Mental Disabilities In Society

Equality And Reform For The Mentally Disabled

Imagine a life where even the most basic of daily tasks such as using one's memory and taking care of oneself can feel like an impossible task comparable to that of scaling a mountain. A life where one is paid little to nothing for the work he/she does just for not meeting society's standards. A life where society judges one for their different actions and social patterns. This is the life of a mentally disabled individual such as the character Lennie from the novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. The issue of acclimatising those with mental disabilities into society has always been a prominent issue in history and some factors still remain today. In the past many citizens with mental disabilities

These facilities greatly helped to benefit the mentally disabled by providing a means of accommodation for them as well as a safe haven from society. Furthermore, additional support was provided when the government health programs Medicare and Medicaid were created which provided long-term care for those in need (Society's Attitude Toward People with Disabilities, n.d.). Although many mentally disabled individuals face struggles and stigmas, existing from the past in today's society, some may say they are treated no differently than others. This can be disproven from a dialogue between Lennie and George in the novel when Lennie questions George stating, ‘“Lennie said, ‘George.’ ‘Yeah?’ ‘Ain't you gonna give me hell?’ ‘Give ya hell?’ ‘Sure like you always done before. Like, ‘If I di’n’t have you I’d take my fifty bucks’”(Steinbeck, 1937/1993, p. 103). This back and forth between both men illustrates how Lennie assumed George would lash out on him for his mistakes as he had often experienced in the past. The importance of Lennie's mental disability in Of Mice and Men opens the door to the idea of how those with

As previously stated within history many programs and institutions have been put into place in order to further assimilate the mentally disabled into society. An example of this change in today's society can be illustrated within an interview between Sara Oliver-Carter, Highmark vice president of diversity and inclusion, and Halle Stockton in which Carter states, “Employing people with disabilities is not only the right thing to do, it’s the best thing you can do for the business,’ she said. ‘It has an absolute impact on the bottom line.”(Stockton, H. 2014). Individuals such as Carter believe that those with mental disabilities can only improve society and deserve the same chances as someone else. And as it may be slow progress achieving equality for all workers like Michael Kissel who makes little to no pay it may now be a hope instead of only a dream for those