Reference no: EM133510182

Michael is a 20-year-old white male who was born with cerebral palsy and has used a wheelchair since he was a young child. Michael is the only one in his nuclear or extended family who has a disability; his parents always told him that he was "just like everyone else" and never acknowledged or talked about the disablism (including microaggressions) that Michael encountered related to his disability. Michael was also the only person with a disability in his high school class of 125. Until recently, Michael never identified as disabled, despite the fact that he drives an appropriately equipped van and utilizes a parking sticker that allows him to park in spots designated for those with disabilities. He is now enrolled in a large university where there are several other students with disabilities, as well as an "Office for Students with Disabilities" which provides services and educational programs related to disability. Michael met another student in his residence hall who uses a wheelchair and has accompanied his new friend to a few educational and social programs sponsored by the Office for Students with Disabilities; he has also started to socialize with other students who have disabilities that he met at these events. Michael reports that he's beginning to feel a sense of connection with his new friends that he hasn't experienced before with other friends. Recently, Michael agreed to join a group of students with disabilities at a rally aimed at protesting discrimination based on disability and advocating for the rights of people with disabilities.

1. How do you think the messages Michael's parents gave him about his disability impacted his identity development related to his disability, particularly why he has not identified as disabled?

2. What stage of Gill's model of identity development for people with disabilities do you think best describes where Michael is now in his identity development as a person with a disability? Explain why you think this.

3. How might the therapy relationship be impacted if Michael's therapist embraces the medical model for understanding disability?

4. How might the therapy relationship be impacted if Michael's therapist embraces the social/minority model for understanding disability?