Understanding Disability and Society Flashcards
It results from “the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others
— according to the CRPD
Disability
These two bodies identified the role of social and physical barriers in disability
- Disabled People’s Movement
- Researchers in Social & Health Sciences
The transition from an individual, medical perspective to a structural, social perspective
Shift of Medical Model to Social Model
In the Social Model, people are viewed as being disabled by _____
Society
Disability is not purely _____ or _____. Different experiences and problems can arise from health conditions
Medical or Social
What does ICF mean?
International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health
How does ICF understand and measure functioning and disability?
A dynamic interaction between health conditions and contextual factors
Who are involved in developing the ICF process?
- Academics
- Clinicians
- PWDs
The ICF emphasizes that _____ factors can create disability
Environmental
Disability can refer to difficulties encountered in any or all three areas of functioning.
Categories of Human Functioning Problems:
- Impairments
- Limitations
- Participation Restrictions
Problems in body function or alterations in body structure
E.g. Paralysis, Blindness
Impairments
Difficulties in executing activities. Problems to be solved in areas of Occupation
E.g. Difficulty in walking, Difficulty in eating
Limitations
Problems with involvement in areas of life
E.g. Facing discrimination in employment, Transportation problems
Participation Restriction
What does the ICF adopt and not distinguish?
- ICF adopts neutral language
- Does not distinguish between the type and causes of disability
Impairments vs Health Conditions
Impairments
- Specific decrements in body function and structures
- Often identified as symptoms of health conditions
Health Condition
- Body’s overall state, especially in regards with presence of diseases or injuries and disorders
Protects and ensures the full and equal employment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by people with disabilities
Promotes and respects disabled people’s inherent dignity
It acknowledges that disability is an evolving concept
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
How can Social Participation be improved?
By addressing the barriers which hinder disabled persons in everyday life
CRPD General Principles:
- Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy, and independence of persons
- Nondiscrimination
- Full and effective participation and inclusion in society
- Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity
- Equality of opportunity
- Accessibility
- Equality between men and women
- Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the rights of children with disabilities to preserve their identities
Why is Disability a Human Rights Issue?
- People with disabilities experience inequalities,
- Experience violations of dignity; or,
- Experience denial of autonomy
How do Inaccessible Environments create Disability?
By creating barriers to participation and inclusion
Negative attitudes, or discrimination towards disability can result in _____ of people with disabilities
Instead, it is important to remember that: “Persons with disabilities are diverse and heterogeneous, not stereotypes”
Negative Treatment
_____ experience the combined disadvantages associated with gender as well as disability
Women with Disabilities
People with _____ appear more disadvantaged than those people with physical or sensory conditions
Mental health conditions or intellectual impairments
People with _____ often experience greater disadvantage
more severe impairments
_____ can help overcome activity limitations and participation restrictions
Wealth and Status
Global Issue on Health
- Lack of affordable access to proper healthcare aids and appliances
- Poor healthcare facilities
- Poorly trained healthcare workers in rehabilitation centers
Global Issue on Education
- Education systems are exclusive, not inclusive, to disabled children
- Unavailability and inaccessibility of special schools
- Untrained teachers
- Unavailability of educational materials for the disabled
Global Issue on Accessibility
Physical accessibility in buildings, transportation, access to services, and others still remain a major challenge
Global Issue on Discrimination and Social Exclusion
- Negative attitudes hinder disabled persons from taking an active part in family, community, or workforce
- People suffering from mental illness or retardation face the worst stigma and are subject to severe social exclusion
Global Issue on Employment
- Disabled adults have far lower employment rates than the general population
- Much less disabled people are employed in private sectors
Global Issue on Policy Implementation
- Enforcement of policies face challenges
Decisions that take form in laws, regulations, funding decisions and other actions that serve to communicate to citizens of constituents
Anything a government chooses to do or not to do
Public or Social Policies
Passed after American people with disabilities organized to gain access to public and private facilities and services
Initially, businesses opposed this as they feared providing accommodations would be costly
Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)
Guarantee equal social opportunities and protection under the law, regardless of race, religion or other characteristics.
American with Disabilities Act, Fair Housing Act
Civil Right Status
Provide financial assistance and welfare benefits to individuals who meet requirements set by law.
