2. Assess the extent ethical and religious concepts of equality are helpful. (12)
2. Assess the importance Ethical and religious concepts of equality in resolving issues of gender. (12)
2. Assess the importance Ethical and religious concepts of equality in resolving issues of race. (12)
2. Assess the importance secular perspectives of ethical concepts of equality in resolving issues of disability. (12)
2 Assess the significant key events in the progress of one area of equality. (12)
2. Assess the credibility of perspectives on equality from one religion. (12)
2. Assess the credibility of secular perspectives on equality. (12)
2 Assess the strengths of one significant areas of disagreement in debates about equality 12)
2 Assess the weakness of one significant areas of disagreement in debates about equality 12)
2. Assess the signficicance in one key relevant example of disagreement in debates about equality. (12)
2 Assess the work of one leading figure in the fight for equality. (12) 2017 AS
2 Assess how far it is the case that the work of Martin Luther King has been sucessful. (12)
As a Christian disability activist, Joni Eareckson Tada has achieved a lot and so her work can be seen as being very successful. Tada has demonstrated to people with disabilities and without that disabilities should not stand in the way of achieving things in life. She has even demonstrated that disabilities can open up opportunities that aren’t available to able-bodied people. For example, she is able to paint with her mouth. This is something that able-bodied people can’t do. She has inspired other people with disabilities to go out and do the same in talks she does and the book about her life that she has written. her passion for life, her actions and her enthusiasm have all led to her being a successful painter, author and activist. These are all actions that have reached millions and so in this way her work has been successful.
Some may argue that Tada has only touched the tip of the iceberg and that there is still a lot to be done for disabled people to be treated equally and with respect in the same way as able-bodied people are. There are still many places that would not employ disabled people, or buildings that don’t have the access arrangements they should have for disabled people. The UK charity Scope, a charity for equality for disabled people, claims that disabled people are more than twice as likely as able-bodied people to be unemployed. There are also 28% of disabled people living in poverty, compared to 18% of able-bodied people. This suggests that Tada’s work has not been successful enough, especially in the UK.
Tada believes that one of the reasons disabled people don’t go out there and actively change their situation is because they are resigned to the fact that they are disabled and at a disadvantage. Tada, who has studied the Bible extensively and is a committed Christian, believes that God has given disabled people their disability as a test. Instead of hoping for miraculous cures and divine interventions, they should be using their disability to their advantage. It is a test from God to see what you can do with it and how well you endure the suffering. Becoming a Christian will help disabled people overcome their fears and see that suffering is the result of human sin. Although Tada makes some good points about making the best out of your situation, some people will be put off by her Christian explanation that the source of their suffering is sinful behaviour and that disabled people must see their suffering as a test. There are varying disabilities, and some sufferers are unable to change their situation for the better, whether they are Christian or not.
In conclusion, Tada’s works have been successful to some extent. She has inspired many disabled people to make the most of their disabilities and this has been the result of her Christian viewpoint that teaches her that suffering is a test. However, not everyone is going to agree with this way of seeing the world. She is right, however, in pointing out that some people with disabilities have opportunities and that they can do things able-bodied people can’t do. Furthermore, no one person can change the lives of millions. Individuals are responsible for their change and this is something that Tada has been successful in showing to some disabled people.