Literature review Western versus non-western cultural perspective on disability Disability thought in the most basic terms is the lack of competence, an aspect that prohibits an individuals’ normal capability to do particular activities. The term disability expresses the limitations that result from a dysfunction in the body or mind of an individual, disability majorly focuses on the physical aspects for example blindness, chronic incapacitating illness, being lame and mental deficiency (Angers & Haffly, 1973). History has it that different cultures exhibited various unjust acts towards the disabled, until now that some societies are enlightened and hence the need to understand that people with disability are equally as other people in the …show more content…
Much care is given to these people, the need for care giving and attention given to people with disability has then brought about the need for social classification to acquire help from disability programs. Though legislation is being put up, people with disability for long have been denied opportunities in the labor opportunities as they are seen as not productive. In most societies, the disabled are excluded from social relationships like marriage (Hayward& Schmidt-Davis, 2003a). While many governments in the western societies have proved supportive to persons with disability, in non-western cultures, the non-government organizations, community organizations are the leading supporters of the rehabilitation programs of people with …show more content…
J., & Schmidt-Davis, H. (2003a). Longitudinal study of the vocational rehabilitation services program. final report 1: How consumer characteristics affect access to, receipt of, and outcomes of VR services. Retrieved on September 15, 2006, from http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/rehab/eval-studies.html Gajar, A.H. (1983). The relevance of problems encountered in attitudinal research: a personal perspective. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 16, 586-587. Ingstad, B. (1990). The disabled person in the community: social and cultural aspects. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 13,187-194. Angers, W.P., & Haffly, J.E. (1973). Vocational rehabilitation counseling of the epileptic. Psychologia: An International Journal of Psychology in the Orient, 16(4), 201–208 Cardoso, E.S., Blalock, K., Allen, C.A., Chan, F., & Rubin, S.E. (2004). Life skills and subjective well-being of people with disabilities: A canonical correlation analysis. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research,27(4), 331–334. Renker, K. (1982) World statistics on disabled persons. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research
The two essays “On Being a Cripple” by Nancy Mairs and “A Plague of Tics” by David Sedaris are excellent pieces of work that share many similarities. This paper would reflect on these similarities particularly in terms of the author, message and the targeted audience. On an everyday basis, people view those with disabilities in a different light and make them conscious at every step. This may be done without a conscious realisation but then it is probably human nature to observe and notice things that deviate from the normal in a society. In a way people are conditioned to look negatively at those individuals who are different in the conventional
This essay has served to give a brief understanding of the theories and practices of the medical and social models of disabilities, and how they affect people with disabilities. It is an important issue to consider as there are still many things in the world the disable people and we still have steps to make society inclusive.
Comprehensive solutions or political satisfication? Disability and the Society of the People. 11, 3. Gilmore, D. & Butterworth, J. 9 (2001). Research in Practice: Vocational Rehabilitation Outcomes and General Economic Trends, 2.
Thomas and Smith (2009), examine definitions of disability, they put definitions of disability into two board categories: medical or social. The medical definitions are also called personal tragedy category definitions. The medical definitions of disability domi¬nated understanding about disability for most of the twentieth century, particularly in Western countries. It suggests that disability is an impairment that is owned by an individual and which results in a loss or limitation of function or some other 'defect '. In 1980, the definitions of impairment, handicap and disability ware introduced by World Health Organization (WHO), which came to be widely used to apply much social and welfare policy and professional practice.
...n electronic copy of the instrument was made available to the research participants. The instrument included two parts. Past one asked participants to answer questions in regards to age, ethnicity, gender, current marital status, highest level of education, number of years worked as a rehabilitation counselor, disability, and whether they were a CRC. The second part asked rehabilitation counselor questions concerning their experience working in their state agencies. The instrument includes 13 questions using a dichotomous scale in which participants were asked to respond to a series of behavioral and attitudinal questions. Participants were also asked to rank what they consider important, very important or not a factor in their job as a rehabilitation counselor (e.g, autonomy, empowerment, salary, opportunity for promotions, and recognitions for their work).
"Disability the facts." New Internationalist Nov. 2013: 20+. Advanced Placement Government and Social Studies Collection. Web. 27 May 2014.
This publication was printed with the generous support of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Radley, M. (2009). Understanding the social exclusion and stalled welfare of citizens with learning disabilities. Disability and Society, 23(4): 489-501.
The social model of disability argues against this and instead holds the view that it is society, not the individual that needs to change and do what is required, so that everyone can function in society. As this statement from the Green Party Manifesto claims that “Disability is a social phenomenon” and “While many individuals have physical or sensory impairments or learning difficulties or are living with mental health problems, it is the way society responds to these which creates disability” (2010). The aim of this paper is to consider the strength of this view. With the help of modern and contemporary sociological theory surrounding disability and health it will look at both the medical and social models of disability with the aim to conclude whether disability is a problem that needs to be addressed by medical professionals alone or by society as a whole.
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
The World Health Organisation, WHO, (1980) defines disability in the medical model as a physical or mental impairment that restricts participation in an activity that a ‘normal’ human being would partake, due to a lack of ability to perform the task . Michigan Disability Rights Coalition (n.d.) states that the medical model emphasizes that there is a problem regarding the abilities of the individual. They argue that the condition of the disabled persons is solely ‘medical’ and as a result the focus is to cure and provide treatment to disabled people (Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, 2014). In the medical model, issues of disability are dealt with according to defined government structures and policies and are seen as a separate issue from ordinary communal concerns (Emmet, 2005: 69). According to Enabling Teachers and Trainers to Improve the Accessibility of Adult Education (2008) people with disabilities largely disa...
Disability: Any person who has a mental or physical deterioration that initially limits one or more major everyday life activities. Millions of people all over the world, are faced with discrimination, the con of being unprotected by the law, and are not able to participate in the human rights everyone is meant to have. For hundreds of years, humans with disabilities are constantly referred to as different, retarded, or weird. They have been stripped of their basic human rights; born free and are equal in dignity and rights, have the right to life, shall not be a victim of torture or cruelty, right to own property, free in opinion and expression, freedom of taking part in government, right in general education, and right of employment opportunities. Once the 20th century
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.
“A History of Disability: From 1050 to the Present Day.” English Heritage. n.p., n.d. Web. 4
To begin with, full inclusion in the education system for people with disabilities should be the first of many steps that are needed to correct the social injustices that people with disabilities currently face. Students with disabilities are far too frequently isolated and separated in the education system (Johnson). They are often provided a diluted, inferior education and denied meaningful opportunities to learn. There are many education rights for children with disabilities to p...