Social representations of handicap in the west: history and current situation

Abstract

Changes in denomination for the concept of handicap confirm ambivalence about its social representation that have suffered considerable historic variations as a function of culture. The concept of handicap is thus located in the articulation of the real and ofits representation in a web of relations and inter-relations in which biological, psychological and social factors intervene. Historically, it is found that the biological register (normal pathological was overcome by the social register (suitable or not for integration). In parallel, the former ethnic-religious (good-bad) register became a medical register (sane-ill). Are there current changes in the registrations? The
classifications of the World Health Organization first distinguished in 1980 deficiency, incapacity and handicap (in the sense of disadvantage). Then in 2001 it gave emphasis to the complete functioning af the person in interaction with the environment. Rut it is the guestion of integration in the common realms oflife (school environment) that stirs the greatest debate. Given the ambiguity of the word integration,
some authors call for a cultural break in favor ofinclusion. In this sense, they are led to criticize certain aspects of a new
French law fram 2005 concemingpeople with special needs.