Abstract Certain reasons and factors should allow women carrying children with physical and mental disabilities the choice of abortion with them knowing that they cannot fully provide for their children emotionally, financially and even physically. This report discusses these reasons and their implications; justifies the need for the action that is considered “murder” in most societies and sheds light on the hard truth for those few who have been dealt with the unfortunate situation of having children with special needs. It is discussed here that women should be given the choice of abortion due to the financial cost of bringing up the child, the effect the disability will bring into the child’s life and also the impact of the child’s disability on the family. What is explained here will further answer the question, “what if my child had never been born?” 1.0 Introduction What is abortion? According to Medicine.net (2010), Abortion is generally defined as the premature exit of the products of conception from the body and the loss of pregnancy. A disorder, on the other hand, is defined as a derangement or abnormality of function; a morbid physical or mental state. In all aspects, a child brought into this world should be treated with care and love. All children should feel wanted by their parents. However, the number of cases of which unwanted children being given up at orphanages is saddening. Even more shocking is the revelation that some of these unfortunate children bear disabilities that would impair the quality of their lives. The prospects of adoption for these children seem to be slim. Hence, the burning question remains : should women conceiving children with known physical and mental d... ... middle of paper ... ...ving in Private Households”. OPCS Surveys of Disability in Great Britain. Report 5. London :HMSO viewed 7th April 2010, 13. Dobson, B, Middleton, S, Beardsworth, A (2001), ‘The Impact of Childhood Disability On Family Life’, York Publishing Services Ltd, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, viewed on 5th April 2010, 14. Powell, T. H., & Ogle, P. A. (1985). ‘Brothers & sisters: A special part of exceptional families’. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing, viewed on 7th April 2010, http://openlibrary.org/b/OL2857325M/Brothers_sisters--a_special_part_of_exceptional_families 15. Stirof S, Stirof B, (2010), ‘The Impact of a Disabled Child on Your Marriage’, viewed on 5th April 2010,
Shakespeare, T. (1993) Disabled people's self-organisation: a new social movement?, Disability, Handicap & Society, 8, pp. 249-264 .
History of Concerns/Goals: Onset/context: Families with children with disabilities 28% live below the federal poverty line and 2-3 times more likely to have to pay out of pocket expenses (Coppin et al., 2006). As mentioned before after the death of there father has been family dysfunction and conflict, and in clients own words “the family is “stuck in time” and in circumstances”. This reveals a long history of unsure demoralized and ever changing rules and dynamics within the family (Gilbert, Ellen,
Behiling, Laura L. "The Necessity of Disability in 'Good Country People' and 'The Lame Shall Enter First'." Flannery O'Connor Review 4 (2006): 88-89. MLA International Bibliography. Web. 2 Apr. 2014.
He is perhaps the posterchild for stress. Stuck at a dead-end job, longing for freedom, but unable to do so because he is the main caregiver for his brother, he does a remarkable job of showing patience when dealing with a developmentally disabled person. However, as a stressed out individual, his relationships tend to suffer, as he is riddled with frustration and thinks very negatively about himself. As the primary caregiver for his younger sibling, this is to be expected. Caregivers of physically or mentally disabled family members are at risk for chronic stress. Spouses who care for a disabled partner are particularly vulnerable to a range of stress-related health threats, including influenza, depression, and heart disease. Caring for a spouse who has even minor disabilities can lead to severe stress (Harvey
Disability is a ‘complex issue’ (Alperstein, M., Atkins, S., Bately, K., Coetzee, D., Duncan, M., Ferguson, G., Geiger, M. Hewett, G., et al.., 2009: 239) which affects a large percentage of the world’s population. Due to it being complex, one can say that disability depends on one’s perspective (Alperstein et al., 2009: 239). In this essay, I will draw on Dylan Alcott’s disability and use his story to further explain the four models of disability being The Traditional Model, The Medical Model, The Social Model and The Integrated Model of Disability. Through this, I will reflect on my thoughts and feelings in response to Dylan’s story as well as to draw on this task and my new found knowledge of disability in aiding me to become
Our culture has a stringent belief that creating new life if a beautiful process which should be cherished. Most often, the birth process is without complications and the results are a healthy active child. In retrospect, many individuals feel that there are circumstances that make it morally wrong to bring a child into the world. This is most often the case when reproduction results in the existence of another human being with a considerably reduced chance at a quality life. To delve even further into the topic, there are individuals that feel they have been morally wronged by the conception in itself. Wrongful conception is a topic of debate among many who question the ethical principles involved with the sanctity of human life. This paper will analyze the ethical dilemmas of human dignity, compassion, non-malfeasance, and social justice, as well the legal issues associated with wrongful conception.
