Community experiences of many people with disabilities have been reported as distorting (Nelson & Prilleltensky, 2010). The primary reason for that is marginalization based on ableism or discrimination in favor of able-bodied people. There are several instruments community psychology can use to improve the situation. Community psychology can provide education people for disabled people about their rights (Nelson & Prilleltensky, 2010). Additionally, community psychology can provide training to disabled people to request accommodation (Nelson & Prilleltensky, 2010). While these two interventions do not have a transformative effect, they enable the vulnerable population to advocate for their rights.
Community psychology can also design programs that transform society and community values. For instance, the Media Watch Campaign introduced by Jones et al. (1988) had a significant impact on the portrayal of disabled people in media in the United States. It is an outstanding example of how community psychology research can have a transformative effect. Thus, community psychology can offer a range of interventions that can have both ameliorative and transformational effects.
References
Jones, M. L., Johnson, M., Elkins, S. & Clouston, J. (1988). The Media Watch Campaign: Improving media portrayals of people with disabilities. National Conference on Independent Living, Washington, DC.
Nelson, G., & Prilleltensky, I. (2010). Community psychology: In pursuit of liberation and well-being (2nd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.