1
Q
People with disabilities
A
- includes people who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments
- interactions with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others
- can affect activity and restrict participation in everyday life
- affects many aspects of a person’s life and has a significant impact on their families
- acronym PIPS shows the types of disabilities
Physical (spina bifida, stroke)
Intellectual (down syndrome)
Psychological (depression, bipolar)
Sensory (hearing or visually impaired)
2
Q
Prevalence
A
- growing due to ageing population (baby boomer generation)
- according to ABS in 2009, 4 million people had a disability
- overall, it fell from 20% in 2003 to 18.5% in 2009
Disability increases with age:
- 6.6% of 15-24 year olds
- 18% of 45-54 year olds
- 40% of 59-65 year olds
3
Q
Individual diversity within the group
A
- some people are born with disabilities, others may become disabled due to accidents
- can be permanent or temporary
- can be mild or severe
- people may come from different backgrounds with different causes for their disability
- some people will join a “disability group”
- some will marry
- some will need everyday assistance
4
Q
Terminology used to describe the group
A
- attitudes towards people with disabilities have improved as people have acknowledged their needs and how they fit in with the community
- we should refer to disabled car spots as accessible
- calling them brave can be patrionising
- calling non-disabled people normal or healthy can also be offensive
Do’s:
- person with a disability
- use accessible rather than disabled
- a person living with bipolar
- a user of a wheelchair
Don’ts:
- disabled person
- sufferer of bipolar
- confined by a wheelchair
5
Q
Satisfaction of needs (SHESEAS)
A
Rank from 1-6 with 1 being the most important
- Health
- Sense of identity
- Adequate standard of living
- Safety and security
- Employment
- Education
6
Q
Adequate standard of living (food, clothing, shelter)
A
- socioeconomic status of a person with a disability may be affected due to lower workforce participation rates
- may affect food choices and preparation (as they may need specially processed food if they can’t digest or swallow safely)
- may have limited choices in food if they can’t shop or prepare foods themselves
- clothing may need to be specially made to give a person with a disability more independence (zips and buttons can be replaced with magnets or velcro)
- may live by themselves or with family members
- housing needs to be affordable and close to services
- sometimes modifications need to be made in their house to suit them (hand rails in bathrooms, ramps)
- group housing/room mates may be available through family and community services depending on what type of disability they have
7
Q
Health
A
- have varying levels of health
- paralympians are in many cases fitter, stronger and more active than the rest of the population
- some people may experience further deterioration as their condition progresses (motor neurone disease) where the nerves that allow us to speak, move, breathe and swallow degenerate and die
- people who use wheelchairs may experience pressure sores, weight gain and cardiac problems due to their physical inactivity
8
Q
Health (continued)
A
- other people may have mental health issues and it is important that they are recognised and treated appropriately
- everyone with a disability requires regular GP check ups as well as regular dental and optical check ups like everyone else, however some may also require a variety of specialists
- many have a Health Care Card to assist them to meet these needs
- health care needs to be affordable and accessible
- this means for people with certain disabilities like stroke, autism or acquired brain injury who find it hard to communicate their needs to a health professional, their quality of life and life span are affected
9
Q
Education
A
- vital for many reasons and if it is not prioritised, economic status and an individual’s overall development may not be optimal
- early intervention is a strategy that seeks to optimise development
- many people with disabilities require intervention through programs designed to enhance physical, intellectual and living skills
- many schools offer courses on things like life skills and transitioning to work
- education about the nature of their disability is also required for both themselves and their carers
- carers need to be aware of the prognosis for the person with a disability and the strategies needed to help them become as independent as possible
- education also plays an important social as it assists people to meet others and develop relationships
10
Q
Employment
A
- can help them meet their needs of an adequate standard of living and a sense of identity
- many people will find it difficult to secure permanent work due to the nature of their disability, level of education and the attitudes of employers
- specialised training and ongoing support may be needed
- specific employment structures run by support groups (House with no steps, whose motto is “making the most of pur abilities”)
11
Q
Employment (continued)
A
- jobs available in various areas including landscape maintenance, litter collection, specialised packaging, manufacturing, recycling, hospitality, laundry operations, cleaning, administration and farming
- some people work for organisations that support people with disabilities (the Australian Disability Discrimination Commissioner is Graeme Innes who is a vision-impaired lawyer)
- another example is hearing impaired teachers who teach hearing impaired students
- the government provides subsidies to businesses that employ people with disabilities
12
Q
Safety and security
A
- applies to the physical, emotional and financial areas of an individuals life
- people with disabilities may be vulnerable because of their disability
- may be abused by insensitive, ignorant members of the community or exploited financially or harmed physically by relatives or nursing home staff
- may be lonely and have fewer opportunities to interact socially with friends and neighbours
13
Q
Sense of identity
A
- refers to a person’s view of who they are
- closely linked to self-esteem
- a person’s sense of identity comes from involvement in work, family life and activities
- a person who has become disabled as an adult may experience great difficulties establishing a renewed sense of identity
