De handikappade och de normala
En studie om social identitet hos elever på riksgymnasium för rörelsehindrade
Social identitetPersoner med funktionshinderRiksgymnasium för rörelsehindradeSegregationStigmatiseringSocialt arbeteSocial changesTheory of social workSociala förändringarTeorier om socialt arbeteCare and help to handicappedHandikappadeVård och rehabiliteringSocial Sciences
The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate the social identity of students at upper secondary school for physically disabled students. The youths I drew my attention to suffered from severe physical disabilities and therefore received specially adapted education in small classes, but integrated at an ordinary upper secondary school.By "social identity" I mean how the students view themselves as a group, how they value their membership of the group and how they relate to non-disabled students at school. I wanted to investigate the connections between these students' social identity and the problems of marginalization of disabled people in society.According to qualitative methods I interviewed five physically disabled students, aged 18-19, at upper secondary school level taking part of especially adapted education. The study showed that these students regarded themselves as a segregated group at school. None of them associated with non-disabled students at school. They believed that non-disabled students regarded them as stupid, mentally retarded etc. My conclusion was that the students ran the risk to develop a disability identity that in the long run might make it difficult for them to participate in society and consequently become marginalized.