Physical Disability: The Brazilian Society Creates, “Rehabilitates”, and Stigmatizes

Abstract

In general, disabled people, and especially the physically disabled in Brazilian society, have been discriminated against, particularly with respect to work, educational, and recreational opportunities. This study provides a critical review of the proposals that have been made and realized within the framework of Brazilian social policies concerning the physically disabled from 1981 to 1987. Also discussed herein is the integration of the disabled into the educational system, affirming the need to guarantee access to knowledge to all persons with handicaps, no matter what their social condition or physical limitation. Finally, this study examines the psychological mechanisms that have led to the creation, stigmatization, and rehabilitation of the “handicapped”.