Medic-Aid, Medicare, Vocational Rehabilitation
Entitlement Programs
A grant in which a federal agency selects the awardee (i.e., grant recipient) based on merit and eligibility.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Centers for Independent Living
Discretionary Grant Programs
The ground rules created by governments and make up the bulk of the laws that govern a society.
Voter Registration Act, Family Leave Act
Regulatory Statutes
Disabled Access Tax Credit, Targeted Jobs Credit
Miscellaneous Provisions
Core Principles for the Framework for Disability Policy in the US:
- Equality of Opportunity
- Economic Self-Sufficiency
- Independent Living
- Full Participation
A public program for people who meet the medical definition of disability and who have:
- Worked at least 10 years,
- Paid taxes for at least 5 of the past 10 years of employment
To be considered disabled, a person must prove they are unable to engage in substantial activity for a period that has lasted, or is expected to last, 12 months
A benefit based on the wages earned over time is calculated and approximately 85% of the highest wages earned during the past years 10 years is supplied
Social Security Disability Insurance
Available to people who meet the lawful definition of disability and are also unable to engage in substantial gainful activity and reindigement
These people have less than $2000 in assets and do not have a history of earning substantial wages.
Supplemental Security Income
State-administered program for people who meet certain eligibility categories and have limited incomes
Categories include children, pregnant women, and individuals with disabilities, and are over the age of 65 years old
Medicaid
A broad program of health insurance designed to assist the nation’s elderly (65 or older) to meet hospital, medical, and other health costs
Medicare
An act to enhance the mobility of disabled Filipinos by requiring certain buildings, institutions, establishments and public utilities to install facilities and other devices
Batas Pambansa 344 (Accessibility Law)
An act providing for the rehabilitation, self development and self reliance of Filipino disabled persons, and their integration into the mainstream of society, and for other purposes
This includes discounts, equal rights, employment, incentives, education, and political rights
Batas Pambansa 7277 (Magna Carta for Disabled Persons and for Other Purposes)
They put forward a strategic plan founded on contemporary ideas of health and social justice
They argued that equality and social justice are central to OT’s conceptual framework
British College of Occupational Therapy
All things and activities that people want, need, or have to do
Enables populations and communications to participate actively in shaping their destinies
Occupations
“Truth of action” - Benjamin Disray
Used in arguing for equal distributions of resources and positive discrimination in terms of marginalized persons
Justice
This concept of justice centers on just social relations and conditions, regardless of social and personal differences
Recognizes citizens’ equal worth and equal rights to have basic needs, opportunities, requirements
When possible, to eliminate unjustified inequalities
Social Justice
Applied to the right of every individual to be able to meet basic needs and to have equal opportunities and chances to reach their potential
A justice of difference because people have different needs, natures, and capacities, that are expressed through what they do
Requires ethical distribution and sharing of resources, rights, responsibilities with regards to what individuals want or need within social and ethical standards
Occupational Justice
Occupational Justice provides a framework for:
Asking questions about:
- Inequalities of opportunity for occupational development or
- The lack of appropriate enablement for those living with disability
Restriction and denial of occupational rights and actions due to socio-political and economic factors
Occupational Deprivation
How to deliver occupationally just programs?
- Engaging people in dialogue about their perceived occupational needs.
- Assessing according to those needs
- Implementing programs that ensure needs are met
Advocating for Occupational Justice involves:
- Using powerful arguments in the media to increase awareness
- Being available for public dialogue about enabling inclusive social structures and occupational policies
- Knowing when and how to talk about occupational justice issues
- Being ready to advance public understanding by using different resources
It requires choices about the role of government in the lives of people, and responsibility given by citizens.
Policy-making
What does today’s practice of OT need to prove?
Today’s practice of occupational therapy may actually rest on the profession’s success and putting occupational injustice explicitly on the public agenda and showing what an occupation focused, justice driven profession can accomplish.
Occupational Injustice and Social Problems
- Economic rationalism and bureaucratic legislation have led to people being unable to obtain regular paid employment that meet their interests and skills or to be self-employed
- Lack of financial and social incentives for part-time work lead to preferences for accepting social security instead of paid employment
