Disability and Legislation

Question 1

What is impairment?

Answer 1

• Any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function

Question 2

What is disability?

Answer 2

A restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in a manner or within the range considered normal for a human being

Question 3

What is handicap?

Answer 3

• A disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from an impairment or a disability, that limits or prevents the fulfilment of a role that is normal (depending on age, sex and social and cultural function) for that individual

Question 4

What is impairment concerned with?

Answer 4

• Impairment is concerned with abnormalities in the structure or functioning of the body or its parts

Question 5

What is disability concerned with?

Answer 5

• Disability is concerned with the performance of activities

Question 6

What is handicap concerned with?

Answer 6

• Handicap is concerned with the broader social and psychological consequences of living with impairment and disability

Question 7

What is the disability discrimination act 2004?

Answer 7

The DDA aimed to end the discrimination which many disabled people faced. This act gave disabled people rights in the area of:

• Employment
• Access to goods, facilities and services
• Buying or renting land or property

Question 8

What is the equality act 2010?

Answer 8

• This provides a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for all. The act restated and simplified 116 separate pieces of earlier equality legislation into one act, the bulk of which came into force in October 2010

Question 9

What were some things that were included in the equality act 2010? (4)

Answer 9

• Requiring public bodies to meet a new integrated equality duty
• Strengthening protection from discrimination for disabled people
• Some people or organisations like employers, shops, local authorities and schools must take positive steps to remove the barriers faced because of disability
• ## This ensures people with a disability receive the same services, as far as this is possible, as someone who is not disabled

Question 10

What does the DDA define a disabled person as?

Answer 10

• Someone with ‘a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day-to day activities’

Question 11

What are determined to be ‘normal day to day activities’? (8)

Answer 11

• Mobility
• Manual dexterity
• Physical coordination
• Continence
• Ability to lift, carry or move everyday objects
• Speech, hearing or eyesight
• Memory or ability to concentrate, learn or understand
• Understanding of the risk of physical danger

Question 12

One barrier faced by disabled people is discrimination. Give examples of this? (4)

Answer 12

• Physical access to premises
• Lower education expectations
• Social policies imposed
• Excluded from employment

Question 13

One barrier faced by disabled people is prejudice. Give examples of these? (5)

Answer 13

• Unwanted centre of attention
• Denied anonymity
• Patronised
• Imposed identity
• Denied respect

Question 14

What 3 things are the key to independence and choice?

Answer 14

• Information
• Access
• Transport

Question 15

What are the principles of advocacy? (4)

Answer 15

Any person, whatever the nature of their disability, has the right to:

• Be treated in a dignified manner and valued as equals
• Be consulted about their needs and influence plans
• Be neither over-protected or under-protected
• Avoid being segregated from the rest of the community in work, education, recreation or where they live

Question 16

What are the implications for dentistry in order to facilitate disabled people? (4)

Answer 16

• Ensure physical accessibility of premises
• Don’t assume it always the disabled person who is the problem - it could be the dental team
• Remember disabled people are capable of expressing views and having preferences - listen to them and discuss it with them
• Impaired mobility
• Ability to reach service (transport)
• Physical access to dental premises
  All of these affect the uptake of dental care

Question 17

What do the implications of attending the dental practice lead to for disabled people? (3)

Answer 17

Leads to:

• Irregular dental attendance
• Delay in obtaining treatment and preventative advice

Which in turn leads to:
- Crisis management - pain relief and extractions (which is the last thing we want)

Question 18

Minor adaptations may be necessary to make the dental practice more accessible for disabled people. What are some of these adaptations? (8)

Answer 18

• Designated parking close to the premises
• Appropriate signposting for those with sensory impairment
• Ground floor level access
• Ramps for wheelchair access
• Handrails for support on steps and ramps
• Wide doors and corridors for wheelchairs
• Unisex disabled toilet facilities
• Wheelchair turning circle within surgery layout

Question 19

We may need to offer Domiciliary Dental care for some patients. What is this?

Answer 19

• This means we might go to visit them at home, in a hospital, at a care home etc

Question 20

Evidence shows that many carers, nurses and other healthcare professionals exhibit what (in relation to dental care)? (3)

Answer 20

• Poor attitude to oral care
• Lack of knowledge
• Inadequate training

Question 21

What are the roles of oral health services for disabled people? (6)

Answer 21

The role of oral health services should:

• Be responsive to needs of the patient
• Take account views and demands
• Show consideration for quality of life
• Respect the individuals dignity
• Target high risk populations
• Work in partnership with carers and other professionals

Question 22

What are the objectives of the British Society for Disability and Oral Health (BSDH)? (9)

Answer 22

• To improve, preserve and protect the oral health of people of all ages with disabilities
• To undertake and research into provision of dental care for people with disabilities and to publish useful results thereof
• To develop undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in the subject
• Oral health care for long stay patients and residents
• Oral care for people with a disability
• Oral care fore people with a learning disability
• Sedation and day case GA for people with special needs
• Oral health care for people with mental health problems
• The oral management of oncology patients requiring radiotherapy, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant

Question 23

What are the essentials that we must have to help these patients? (4)

Answer 23

• Maintenance of a high standard of oral hygiene
• Multidisciplinary teamwork
• Education
• Effective communication

Question 24

You are a star!

Answer 24

Yes I am :)