The Concept of Disability - Case Study Example

The Concept of Disability Report Name Institution The Concept of Disability Report SECTION A Statement of the Case Study I am a 36 years old male living in Hughenden, Western Queensland, with my wife and 2 small children. One morning, after having a series of assessment, observation, and several appointments, my physician told me that I was handicapped since the diagnosis procedures revealed that I was suffering from Acquired Brain injury (ABI). Upon hearing the result, the grief almost consumed my life. I live in a three-bedroom apartment fully furnished with all the requirements for my condition. I receive a lot of support from my family. The diagnosis revealed that I had suffered 12 months post injury associated with traumatic motor vehicle accident. SECTION B Disability Awareness ABI is a medical issue affecting anyone regardless of his or her class, age, gender, ethnical background, and race. The disease cause damage to the brain after birth but does not relate to congenital or degenerative diseases. According to the Brain Injury Association, such impairments might be temporary, permanent, or cause partial functional disability or psychosocial maladjustment. It is not easy to pinpoint people who have acquired brain injury within the community due to inadequate external symptomology, thus the name “hidden disability.” The initial title of the disease changed accordingly due to the extensive damage to the cognitive and social functioning (Elbaum & Benson, 2007). The injury might occur because of a series of incidents. However, it is significant to note that the disease can affect anyone. The common incidents are road traffic accidents, fall, assaults, and complications from brain surgery, and inadequate supply of oxygen to the brain. The injury has negative impacts on both the patients and their families. All forms of brain injury affect a person irrespective of the level of severity since they inflict undesired changes, which might be temporary, permanent, or improves with time. From personal experience, the disease dictated every activity I carried out. These changes not only affect the patients negatively, but also their support systems including the families and communities (Ponsford, Kelly & Couchman, 2014). Moreover, I witnessed several cognitive changes such as inability to learn, think, memory affection, flexibility, and communication. Other experienced changes were concentration, insight, and response. However, the injury also inflicts physical changes such as fatigue, hearing impairment, chronic pain, sexual function, headache, and visual problems (BrainLine, 2016).To some extent, I witnessed some behavioral changes such as depression, inadequate initiatives, self-centeredness, and impulsivity. Other behavioral changes include sexual behavior and inappropriate behavior. According to the study carried out by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 2007, it was found that traumatic brain injury was the main cause of hospitalization, disability, and death. In Australia, there are several international and state organizations advocating for provision of equal opportunities and services to people living with disability. The table below shows a list of such organizations operating in Australia At community level, Brisbane Brain Injury Network that operates from Queensland is better placed to offer some of the services that I require to survive the negative impacts associated with acquired brain injury. Currently, the organization is embarking on increasing the level of awareness of ABI in Queensland, establishing various forms of partnership with the sate and international institutions to provide essential services. Moreover, the organization is listing a network of organization willing to offer support development and ensuring that the affects people are aware of these institutions. Name Organizational description and responsibilities Organizational contact Brain Injury Australia (BIA) It represents all Australians with ABI Through State and Territory Member Organization, it represent the needs of the people with ABI, their families, and caregivers Operates at national level to ensure accessibility to resources and support to everyone Phone: +61 2 9808 9390 European Brain Injury Society European association serving traumatic brain injured people and victims of acquired cerebral lesions Ensures its members access brain injury professional services and seminars Phone: +32 (0)2 522 20 03 International Brain Injury Association It is dedicated to development and supporting multidisciplinary medical and clinical professional to enhance the outcomes and opportunities for people with brain injury Phone: 703-960-0027 http://www.braine.org/resources/international_resources.php ReNew Neurobehavioral Services(Victoria) Provision of community based approach to ABI rehabilitation Has trained clinicians to offer support that is integrated and consistent to treatments and ensuring positive outcomes Address: 11 Howard St, Altona Meadows VIC 3028, Australia Phone:+61 3 8368 4100 Synapse (Queensland) Provides great information on brain injury free of charge Phone: 1800 673 074 info@synapse.org.au National Rural Health Alliance Inc. (ACT) Offers best practice post-hospital brain injury rehabilitation (close to home) Postal Address: PO Box 280 Deakin West ACT 2600 Address: 10 Campion St Deakin ACT 2600 Phone: (02) 6285 4660 Fax: (02) 6285 4670 Email: nrha@ruralhealth.org.au Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust  Provision of best quality neurobehavioral rehabilitation for those suffering from complex and challenging needs after brain injury 3 Westgate Court, Silkwood Park, Wakefield WF5 9TJ Tel: 01924 266344 | Fax: 01924 269380 | Email: director@birt.co.uk Luminosity Aims to assist members improve their brain health and performance, improved memory, and web-based training methods Address: 140 New Montgomery Street, Fl 19 San Francisco, CA 94105 Brain Awareness Week Foundation International campaign aiming to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits from the brain research Tel: +1 212 401-1689  Fax: +1 212 593 7623 