Independent Living of People With Disabilities - Article Example

Independent Living for People with Disabilities Introduction People with disabilities are people who are afflicted with at least one condition whichis limiting their ability to carry out or complete their daily activities. In the current setting, the number of people with disabilities is growing and has become a more significant population especially with medicine allowing individuals to live longer lives. These disabilities may range from mild to severe, and may affect any part of the body. It can also cover various sub-classifications which include physical impairments (muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome, spina bifida, and cerebral palsy), lack of limbs or amputation of limbs or other body parts, sensory disabilities (hearing or visual), neurological disabilities (epilepsy), cognitive disabilities (autism), or psychological issues like depression. These disabilities may not easily be apparent to other people, and some can actually be easily corrected. These individuals’ ability to live independent lives have basically been limited or curtailed by their disability and by other barriers. This paper shall now discuss the attitudinal barriers which affect the understanding of disability and how such attitudes often impact on how these individuals are living their lives. A discussion on attitudes, culture, and the attitudinal barriers themselves shall be included in this essay. This article will ultimately provide an insight for health professionals and the general population on how attitudes can affect the care and rehabilitation of people with disabilities and how changes in such attitudes can also help provide improved perspectives for these individuals. Body Attitudes refer to habits and perceptions which persist or which stay consistent over time. These attitudes cover various dimensions and complexities (Reiter and Breyen, 2010). Barriers refer to impediments which preclude people with disabilities from actually and actively taking part in daily routines and activities within their personal, professional, community, and social life. These barriers may refer to physical, communication, social, or programmatic issues (Bryen, et.al., 1995). This essay shall mostly refer to attitudinal barriers, mostly on the fears and assumptions which do not allow individuals with disabilities from actually interacting with each other and with the rest of society. There are different dimensions to attitudes, including emotions, cognition, and behaviour. These dimensions interact with other factors as well. For the cognitive dimension, attitudes are perceptions or opinions which individuals have towards a specific state of existence, object, and ideas of other people or another individual (Albert, 2007). Under the cognitive dimension, the attitudes may sometimes be very much apparent or sometimes implied. In some cases, an individual may also have an attitude which he assumes is not acceptable to the rest of society and he may be aware that his attitude does not form part of accepted societal behaviour (Albert, 2007). The emotional dimension is also as complicated with attitudes often ripe with emotional reactions which can be positive and pleasurable. However, these attitudes can also be negative, especially where individuals do not like a specific object or person (Reiter and Bryen, 2012). The third dimension is the behavioural dimension. Same as cognitive and emotional dimensions, attitudes and behaviour may not always be congruent. An individual may have a positive feeling towards individuals with disabilities and may even be willing to employ these individuals with disabilities. As such, the emotions, cognition, and behaviour align perfectly. However, where the positive attitude does not translate to the corresponding behaviour or attitude, then the three dimensions are no congruent with each other (Reiter and Bryen, 2012). There may therefore be unfavourable attitudes which an individual, in this case, the employer is harbouring towards people with disabilities, and he may not be aware or is unwilling to accept that he is harbouring such feelings. Under these conditions, the implied negative attitude is the actual barrier in the hiring of people with disabilities, not so much the qualities or qualifications of the disabled applicant (Madans, et.al., 2011). The lack of congruence between cognition, emotions, and behaviours may result from cultural practices and attitudes. An individual may for instance express favourable emotions on civil rights for individuals with disabilities, however, he may also not agree to have these individuals under supported living conditions in their neighbourhood. These individuals may seek to explain their incongruent attitudes by arguing that they would not want to decrease the property value of the houses in their neighbourhood (Madans, et.al., 2011). Since it may be political incorrect to express their unfavourable perceptions on the rights of people with disabilities living in the community, some home owners may actually express positive attitudes towards people with disabilities. However, these general perceptions do not actually indicate their feelings about these individuals. These feelings nevertheless fit the present democratic values for western countries. School teachers may also carry positive general attitudes on the inclusion of students with disabilities in the general educational setup. However, these teachers may still assent to the practice of placing students with disabilities in the segregated special educational system (Shields, et.al., 2012). They may justify such behaviour by citing medical reasons. Health professionals and medicine generally favour the segregated setup for students with disabilities. Still, the inclusive model in educating students with disabilities is founded on the fact that people with disabilities are firstly human beings, although disabled, are in a state of existence which must be supported, and not treated as ill people who must be cured. Under these conditions, there may be an incongruence between cognition, emotion, and behaviour which may not be considered problematic by the individual as their behaviour may fit societal expectations (Shields, et.al., 2012). Attitudes emanate from culture. People think, feel, and behave in complicated and incongruent ways. Moreover, same