Crossing the border in Rádio Eldorado – 48

In this 48th episode of the Vencer Limites column on Rádio Eldorado FM (107.3)I talk about IBGE’s guidelines for identifying people with disabilities in the 2022 census. I comment on the position of American singer-songwriter Beyoncé after she was named extensively for using a pejorative term in a song.

Currently, no one can answer, with certainty, about the size of the disabled population in Brazil.

At the 2010 census, it was Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) Use a questionnaire that follows the guidelines from the Washington Group on Persons with Disabilities (GW) statistics, or Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG)was created in 2001 to improve existing data on disability, establishing definitions, concepts, standards and methodologies in statistics, with high-quality information that can be analyzed and compared with other countries.

In the survey conducted 12 years ago, the basis was the short set of disability questions, which were published internationally among statistical agencies and research institutes. People who reported their disability were asked if they had “difficulty,” “some difficulty,” “a lot of difficulty,” or if they “couldn’t see, hear, move, move their upper limbs, or perform usual tasks such as communicating and looking after themselves.” work, study, etc., due to limitations in mental or intellectual functions, even with assistive devices.

The result in 2010 was that 45.6 million people with disabilities were counted in our country, which at that time corresponded to 23.9% of the population.

Over time, the criteria used were re-evaluated and this number became overestimated, mainly because all those who answered as having a disability, those who declared themselves disabled, were identified as disabled, and they were divided into groups of difficulty.

We did not have a census in 2020. In 2021, it was National Health Survey (PNS)، , also coordinated by the International Statistics Institute, represents 17 million people with disabilities in the country. In March 2022, the National Registry for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities (Cadastro-Inclusion) was opened, which already includes more than 2.6 million subscriptions Who receives Continuing Cash Benefit (BPC) or Disability Pension, both of which were obtained through the National Institute of Social Security (INSS).

What has changed in the 2022 census? The survey is the same as in 2010, based on the Washington Group’s guidelines, but now Persons with disabilities will be recognized only individuals who have great difficulty or are not able at all Seeing, hearing, moving, moving the upper extremities, or performing usual tasks such as communication, self-care, work, study, etc., due to limitations in mental or intellectual functions, even with assistive devices.

The Institute states that “to understand disability as a result of the interaction of functions and bodily structures, with social and environmental constraints and barriers, leading to limitations on equal participation with other persons, the census is in line with International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and with Brazilian Law on the Integration of Persons with Disabilities (No. 13.146 / 2015)“.

a Adjusted Brazilian Jobs Index (IFBMr) It is not used at this time because it has not yet been implemented in Brazilian bodies, although it was approved in CONADE Decision No. 01/2020, at which time the census questionnaire was already defined.

In this way, after the publication of the 2022 census result, the size of the population with disabilities in Brazil will be different, different from the number recorded to date, and perhaps even smaller, much smaller, and this new figure will be the basis for public policy development, in order to invest in inclusion practices in all sectors and access rights already secured. Many people currently identified as having a disability, according to the IBGE, will not have this feature.

Discussions about terms referring to persons with disabilities in a pejorative or offensive manner are generating progress in disseminating knowledge about persons with disabilities themselves and especially about what capacity is, a label that identifies bias and discrimination against a person because of their deficiency.

Here in Brazil, this is still confused with political correctness and usually gets the epithet of imitation, but it is less and less acceptable that PWD are ridiculed or stereotyped in any semblance of any language. There is no longer room to use disabilities, health conditions, hearing, or mental, physical, mental or visual difficulties as adjectives.

Music “hot”in the free translation “hot”, “hot”, “excited” or “excited”, ready or ready for sexual act, part of the new album by Beyonce, Renaissance. This song was made by Drake, Canadian rapper, songwriter and record producer. At 3’39”, the first letter contained the words ‘Spazzin’ on that ass, spaz on that ass.’ From boy to girl’s buttocks.

In the United States, Europe, and particularly the United Kingdom, “spas” and “spaszen” are also insults to people with disabilities, specifically people with some type of neurological condition that causes muscle spasms. The song was released on July 29 and received a torrent of criticism for having the term.

Beyoncé was quick to announce the word replacement. This has already been done. Now the words say “Blastin’ on that ass, bang on that ass”. In translation, “explosion” is an explosion and has no capacitive charge.

The most important thing in this debate is the way in which Beyoncé reacted, politely, friendly, understanding and self-critical, without trying to justify the use of the term, without accusing anyone of censorship or pointing to some correct political practice, some mimicry. She immediately realized she had made a mistake, apologized and fixed it.

Lizzo is also an American rapper, singer, and songwriter, who made the same mistake with the song “GRRRLS” released in June of this year. Her reaction was just as fast and frank. “As a fat black woman in America, many hurtful words were used against me, so I understood the power that word can have,” she wrote on social media.

Terms related to people with disabilities have a lot of power because they are interpretive and can change the way people with disabilities are seen and understood. The updating of these Terms and the refusal of words that carry any charge of ability are the result of evolving knowledge on the subject. When someone makes a mistake or uses outdated, annoying, abusive terms, it is necessary to respond, alert, and ask for change. This will also be how society will abandon the almighty evaluation of people with disabilities.