E-mail: bawinfo@dana.org The NSW Council for Intellectual Disability (NSW CID) Peak institution representing the rights and interests of the people with intellectual disability in NSW Call (02) 9211 1611  Free call 1800 424 065  Email: mail@nswcid.org.au  Website and contact details: www.nswcid.org.au People with Disability Australia Incorporated (PWD) A national peak disability rights and advocacy institution Provision of related information, training and referral services Representation and coordination of sector of interest constituted by people with disability Call 02 9370 3100  Free call 1800 422 015  Email: pwd@pwd.org.au  Website and contact details: http://www.pwd.org.au/contact.html SECTION C Daily Living Time and Activity Possibility of undertaking the activity Encountered barriers Facilitators of the objective Solutions to barriers Financial cost of activity Sources of the finances 7 am: walking up from the bed Very easy No barriers Commitment None None None 7 -7.30 am: Freshening up Easy No assistance from family members Inability to remember the wall robe with my clothes Slow reaction to executing the activities Focus Availing carers Educating the family members on importance on availing their support $1,000.00 per week (Department of Human Services, 2016) Assistance from brain injury organizations 7.30-8.00 am: preparation of breakfast Easy Forgetting how to turn on the gas Ability to remember though after long duration Availing assistance especially carers $750.00 per week (Department of Human Services, 2016) Brain injury organizations 8-9.00 taking breakfast and resting Easy No barriers Support from family members None $500 Family members 9-11 am: playing puzzle games Difficult Inadequate experience in games Commitment Provision of assistance from family members None None 11-12 pm: engaging the mind with story books A bit difficult Remembering after reading the books Commitment and focus Availing assistance from experience healthcare practitioner $1,000.00 per week (Department of Human Services, 2016) Family members and brain injury organizations 12-2pm: lunch preparation, eating and break Easy Failing to remember cooking procedures and storage points for ingredients Commitment, focus, and encouragement Availing family members for assistance None None 2-3.30pm: nature walk to keep the mind at work Easy Unavailability of a care practitioner to in details the importance of the concept Cooperation and encouragements Provision of trained healthcare practitioner and family member $1,000.00 per week (Department of Human Services, 2016) Family members and brain injury institutions 3.30-4.30 pm: having psychoanalysis therapy with the physician A bit difficult Remembering some past lessons quite difficult Motivation and commitment Undergoing through the process in the presence of at least a family member $1,000.00 (Department of Human Services, 2016) Brain injury organizations 5pm: resting for the day Easy Analysis, connection, remembering, and learning from the day’s experience a bit difficult Motivation and encouragements Assistance from the family members None None SECTION D Challenges To reduce the impact of brain, it is important that the patients ensure high interaction with the others. However, dealing with such cases is the major problem, as most patients prefer being alone and, in the end, contributing to the prevalence of the disease. The major obstacle associated with the disorder is losing independence since it influences both the physiological and psychological processes that in turn affect the mood and appearance. As a result, the patients reduce their positive self-image and social isolation. To such extent, it becomes tough even for the family members to interact with them freely especially is they do not understand the concept of brain injury (Community Care, 2013). Consequently, the disorder affects one’s ability to function and get around the homestead. It becomes a serious problem especially if the family members do not understand how to handle such patients; hence, the only close people to assist are the neighbours and care practitioners. People suffering from brain injury not only have the problem noticing their social world but also find it difficult to interpret it. Besides, what makes their social life a challenge is that they view others as separate beings from their agenda. Thus, to accommodate the others, predict the future behaviours, manipulate, or please them, the patients need to have an inbuilt capacity for guessing something their personality and their desires. Most patients lack such abilities to staggering degree. Since the patients lack the capacity to read social cues like tone voices, body language, and facial expressions, they are at disadvantage. Social communication is also difficult since they can neither respond appropriately nor communicate their thoughts. Trying to make their life comfortable like others, the disabled people always think that they are source of burden to family members who they expect should be their source of holinesses and reason to work extra hard. In most cases, it even becomes difficult for people suffering brain injury to hold their families together as they tend to exhibit inappropriate, embarrassing, and impulsive behaviours. Besides, such individuals lack self-control and self-awareness, which triggers their inappropriate impulsive behaviours in social life (Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center, n.d.). The major problem is that most of them deny that they suffer from cognitive problems even if the symptoms are obvious, they say hurtful or insensitive things, act out of place, and behave inconsiderably which might also be a social restriction especially from young children. Maintaining both the family and friendship are one of the most difficult tasks the patients have to go through; therefore, it is significant that the close parties properly understand the situation. The patients lack awareness of social boundaries and have no emotions about people that they do not consider as close friends. As a result, they take their feelings too personal without realizing they have made some