Historical approach to the treatment of people with disability as an indicator of their social positioning

Abstract

This paper deals with the historical approach to the study of disability, and attempts of its use in explaining the modern trends that determine the position of people with disability in society. Historical approach, through monitoring the chronological position of persons with disability, from ancient times until the present day, suggests the complexity of status of these persons in society, and their constant discrimination. The position of these people in modern society is significantly changed, but still, in addition to transparent right to equality, one can hardly speak of substantial equality. The essential equality would imply greater inclusion of persons with disability themselves, that began through the development of the social model of disability, as well as a multidisciplinary scientific approach to this problem.

Ovaj rad bavi se istorijskim pristupom u izučavanju ometenosti, kao i pokušajima njegovog korišćenja u objašnjenju savremenih trendova koji determinišu poziciju osoba sa ometenošću u društvu. Hronološko praćenje položaja osoba sa ometenošću, od Starog veka, pa sve do današnjih dana, ukazuje na svu složenost položaja ovih osoba u društvu, ali i njihovu konstantnu poziciju diskriminisanih. Položaj ovih osoba u savremenom društvu je znatno promenjen, ali se i dalje, pored transparentnog davanja prava na ravnopravnost, teško može govoriti o suštinskoj ravnopravnosti. Suštinska ravnopravnost bi podrazumevala veće uključivanje samih osoba sa ometenošću, započeto razvojem socijalnog modela ometenosti, kao i multidisciplinarni pristup u naučnom tretiranju ovog problema.