When institutions are in a position of power, they must take action to promote equality. Justice is an important principle that impacts every aspect of our lives. It is also critical to the evaluation of public policies and social institutions. Determining why certain social standards deem certain practices as just is crucial. Justice is defined by the morals that are shared in a given society. When someone is denied the same opportunities that others have, it is considered unfair. It is important to know that the meaning of justice varies depending on who you ask. This will help you understand how people view society. Just societies are aware of the inequalities that exist and work to reduce them. In the case of the girl who was unable to retrieve her tray, there is an injustice because firstly the school failed to take any action and secondly the counter height wasn’t designed to accommodate all students.
It is easy to see injustice when you look at the way people with disabilities are treated. Injustice is characterized by two key elements: the treatment of certain people as inferiors, based on irrelevant traits; and the failure to rectify disparities among individuals, based solely on irrelevant factors.
Equity is the best way to define justice. Although it may be nearly impossible to achieve equality for people with disability, it is important that society provides equity. In the modern society, equity is essential for people with disability. Justice is subjective. Therefore, the only way to accurately assess the legitimacy of an injustice is by comparing it with the collective consciousness of society.
It is clear that the United States government has passed laws in order to guarantee equity to persons with disabilities. If the student asked for the lunch tray to be accessible, it would serve as a precedent to other modifications made by the government such as ramps for wheelchairs. Reasonable accommodations are necessary because it is difficult to accommodate human differences in an equitable manner. In order to achieve justice in this way, the people must be given the opportunity to contribute to a cause if it is not possible for them to obtain it. It means that people with disabilities are entitled to equal opportunities, and to take the necessary measures to ensure these opportunities. It would be reasonable to question the source of such a right to equal opportunity. What is the basis for societal definitions that impose obligations on individuals or institutions, in this instance, when they could be burdensome?
It would be great if all students could reach their lunch tray. But is this the responsibility of the school? Some may argue that schools are not required to provide resources like money and staff to allow one student to reach the counter. To ensure that people with special needs are treated fairly, the school must often spend a considerable amount of money. The school should not discriminate against a disabled student, even if this tray height has a minor impact on other students. The school may find it difficult to afford the student’s request, but denying her the opportunity because of her disability is unfair. Accommodations must be reasonable and not burden the institution. Furthermore, in an hypothetical situation, where a person is unaware of their own characteristics like class or privileges, most reasonable people will likely support the definition that justice equates with fairness. It gives justice a more equitably definition, than if justice was defined by balancing people who had disadvantages with those that won the life lottery. Unfortunately, many things are made to meet the needs of the majority without taking into account the needs of individuals. Each person is unique, and therefore fairness will vary.
Every society should be inclusive to all individuals, not just disabled people. The disabled are not responsible for removing the barriers they face. Instead, society is. It is not only a problem in schools but also in other areas of their lives. Intentional barriers are required by institutions because people can’t see the benefits of a system that is based on privilege. In order to respect everyone, it is important to view society as a collection of sub-societies rather than as one monolithic group. It is not possible to have a universal standard of physical appearance. Therefore, it is detrimental to society to refuse to make accommodations for those who do not fit this standard. It is implicitly valuing humans to say that there are no accommodations needed for people with disabilities.
In some cases, people with disabilities are affected by their impairment, but if they were to live in a more accessible world, it would make them less disabled. The tray’s inaccessibility is what is causing the student’s physical disability. Disability is evident only when a person is excluded due to their disability. The school is responsible for removing these barriers. Either lower the counters to make it easier or provide someone to assist. Equity is an important framework that ensures justice in our society. A just society is committed to improving the quality and quantity of life in its community. Schools must do the same.