uncomfortable. However, it is important to note that there are several reasons behind such impulsive, socially inappropriate behaviours, and inability to maintain proper relationship and family members and friends. The major reason is the declined ability to reason and control one’s self (Kearney & Pryor, 2004). To enhance their self-awareness, there is need to ensure that patients acquire complex thinking skills which are often weak after experiencing brain injuries. People suffering from brain injury, moderate or severe, require continuum of care that involves acute hospitalization and post-acute rehabilitation. The rehabilitation programmes include community integration to enable improvement in social and communication skills. Patients with brain injury need to receive care programmes in a friendly environment free from any form of distraction. However, in my city, the major environmental problem faced is noise pollutions from the industrial set-ups and moving motor vehicles. There is need for concentration when dealing with any form of disability that influences the capacity or functionality of the brain. Such activities make it difficult to have psychoanalysis within my community. Community rehabilitation often follows discharge from any rehabilitation centre. Assisting people with ABI to acquire their maximum independence and participate in communal activities is very difficult (Zoltan, 2007). Thus, family support, education, and counselling play an integral part especially high level of cooperation is a requirement. The quality of the available community services might, to some extent, be less that the ideal and cost issues could limit the level of accessibility. Any form of disability affects the patients in one way or another. Brain injury impairs the most important in our lives, communication. In every aspect of life, effective communication is important in ensuring efficient and reliable completion of the outlined activities. However, with brain injury, it becomes difficult to communicate one’s mind. Besides problems associated with social interactions, the patients might appear uninterested in finding or developing new friendship (Larner, 2005). Such effects not only affect them but also the entire community especially those that wish them recovery from such conditions. Currently, we live in a society where social interaction is the order of the day. To receive assistance, people have to communicate and open up their thoughts. From early childhood development to adulthood, playing is important as it assists in opening up the mind and creating a social bond with others. Brain injury changes such abilities and renders the affected inadequate of the imaginative plays. People have to enjoy themselves and take part in communal games. Brain injury denies people such opportunities making it difficult for them to understand even the abstract of ideas (Mock & World Health Organization, 2010). Consequently, they might be overriding the obsession with objects or routines, which to some extent interfere further with their quest to building a social relationship. Most people within my community do not care about people with disability; therefore, adjustment to such conditions is inevitable. I have to rely on my family members for assistance and fight for opportunity with equal passion and magnitude like others. Perspective of Self-Concept, Body Image, and Self-Esteem from Disability Point There are different types of self-concept: physical and psychological self-concept. The physical type deals with self as a physical being while physiological involves mental status, attitudes, and beliefs. People suffering from brain injury tend to exhibit intact self-concept and impaired psychological self-concept. Based on the hypothesis regarding the interpersonal origin self-concepts, the patients often show a relative dearth. In every situation while trying to bring change, it is significant to believe in one’s self. Although disabilities tend to limit people to certain extent, it crucial to note that such problems do not relate to a person’s ability (Khan, Baguley, & Cameron, 2003). Therefore, as an ABI patient, I need to focus on their self-esteem and stability in a bid to ensuring the achievement of their desires. The fact that one is disabled must never deter him/her from achieving whatever they need. Besides, the world is highly competitive for each person that self-esteem and positive beliefs in one's potential are the most important factors to consider. Practitioners and members of the community need to avoid feeding the patients with negative information as it a threat to self-esteem. There is a relationship between the negative social comparisons and psychological challenges, which could be, inflicted denial of sources. However, it is my responsibility to focus on the positive side of disabilities in a bid to prevent stress factors. Such factors often contribute to low self-esteem. Hypothetically, making self-concept a greater priority enables the patients to place their emotional reactions obtained through ABI within a wider holistic context. The disregard community people with disabilities as incapable, however, I believe in my self-esteem and potential in ensuring that I lead a normal life like others. It is quite disheartening how the community views people with disability. To some extent, such perception might result in low self-esteem, demoralization, and inadequate commitment to ensuring efficient and effective recovery (Advocating Change Together, 2004). With high self-esteem, there is hope of recovery, which is an important factor in ensuring quick recovery. With such regard, I intend to exhibit commitment, positivism, and stability of life course to ensure that low self-esteem does not prevent me from living a normal life. With regard to body image, I value the manner in which people view my physical appearance as it spells out my self-confidence. Even with disability, much can still be done to portray happiness if no one even cares about you. The manner in which one presents his/her physical appearance irrespective of the condition reflects much about them. With positive self-image, one acquires the