Pastoral Relationship with People with Intellectual ... - Theses

124political groupings. This latter point can be asserted both on the basis of theunique characteristics of their disability and of the extent of their consequentialloss of valued social identity and function.Within the South Australian context the current conceptualisation of theinstitution, although arguably more enlightened, needs to be understood asemerging from early, colonial forms of segregation, such as the destitute asylum.Such a system of social isolation can be regarded as symptomatic of the widelyheldfear of people with disability. This was a fear that led to the call for the‘elimination’ of the ‘mental defective’ from society, as expressed through theeugenics philosophy.It can be well argued that there is evidence of a move today to forms ofcommunity-based accommodation which can lay claim to being far removedfrom the historic mass accommodation forms of the institution, both in terms ofgeographic location and architectural style. These forms of accommodation, andthe philosophy undergirding their development, can be observed to be expressiveof people with intellectual disability being treated with greater respect than informer generations. Nonetheless, the negative impact of institutionalisation canclearly be seen to remain in evidence in regards to resident compliance,regulation, lack of community access and lack of autonomy, even amidstcommunity settings. Furthermore, the continuation of a culture ofinstitutionalisation can be perceived, both from a political and institutionallypragmaticperspective, through the ongoing development of accommodation attraditional institutional locations.3.4 How Do I Regard the One Before Me?And I observe the one before me as Slave in terms of embodied identity.He has assumed this name because for countless generations that is who he hasbeen told he is. He has been told that he bears the marks of a slave, and thus it ishis destiny to be treated as one and to live as one. It has been predetermined.Suggestions of assuming another identity are inconceivable. I see someone whohas been told so often that this is who he is that he bears the countenance of onewho believes it and who acts accordingly.