events can actually produce different attitudes from people. A deaf-mute for instance may be treated differently by other people after he gets his communication device (Reiter and Bryen, 2012). People may be nicer and be more accommodating to them before they use the communication device, often with fewer expectations about daily activities or even work. Culture is the foundation of values and beliefs; they are the basis in understanding people’s attitudes and behaviour. Language is a tool where culture is placed upon and is unique to human beings (Reiter and Bryen, 2012). Language can unite a group of individuals with each other, distinguishing them from other groups. With common language, common experiences are also gained, allowing for a sense of belongingness and identity (Wilkinson, et.al., 2012). However, such culture is also not focused alone of language or symbolisms. They cover the general structures of society, norms, values, institutions, and human relations. Cultures are also based on daily tools which people often use. Perceiving culture holistically, it is possible to see why attitudes are often associated with social attitudes and structures, including artefacts. For instance, attitudes towards people with disabilities are based on images, movies, on literature as well as the mass media (Kaye, et.al., 2011). People with disabilities may sometimes be portrayed as useless and inconsequential individuals or as burdens to society. The manner by which these individuals are presented usually affects the attitudes developed by society about these individuals at any specific point of history. This may account for the fact that people with disabilities during the era of the Third Reich in Europe was very much unfavourable (Kaye, et.al., 2011). These people during those times were considered useless. This led to the killing of about 70,000 disabled individuals during the Holocaust (Cook, 2008). Attitudes impact society’s priorities, especially on the distribution of its limited resources. Where people with disabilities are also perceived as diseased individuals, remedies relating to assistive interventions for these people in order to gain independence would be limited or be de-prioritized (Tapiwa, et.al., 2013). The investments would likely focus on establishing segregated health and educational centres to accommodate and care for the medical and educational needs of these individuals. However, if the perspective of people with disabilities is on them having an equal place in society, the physical, communication, and social barriers would be eliminated, and new programs, policies, as well as structures would be established in order to respond to the diverse needs of the people, regardless of disability or of their ‘normal’ status (Tapiwa, et.al., 2013). The International Classification of Functioning (cited by Reiter and Bryen, 2012) discusses how attitudes are based on observed customs, ideologies, values, norms, and factual beliefs. Such attitudes impact on individual attitudes and behaviour, are founded on relationships as well as political, economic, and social structures. In assessing attitudes as barriers to inclusion of individuals with disabilities, a couple of issues may be observed (Reiter and Bryen, 2012). First issue refers to how the concept of barrier is to be perceived and second is on when the attitude would be considered a barrier. Barriers, in this context are anything which may block the fair and equal distribution of goods, services, and data to people with or without disabilities. These barriers may either be based on physical barriers or policy/program barriers. Physical and program barriers are not based on qualities of individuals or group of individuals; but they are founded on the attitudes often held by other individuals towards other people or towards a group of people (Reiter, 2008). The negative attitudes usually lead to the denial of basic human rights which should be given to members of society. Negative attitudes, very much like cultural artefacts are social concepts. In effect, the negative attitudes can generally lead to the persistent and specific concept of individuals or groups which can lead to stigma (Reiter, 2008). The stigma can later be an ambiguous barrier. On one side, society can establish barriers to education, employment, and equal access to goods and services, including rehabilitation of these people with disabilities. On the other side, as stigma is further understood and accepted by affected individuals or groups, in this case, the people with disabilities, they are likely to accept that they have a lower status in society. There is an unfortunate cycle which is established as people perceive these disabled individuals unfavourably and these disabled individuals then behave based on how society expects them to behave (Reiter and Bryen, 2012). Unfortunately, the stigma is further supported under these conditions. The stigma itself becomes the barrier to better services, including rehabilitation services to these people with disabilities. Where the general population perceives disability as deviance, the disabled individuals are usually also seen as harmful individuals. The feelings which often arise from the negative images can refer to feelings of disgust or fear. Behaviours which refer to such perception of disability can cause segregation and can deny the basic civil and human rights which cause barriers in the rehabilitation and in the access of goods and services, as well as information (Office of Disability Employment Policy, 2014). Moreover, where society believes disability as an imperfection, the feelings which are often associated with such belief may include pity, compassion, as well as mercy. Behaviours which emanate from such beliefs including related emotions may lead to the creation of asylums or nursing care homes where compassionate care would be extended. Relating to the perspective of disability as deviance, such perspective can also lead to the denial of basic civil as well as human rights, often leading to major issues in rehabilitation and problems on participation in the societal activities (Office of Disability Employment Policy, 2014). On the other hand, where the perspective of disability is founded on diseases and illnesses, feelings related to this model can also refer to feelings attached to chronic diseases like cancer. These feelings