confidence of interacting with others amid continued weaknesses from the disease. Self-image also defines self-concept and self-esteem, therefore, with positivism, am likely to achieve everything I ever desired (Ponsford, Kelly & Couchman, 2014). To achieve the desire and consistent self-image, it is significant to set standards of life that I need to live and have a driving force that will always make me moving without any procrastination. For example, I could focus on the happiness of my family as the strength to eliminating any form of depression or anxiety associated with my condition. Paternalism, Self-Efficacy, and Independent Treatment Mechanisms among the Practitioners One of the easiest ways of assisting people with disability is to discourage paternalism. To encourage people with disability to have confidence in the ability, it is significant to empower and motivate without according them assistance when they do not require. Besides, they have every right to decide for themselves based on what they believe rather than assuming that the chosen action of assisting is the most appropriate (Ball, 2002). As a result, healthcare profession needs to ensure adequate consultations with people with disabilities without medical decisions on their behalf as a method of fostering medical intervention. Paternalism belittles their potential and strengths. Most countries consider consenting on behalf of people with disability illegal. Therefore, it is the role of healthcare practitioners to ensure that they uphold integrity and codes of conduct as require. Such cases are applicable to adults, however, with children, the rules might not be that strict. Self-efficacy is believing in one’s ability to perform a task effectively and acquire the desired outcomes. In healthcare profession, self-efficacy is important as it determines the expected outcomes while executing treatment with people with disabilities. Various dimensions of self-efficacy are significant in healthcare profession including problem-solving, decision-making, and self-regulatory self-efficacies (Hoffman, 2014). People with disability often present several challenges to the practitioners as their cooperation and commitment to treatment is not guaranteed. Therefore, the practitioners have to utilize their self-efficacy to influence their patients and achieve the desired results. However, besides ensuring the application of self-efficacy, the practitioners have to comply with the laid down regulations, code of conducts, and policies governing treatment of people with disabilities. The world is becoming highly competitive for everyone including people with disabilities. Therefore, healthcare practitioners need to focus on psycho-treatments that encourage independence among people with disabilities. In Australia, the law is very clear on accessibility to quality healthcare irrespective of one race, religious background, and medical state. Application of treatment mechanisms that encourage people with disabilities to continuously depend on others for survival should be discouraged as to some extent it encourages laziness among them and demoralization as they think that they are a greater burden (Ohio Legal Rights Service, 2002). People with disabilities have greater hidden potential that might allow the live a normal life. However, most of them lack the opportunities to express themselves due to some treatments offered to them in an inappropriate manner. References Advocating Change Together (Organization). (2004). The patient needs fixing: Understanding the medical/professional view of disability. St. Paul, MN: Advocating Change Together. Ball, D. R. (2002, March 1). A Pain in the Brain: The Psychology of Sport and Exercise Injury. Retrieved from http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/a-pain-in-the-brain-the- psychology-ofsport-and-exercise-injury BrainLine (2016). International Brain Injury Resources. Retrieved from http://www.brainline.org/resources/international_resources.php Community Care. (2013, January 29). Why social work is so important for brain injury survivors. Retrieved from http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2013/01/29/why-social- work-is-so-important-for-brain-injury-survivors/ Department of Human Services. (2016). Essential Medical Equipment Payment - Australian Government Department of Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/essential-medical- equipment-payment Elbaum, J., & Benson, D. M. (2007). Acquired brain injury: An integrative neuro-rehabilitation approach. New York: Springer. Families4Families. (2016). Great Websites for ABI Information. Retrieved from http://families4families.org.au/resources/great-websites-for-abi-information/ Hoffman, A. J. (2014). Enhancing Self-Efficacy for Optimized Patient Outcomes through the Theory of Symptom Self-Management. National Institute of Health, 3(1), 13-16. Kearney, P. M., & Pryor, J. (2004). The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 46(2), 162-170. Khan, F., Baguley, I. J., & Cameron, I. D. (2003). Rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury. The Medical Journal of Australia, 178(6), 290-295. Larner, S. (2005). Common psychological challenges for patients with newly acquired disability. Nursing Standard, 19(28), 33-39. Mock, C., & World Health Organization. (2010). Strengthening care for the injured: Success stories and lessons learned from around the world. Geneva: World Health Organization. Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center. (n.d.). Cognitive Problems After Traumatic Brain Injury. Retrieved from http://www.msktc.org/tbi/factsheets/Cognitive-Problems- After-Traumatic-Brain-Injury Ohio Legal Rights Service. (2002). Advocating for housing: A traumatic brain injury and disability perspective. Columbus: Author. Ponsford, J., Kelly, A., & Couchman, G. (2014). Self-concept and self-esteem after acquired brain injury: A control group comparison. Informa Healthcare, 28(2), 146–154. Zoltan, B. (2007). Vision, perception, and cognition: A manual for the evaluation and treatment of the adult with acquired brain injury. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK. Read More