Vulnerable population - Essay Example

They entail IDEA, ADA, Rehabilitation Act, Housing facility Act and Telecommunication Act and their amendments, the open and closed ended entitlement programs for disabled insurance and benefits, and the federal and state grant programs. This document provides a discussion on these people in the US society and also covers the 2020 objectives of ensuring healthy people in the disabled population, and the various roles of nurses in supporting this vulnerable group. Keywords: Disability, Nurses, Statistics, Policies, Americans with Disability Act (ADA), Barriers to Healthcare, Public Health, Age Introduction There is a big number of disabled people in the world population than anyone could ever imagine.

While some can speak up for themselves and appear in the public, others are left under homecare and centres. Disabilities vary; they could be permanent or temporary and could affect varying body parts and functions. According to the US federal government, disability is defined “as a mental or physical impairment, which substantially limits one or more major life activities,” hence, ranging from physiological to psychological disorders and more non listed conditions (Wisconsin Department of Health services, 2013).

Federal and States Policies on Disability The government has since the last century made efforts to remove the barriers in the society that prevent the disabled from enjoying their rights as the rest of the people. In these modern times, the employers, learning institutions and most organizations have to respect the public policies and provide opportunities for this group. Over the last century, laws were enacted and have been amended over time to enable the improved living conditions of the disabled in the society.

The Fair Housing Act of 1968 and its amendment in 1988 makes it possible for all people to access housing without discrimination, ensures disabled people are free to rent or buy a house, and requires proprietors of housing facilities to design housing units for the disabled with their policies exclusions in mind (U.S. Department of justice, 2009). The revised Telecommunication Act of 1996 works to ensure that the disabled group has access to usable equipment and service. This could imply special equipments with features to facilitate their operation.

The disabled students are also facilitated with appropriate education in an environment that fits their individual needs. The Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees individuals with disabilities a free appropriate public education, and requires that the public school system follow a recommended procedure in development of individualized education program (IEP) for each child (U.S. Department of justice, 2009). The other two civil rights statutes are ADA and the Rehabilitation Act that are of great concern in the modern society.

The Americans with Disability Act of 1990 (ADA) “prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, public services, public accommodations, and Telecommunications” and the Rehabilitation Act “prohibits discrimination by recipients of Federal Aid” (“Federal Disability Policy Framework” n.d., p. 5). Others are grant and entitlement programs that provide insurance or other benefits in the respective states. 2020 Objective The 2020