- often people with disabilities gain a strong sense of identity through their involvement in charity or fundraising activities that benefit the disabled community
- some are proud of their involvement in activities such as the Special Olympics or paralympics
14
Q
Financial support services
A
- disability support pensions are provided to those who are prevented from work because of a disability
- Sickness Allowance is available for a short-term disability
- mobility allowance assists with transport costs for those who can’t use transport without assistance
- child disability assistance payments and youth disability supplements are available for young people with a disability
- access to financial support services is closely alinged with education, as individuals must be made aware of such schemes before they can access them
15
Q
Transport
A
- equitable access to facilities and the ability to travel around a community underpins all aspect of life for people with a disability
- public transport, accessibility standards have been enforced as there are designated seats for people with a disability and ramps and boarding devices
- for private vehicles, there are allocated disabled spots for wheelchair access
16
Q
Accommodation
A
- type of disability will determine the accommodation required
- a person may require modifications to their home, including specialist furniture, ramps, security and adapted appliances
- require accommodation that comes with full-time or part-time care
- community accommodation available will be impacted upon by geographic location and local services
17
Q
Health care
A
- type of health service required is entirely dependent upon the type of and severity of the disability experienced
- service should be accessible physically and financially (many people with disabilities are unable to engage in full time work)
- opening hours should cater for 24/7 assistance
- some health care facilities also offer transport to enable people with disabilities to access these vital services
18
Q
Counseling
A
- sense of belonging and wellbeing is impacted by liaison with mental health personnel
- counseling may be delivered by carers, staff with nursing backgrounds or by professional mental health personnel
- each works to address aspects of a specific need with the ultimate goal being to heighten personal wellbeing
19
Q
Education
A
- educational services for people with disabilities deserve the same focus for any other consumer
- people with disabilities have diverse abilities and learning needs; they may require specialised help, learning tools, books and technology
- education will look different for each type of disability
20
Q
Employment
A
- Disability Employment Services promote and assist the employment of people with a disability
- may be through assistance to both the person with the disability and to the employer
- ongoing support is critical as is close liaison to ascertain that needs are addressed
21
Q
Legal aid
A
- free legal aid is offered to people with disabilities through the Disability Discrimination Legal Service
- apart from directly offering services, this organisation investigates and challenges current social, economic and legislative issues affecting people with disabilities
- Australian centre for Disability Law also works to promote and protect the rights of people with a disability through legal advocacy
22
Q
Factors affecting access to services
Characteristics of individuals in the group
Age:
A
- at both ends of the lifespan, a person with a disability may be dependent upon a carer or support group for assistance in accessing services as health care or financial support
- in some cases, individuals may be difficult to assist, due to immobility and factors related to age and size
- for example, a carer may need to consider the increased fragility of an elderly person with a disability
23
Q
Gender:
A
- not often recognised as an important factor for people with disabilities
- more common in males than females due to motor vehicle or occupational injury
- Women with Disabilities Australia is a group that says that women with disabilities experience fewer educational opportunities than men, earn less money, are more likely to be institutionalised and are more vulnerable to violence
- ageing population of women results in a large population of the group being elderly women
24
Q
Level of education:
A
- need education to effectively mange their disabilities
- some people with an intellectual disability learn to use the internet and a mobile phone
- increases their access to information and enhance their communication especially if they are housebound
- young people receive additional assistance at school and TAFE with specialised teachers and classrooms
25
Culture:
- language barriers may impact access to community health services for a person with a disability
- some community facilities that cater to people with an ethnic background
- example is the Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria, through a variety of aged care and other projects, works to improve accessibility of services for those from a culturally and linguistically diverse background living with a disability
26
First language spoken:
- first language is closely related to culture and may affect familiarity and knowledge of relevant services
- confidence needed to seek support is reduced when there are language barriers
- to address this area of need, many agencies and support services of interpreters, along with written fact sheets in a variety of languages
27
Type of disability:
- type and degree of disability has the most significant effect on access to services
- disability can be short or long-term, life threatening or just uncomfortable
- disability is diverse, and so is the range of support services available
28
Socioeconomic status:
- many people with disabilities are dependent on welfare support
- limits their access to services such as private hospitals, allied health professionals like speech or occupational therapists
- those with a higher socioeconomic status can afford to buy their own specialised equipment like a motorised wheelchair
- however, for those with low socioeconomic status, there is a long waiting list and can be difficult to afford to particpate in specialised activities like the Paralympic games
- for some who cannot afford a self-propelled wheelchair, even leaving the house may be nothing but a dream
29
Category A groups
People with disabilities
Homeless people
CAFS
flashcards
Decks in class (2)
# Cards
