Trusting our ability to adapt

The foundation of my concept of Constructive Functional Diversity (CFD) calls for the complete removal of any notion of difference or deviation from a predetermined functional norm. The potential of functional diversity to truly change the social mindset is to create one box only, labelled “functional diversity”, in which all human beings sit, stand, lie or otherwise exist.

The average person lives in denial that at any time they could have a car accident and become paralysed or brain injured; they could have a stroke, develop an anxiety disorder or become depressed, lose hearing or sight. I believe this denial causes society to fail to provide support, remove barriers and challenge discriminatory attitudes – the things that dis-able people. This denial occurs in resistance to an effective societal response, which would require an admission that a non-disabling society potentially benefits all people, not just the 20% perceived as needing the intervention. Importantly, I believe that the root fear relates to the inability to cope, rather than the change or loss of function. We are infinitely adaptable; disabled people adapt when adequately supported and newly impaired people share this potential.

Here's an example of a young man who adapted to his "unique function" and achieved beyond the standard of most of his peers. Read the NZ Herald story here.

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