Sometimes seeing something in black and white opens my eyes to a new reality. I do a lot of data collection in my position as an education director at a public broadcasting station. I understand the importance of demographics when surveying project participants. We report those findings to grant sources and utilize the data to determine the need for our products and services. Until lately, the various demographic categories were just that – data aggregates. As I prepare to turn 40, I now seem to notice how many demographic identifications I’m asked to make. And, now, I’ve entered into a different category. I’m about to exit the 30-39 group. Oftentimes the next option is just: age 40 and higher. I’m comfortable with turning 40, and I’m even looking forward to it, so moving into another age category doesn’t disturb me.
Another category made me catch my breath the other day though. Another one of our students, in my GED preparation program, passed his Tests this week. I was reviewing his file and crunching his demographic data. Our students complete an exit interview at the completion of the Program. One of the questions asks them to indicate if they are:
- Employed
- Unemployed and not seeking work
- Unemployed and seeking work or
- Disabled.
Disabled.
I wrote the exit interview questions, so I knew that option existed. But when I developed the questionnaire more than a year ago, I just thought “disabled” was just another category. In fact, in retrospect, pre-M.S., I think I just associated “disabled” with military veterans who were no long able to work. Or maybe someone who broke their back in a work accident. Or someone who has a terminal illness. I didn’t truly understand what the “disabled” category meant – or who exactly might just fall into it.
As I think about it more thoroughly now, I would have thought that my husband – an electrician/maintenance/mechanic, hunky blue collar guy exposed to machines and tools and lots of other things that can cut off limbs – would have been more likely to face the possibility of disability than me. Frankly, I never thought I’d ever in my wildest dreams enter into that category. I still don’t think I’ll be in that category for quite some time; if ever. Although, I still remember selecting “12-18” on age-related demographic surveys at one time, too. And, back then I couldn’t envision a time where ever in my wildest dreams I’d have to check the box for “over 40”.
Dare I say it? I.A.R.
Sometimes seeing something in black and white opens my eyes to a new reality. I do a lot of data collection in my position as an education director at a public broadcasting station. I understand the importance of demographics when surveying project participants. We report those findings to grant sources and utilize the data to determine the need for our products and services. Until lately, the various demographic categories were just that – data aggregates. As I prepare to turn 40, I now seem to notice how many demographic identifications I’m asked to make. And, now, I’ve entered into a different category. I’m about to exit the 30-39 group. Oftentimes the next option is just: age 40 and higher. I’m comfortable with turning 40, and I’m even looking forward to it, so moving into another age category doesn’t disturb me.
Another category made me catch my breath the other day though. Another one of our students, in my GED preparation program, passed his Tests this week. I was reviewing his file and crunching his demographic data. Our students complete an exit interview at the completion of the Program. One of the questions asks them to indicate if they are:
Disabled.
I wrote the exit interview questions, so I knew that option existed. But when I developed the questionnaire more than a year ago, I just thought “disabled” was just another category. In fact, in retrospect, pre-M.S., I think I just associated “disabled” with military veterans who were no long able to work. Or maybe someone who broke their back in a work accident. Or someone who has a terminal illness. I didn’t truly understand what the “disabled” category meant – or who exactly might just fall into it.
As I think about it more thoroughly now, I would have thought that my husband – an electrician/maintenance/mechanic, hunky blue collar guy exposed to machines and tools and lots of other things that can cut off limbs – would have been more likely to face the possibility of disability than me. Frankly, I never thought I’d ever in my wildest dreams enter into that category. I still don’t think I’ll be in that category for quite some time; if ever. Although, I still remember selecting “12-18” on age-related demographic surveys at one time, too. And, back then I couldn’t envision a time where ever in my wildest dreams I’d have to check the box for “over 40”.
Dare I say it? I.A.R.