in the region of one and a half times more likely  to receive a positive response than those with an impairment, and a  disabled person was six times more likely to receive a negative response.

 Barnes 1991,p.96 ) said:

'Institutional discrimination against people is prevalent throughout the British labour market. Clearly, widespread prejudice and ignorance regarding disabled people's work potential persist among employers and able-bodied workers'.  

Today it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of disability, but believe me it happens daily. 

Representation in the media.

I am pleased to see an increase in number of people who have disabilities in the mainstream media. Until quite recently this was not the case., and children with disabilities are still a charity staple drawing in huge amounts of financial support.

'Stereotyped assumptions about disabled people are based on superstitions, myths and beliefs inherited from earlier times.

They are inherent to our culture, and part of the reason they persist is that they are continually reproduced through TV, radio, films, advertising, books and both local and national newspapers'

(Colin Barnes 1991.)

Documentaries that focus on educational issues such as inclusion and exclusion generally portray those who do not 'fit in' to the system as maladjusted, angry, delinquent young people. Often the blame is laid at the feet of an undesirable peer group, bad parenting, or an individual undesirable personality trait. Society is exonerated.
Programmes assigned titles such as 'The Undatables' could be considered as some kind of glorified freak show.
The media, then, can be considered to have a huge responsibility for the persistence of disablist imagery.
Even our young children are unintentionally subjected to disablist attitudes. Characters in popular and long lived stories portray the 'baddies' as those with disabilities. Captain Hook and  the Mask being examples. Fortunately in the years that have followed my studies there are now a growing body of stories with representations of capable and colourful disabled characters. There is a growing representation of disabled actors but it is still incredibly difficult for them to earn a living from what they do. Doing things voluntarily seems to be accepted and the disabled fulfil a huge percentage of the roles available in the voluntary sector and are supposed to be grateful for that.

I am sure that there are many parallels with racism in the USA.

All the time people are seen as 'other' , discrimination will exist and proliferate.

General Observations.

The able bodied have over time created a dependent caste if you like. People often seen as 'other', 'lesser', undesirable are set apart from the every day decision making and productivity of society.
I could go on, but by now you should be getting a real understanding of a very long and deeply instilled negativity around disability.

All the time people are seen as 'other' the negative imagery, and stereotypes of disability infiltrate our lives and being on an almost continual but subliminal basis. Pregnant women don't mind what sex their baby is as long as it is 'healthy'. The choice to abort a baby who is considered 'abnormal' is viewed as morally responsible by many. My son had five fingers and five toes, was and is very healthy but just happens to have a whole range of  co morbid, hidden disabilities.

Disability activist, Jenny Morris (1996) suggests that:

'The idea that disability means our lives are not worth living is so powerful that it creeps into both medical and moral judgements.'

The truth is, if asked many parents would (and do) say thank goodness that my child doesn't have a disability because that is based on everything around them, but that does not need to be. Disabled people have a place, a role, a part to play in what should be a diverse, but equal, footing. That is sadly far from the truth.

Children with disabilities are placed in special schools, away from the public gaze, in the assumption that these children cannot learn well or that they need some kind of special protection. Building and public facilities are often inaccessible to those with physical disabilities. Access to public transport is extremely limited (but improving following legislation) . This reinforces a dependence on others. Underlines the 'otherness. 'It is worth noting that able-bodied people consider they are independent, but independence can be viewed as a self-deception. We are not independent. We are mutually inter-dependent.

From where I stand 
My own introduction to minority discrimination started when I was a child and my sister 'came out' as gay. Back in the 1960,s it was very much frowned upon and she was submitting to unbelievable persecution at that time. Then I became the mother of a child who at age three was discovered to have disabilities, the nature and complexity of which were to slowly percolate through my knowledge and understanding. An often frustrating and painful journey, and so it continues to be.
He has been victim of unimaginable exploitation and discrimination in my own small community, the focus of two harrowing criminal proceedings, both of which amounted to nothing in the end, except that he was guilty of innocence. The knock on effects have done untold harm to him and my family and continue to do so. All due to a lack of understanding and an assumption that because he doesn't look disabled he is isn't disabled. A non acceptance that those with disability are equal, desirable, wanted. He is invited to participate in activities which favour segregation. To spend his life in a disabled world. It is not what he wants. He is the most non discriminatory person I  know and  wants to be with everyone, not noticing difference, or colour or sexuality, just the person. And that is what I hope and dream one day will happen in our wider world. I can but dream that  we will enable people with disabilities, who are black, outrageously 'different', or  who have mental illness challenges  to just  'be'. To be included, given chances. 
How is society to learn and accept if they are not exposed to people who function differently, not less than themselves.


Like the black people in America who weep for the loss of one of their own, I weep for the loss of opportunities and participation  and inclusion in my sons life. Having battled for so long, I attend everything ready armed for warfare. I am changed, set apart, lonely but not ashamed or non accepting or wishing it was different.
I just want that everyone could see his worth, learn from his kindness and inclusive thought . It is what I have worked for tirelessly for the last 26 years and as I retire from the campaign arena, I look forward to seeing more steps towards this inclusive culture and more active representation of this minority group in our future success. I will keep my big toe in the waters of disability issues.

People simply need to embrace difference as part of an important and desirable diversity.

I write this for George Floyd and all other minority groups. May we all read more, learn more, invite those with perceived differences into our normal lives and activities. Exposure leads to de sensitisation, and that it turns allows us to see the positives in everyone and  their potential worth and rightful place in our world.




.

Barnes, C. (1991) Disabled People in Britain and Discrimination. Pub: C. Hurst and Co Ltd. U.K.

Morris, j (1996) Encounters with strangers : feminism and disability

Rothschild, S. (1970) The Sociology and Social Psychology of Disability & Rehabilitation  Pub: Random House, New York.

Yawson, Jude (2020) The Truth about Racism in the UK'   Creative Insight.