Week 6: Disability

Question 1

Explain each of the types of disability models

1. charity model
2. medical model
3. social model
4. relational model
5. diversity model
6. human rights model

Answer 1

1. charity model segregates people with disability into institutionalized care setting and classify’s them as having “mental disorders”. The institutions are made away from society and is an isolating environment
2. medical model attempts to fix disabilities through treatments and medication and acts like it is just a disease that can be cured.
3. social model is that the disability arises from barriers within society and not from impairment. For years, people with disabilities have been socially excluded from being in positions of power and of high social status and the reasoning is not because of their impairment but because of society which is a barrier
4. relational model attempts to relate to the person with disabilities and requires an understanding of the person to environment interaction
5. diversity model is that all disabilities are different and we must acknowledge that people experience their disabilities differently. So when improving the built environment, we can’t consider the condition of one person we must understand the diversity in disabilities that exist
6. human rights model is that the built environment currently is a human rights issue that needs attention and acknowledgment in the same way that other human rights issues are being addressed. The disability models have moved beyond medical and social and is now in a new era of human rights and justice

Question 2

1. T/F: The different models of disability are reflective of the last 10 years
2. T/F: People with disabilities are a homogeneous group

Fill in the blanks:

1. The nature and experience of a disability is directly linked to the _____________
2. more recent models of disability emphasize ______ in experiences for people with disability and recognize that all disabilities are different
3. the _____ model of disability compels practitioners to confront the disabling nature of built environment practice

Answer 2

F: historically reflective of many years
F: they are not homogeneous, they are diverse

1. built environment
2. diversity
3. social

Question 3

Answer the questions based on the social model of disability:

1. What is it?
2. How did it transform the media?
3. How has the employment system responded?
4. What are the criticisms of the model?

Answer 3

1. the social model is the idea that barriers for people with disability are from society and not from individual impairment
2. It changed the way that the media looked at people with disabilities. Public spaces were working to become more accessible for people with disabilities
3. The employment system has barely made a dent in the social model. This is because the solutions have been solely based on the individual model and diversity is not being considered
4. The criticisms of the model are that it is very individual based and and fails to take account of the diversity. The social model is also just one sector of the explanations for people with disabilities. More models are intertwined.

Question 4

The medical model associates the problem as being ___________. Whereas, the social model recognizes the problem as being ________.

T/F: The medical model involves society.
T/F: The social model attempts to cure people with disability

Answer 4

the person with disability. Society

F: does not involve society
F: Does not attempt to cure

Question 5

Distinguish between impairment and disability

Answer 5

Impairment is a person’s condition whereas disability is the social and political problem from society’s barriers. Society disables the person

Question 6

Given the situation below, explain how the medical vs social model would be used to address the issue:

A person in a wheelchair can’t fit through the grocery store aisle

Answer 6

medical model: The wheelchair does not fit and it is you that is the problem. Therefore, a treatment can be found so that you do not have to use the wheelchair and block the aisle

social model: The grocery store aisle is the problem. The aisle should be made accessible for everyone no matter their disability. You are not the problem

Question 7

Explain the affirmative and rights models of disability

Answer 7

1. affirmative is that disability is part of a person’s identity and it should be embraced and celebrated. It brings forward positivity for disability and not abnormal
2. Rights is that all people should be given the opportunity to participate in society and in their community

Question 8

Explain each physical barrier, give an example:

1. physical
2. attitudinal
3. communication
4. systemic

Answer 8

1. stairs, curbs, no elevators, narrow hallways, no braille or cross walk sounds
2. unwillingness to accomodate, ignorance, stereotypes
3. inadequate knowledge about how to communicate diversely. Braille, pamphlets with small words, sign language
4. policies that systemically exclude, lack of affordable housing, home care hours

Question 9

What are some examples of barriers that exist in health care

Answer 9

• health care tools
• not good patient to doctor communication
• economic barriers
• travel barriers

Question 10

What is an example of a Stop Gap solution ?

a) an app for people with disabilities to order a car and get taken where they need to go
b) a phone call line where people with disabilities can call and get help from a care professional
c) a charity organization raising funds to eliminate disability stigmas
d) a ramp installed at the front of a building where there are steps

Answer 10

d) They are temporary fixes to deal with a problem

Question 11

What is the vibrant health care alliance?

Answer 11

A clinic made specifically for people with disabilities

Question 12

What are some solutions for information barriers in health care?

Answer 12

• e-forms and consent through a secure website
• closed captioned videos, audio description
• the use of normal language and not medical terms
• be mindful of technological barriers

Question 13

why is paratransit a problem?

Answer 13

Paratransit is for ordering transit for people with disabilities to get to medical services but they require advance booking and is not flexible

Question 14

__% of people with disabilities are employed making transit quite costly for these individuals who are not employed

Answer 14

50%

Question 15

1. What is way finding?

2. How can we use tech in medical facilities for people to find their way around?

Answer 15

1. Way finding are markers put in a building to guide people. It is a non-tech solution
2. We can have medical GPS systems for finding the facility in the medical buildings for a patient with disability

Question 16

What is a supportive housing unit?

Answer 16

A house with many other people with disabilities dedicated to helping people navigate and live comfortably

Question 17

1. what is community based homecare and what does it aim to promote?
2. What are the 3 most common types of assistance
3. The maximum # of hours provided for an agency based community care is __ hours

Answer 17

1. It is homecare offered through an agency, direct funding, disabling housing units. It aims to promote diversity and independence
2. House work, getting to appointments, and food prep
3. 4 hours

Question 18

__% of individuals living with disabilities under age 65 in Canada live in long term care

Answer 18

18%

Question 19

What are the challenges to community based supports?

Answer 19

1. it is not age appropriate sometimes
2. Not very many people get assistance that require it
3. because the hours are restricted, people have to choose between the most important tasks. Sometimes making a decision like showering or eating
4. It limits the independence of people and makes them feel incapable of completing tasks on their own

Question 20

How is agency (community) based care sometimes oppressive?

Answer 20

• limits autonomy
• restricts their ability to make decisions on their own
  this reinforces oppressive and stereotypical frameworks around disabilities - that they can’t do anything on their own

Question 21

What is disability appropriate care?

Answer 21

It is care directed towards not limiting the autonomy of people. Recognizes that people with disabilities are human being capable of making their own decisions. Also recognizes diversity and that not everyone experiences their disability the same when it comes to needing care

Question 22

1. What is ableism and how is it present in health care?
2. What does ableism result in?
3. Is ableism conscious or unconscious?
4. Give an example of ableism in relation to assisted death

Answer 22

1. Ableism is a belief system that discriminates against people with disability and favours the able-bodied. In healthcare, people with disabilities often do not have the resources needed to feel comfortable and receive the proper medical attention needed
2. Results in stigma and reinforces stereotypes. Can make people with disabilities feel lesser then and can result in mental health problems.
3. It is both. It is rooted in society, so sometimes people may unconsciously be ableist because it is what they have always known. People may consciously make the decision to be ableist because they do not care about the rights and needs of those
4. Assisted death may occur because of the belief that the person with disability is suffering. This limits their personal choice and as a result their autonomy and independence

Question 23

What is institutional ableism?

Answer 23

policies and regulations that discriminate against people with disabilities

Question 24

What are some ways of dismantling ableism in healthcare?

Answer 24

• raising our voice as a collective
• recognizing and valuing the experiences of others
• listening to others and allow them to educate us
• question policies and leaders
• having more information in schools and scholarly writings from people with disabilities included in the education system.