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Conclusion
According to written student reflections, the "disabling environment" activity has been one of the most meaningful experiences they have had in a classroom setting. Through the participatory experience, they are better able to transfer a 'lived experience' to the theory behind the Social Model of Disability. They are able to share personal experiences (their own or that of a family member) of exclusion or disablement while reflecting on their own biases and stereotypes: "I realize that often times I place pity on these individuals rather than give them the independent respect they deserve." They also begin to see how the world has been tailored to fit the person with a normal, able body:
This was an incredibly valuable experience because there are a lot of things that are taken for granted. I haven't experienced being in an environment that made it nearly impossible to learn. I never had a hard time walking through a door and into a classroom.
Finally, as another student noted, "It made me think about the obstacles that people with disabilities have to go through - the world has been designed to fit our needs, but many times it presents difficulties to people who fall outside the 'norm' - it was most definitely an eye opener."
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