Chapter thirteen has two subject matter that it discusses in some detail, mental illness and developmental disabilities. This review will be exploring the history, philosophy and theories of developmental disabilities. Social workers come in contact with many clients that have developmental disabilities, and the chapter gives a glimpse the history, problems, and theories related to developmental problems. Chapter thirteen explores the issues of dealing with developmental disabilities in the past and what is being done today to help social workers face the issues.
To those who are unaware of exactly what an abortion is; it is when a pregnant woman has a fetus removed from her womb. This can either happen by induced labor, or by an in office procedure where the woman is put under general anesthesia and the fetus is surgically removed. This procedure usually takes place under a few hours and the patient may be sent home that day.
Living with a child with special needs can have profound effects on the entire family including the extended family members, siblings, parents, and the child with the special needs. It can affect all aspects of family functioning, since they have to be on the watch for the child. On the positive side, living with a child with special needs can expand horizons, develop family cohesion, increase the family members’ awareness of their inner strength, and promote connections to community groups. On the negative side, this child will need time, physical and emotional demands and financial cost in order to make the child’s life comfortable. However, the impacts will depend on the child’s condition, and its severity, as well as the emotional, physical, and the financial resources available to take care of the child.
In countries with life expectancies over 70 years of age, people spend on average about eight years, or 11.5 percent of their life span, living with disabilities. The passage "A Giant Step” by Henry Louis Gates Jr is a memoir about how he came to injure his foot, and all the complications that went along with the permanent injury. Similarly “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is a story about a teen named Junior who has hydrocephalic, we learn the many complications that come along with this disability. There are similarities and differences in how both people live their lives. Both people with their disabilities find it within themselves not to give up and still overcome challenges. On the other hand both mothers aren't the same, their motives for their children are completely different. Junior was also able to live a little more normal life, have freedom meanwhile Gates was held back a little more from
The number of children with special educational needs and disability (SEND) in England is over 1.2 million with over 230,000 having statements or education, health and care plans, a number which has continued to rise over the years (Department for education, 2016). Described by the department for education (2014, p.7) as “Children and young people with SEN all have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn…”. Within this assignment I intend to outline the provision made for a SEN child in my attachment, which will be referred to as Child A.
Disability is defined as a long term condition that restricts an individual’s daily activities (Government of Western Australia Department of Communities, n.d.). A disability can be identified in numerous types which are physical, sensory neurological and psychiatric. Due to the assistance with appropriate aids and services, the restrictions experienced by individuals with a disability may be overcome. However, the ways society perceives disability may have a significant impact on individuals living with it and also families around them. Therefore, the aim of this essay is to reflect on the social construction of disability through examining the social model of disability and how it may impact on the lives of people living with disability.
Because of the ambiguity of the definition, there is a requirement to have the social model to help to provide the answers. As the social model illustrates how the social institutions, labels, and stereotypes impact the perceived abilities of a disabled person, it is shown that the definitions of what is “normal”, “good”, and “functional” all come from the current society in which the person lives. Additionally, as culture and these definitions change with time and new ideologies and technological advances, what defines a disabled person will also change with time. This is also true across cultures as there may be different requirements to be considered “functional” or in good health in other cultures. For instance, a man unable to walk may not be as hindered in his freedom of movement if he is only required to stay in a small local area, such as a village, in comparison to a large city. However, it is also important to point out that the social model requires the medical model as well because the social model fails to focus on the individual at a more micro level. A person may see others in a similar circumstance and react in a different
People with developmental disability are vulnerable to inequality in many ways. The disabilities may include autism, cerebral palsy (CP), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other brain developmental disorders. They are physically, socially, economically, and emotionally unable to meet their extraordinary needs without the assistance of their loved ones and stakeholders, such as policymakers and health advocates. According to Zajicek-Farber, Lotrecchiano, Long, and Farber (2015), “the prevalence of such disorders has increased 17% over the past 12 years” (p. 1744). One concern of the said population is food assistance. A “households which include a person with disability are significantly more likely to be food insecure”
French, S. & Swain, J. 2008. Understanding Disability: A Guide for Health Professionals. Philadelphia: Churchilll Livingstone Elsevier: 4