include fear, pity, as well as hope (for a cure). These are the foundations of the medical model for disability. Health professionals try their best to cure individuals with disability. When functional limitations are seen, the desire to ‘fix’ such person, to align their behaviour to the norm, or to remedy the disorder and make these more normalized may help strengthen and manage their designation into a specific and to an often inferior group (Office of Disability Employment Policy, 2014). Unfavourable attitudes towards individuals with disabilities can create barriers to rehabilitation. They can also impact significantly on the growth and development of the individual affected. As discussed by Kilbury and colleagues (1992) Americans having disabilities may be more likely, as compared to the non-disabled counterparts to be poor. This may be due to the fact that these individuals have limited income opportunities. Moreover, these individuals are also more likely to earn less when compared to other non-disabled individuals. With insufficient or underemployment options and inadequate income, these individuals would likely be shut-in. As such, individuals with disabilities usually have fewer employment opportunities, as well as fewer opportunities to associate socially with normal or even their fellow disabled counterparts (Chang and Chen, 2012). They are less likely to attend parties, to buy their own groceries, and less likely to eat out in restaurants. This trend is repeated in different parts of the world. A problematic issue in relation to people with disabilities is on the focus on their disabilities, not on their individual abilities (Chang and Chen, 2012). Different kinds of attitudinal barriers have been noted including that of inferiority where people with disabilities are perceived as second-class citizens. Yet, these people often possess more or less similar skills as non-disabled individuals, and sometimes these abilities are sufficient to secure competent functioning in the workplace. Pity is also another attitudinal barrier which is noted among these individuals. The larger society feels sorry for these people, often causing patronizing attitudes (Office of the Disability Employment Policy, 2014). These individuals often do not want any pity or charity, but they only seek the same opportunities given to other non-disabled individuals. Hero worship is also an attitudinal barrier in this case. People consider those with disability who are living independently as special for living with their disability. However, these disabled individuals are not comfortable with such type of worship as they perform their daily activities. Their ability to function independently must be recognized based on the adjustments they have made in their lives, which can be the same trials or challenges faced by the nondisabled individuals (Chang and Chen, 2012). Ignorance can also be an issue in this case, especially as the nondisabled people perceive people with disabilities as incapable of carrying out tasks on their own. In actuality, people with disabilities can drive cars or do their own groceries; those who are blind are capable of telling time or of dressing themselves properly. Nondisabled individuals may also wrongly believe that the disabled individuals have various affectations. A blind person for instance is not also deaf and it would therefore be inappropriate to shout to these individuals like they were deaf. In other words, these individuals are capable of carrying out normal activities for themselves even if they have physical limitations in their actions. There are also inaccurate perceptions about these people with disabilities (McManus, et.al., 2011). Some individuals may believe that those who are deaf develop better eyesight, or those who are blind develop a heightened sense of smell. Not all people with disabilities are also sweet-tempered or sad and bitter. They are as vulnerable to human emotions as other nondisabled individuals. Their feelings must not be entirely associated with their condition because these, most of the time, are distinct from each other (McManus, et.al., 2011). Attitudes towards disabled individuals are however still capable of change. This can be seen in the international efforts made in order to address these issues relating to people with disabilities. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was passed in 2006 and it acknowledged changes in the attitudes towards people with disabilities (UNCRD, 2010). Changes in attitudes is based on the fact that people with disabilities must be viewed as subjects who have rights, not objects of charity or medical treatment, or even social protection. These subjects are therefore capable of claiming their rights and of making their own decisions based on their free and informed consent as active citizens of the world (UNCRD, 2010). The convention also acknowledges the dignity of people with disabilities. The time where only specific individuals are considered and accepted as experts on people with disabilities has long passed. New determinations from the UNCRD (2010) provide a more inclusive status for people with disabilities. Based on the shifting perceptions of people with disabilities, rehabilitation will cover other visions or goals, that of empowering people with disabilities while also educating general society about these individuals. Consequently, attitudinal barriers will likely be reduced if not eliminated. Such change is seen in Article 26 of the UNCRD which highlights habilitation and rehabilitation with states implementing effective measures, securing peer support in order to allow individuals with disabilities the chance to secure and gain independence, as well as the chance to develop their mental, social and vocational skills towards a more holistic and inclusive participation in most aspects of life (UNCRD, 2010). In order to meet such goals, states have been called to organize and extent habilitation and rehabilitation programs, specifically in health, employment, education, and well as social services for these people with disabilities. It is important to start at the earliest stage for these people with disabilities, focusing on multidisciplinary needs and capacities. Supporting participation and the inclusion of these individuals to all activities and aspects of society is also very much crucial (UNCRD, 2010). With participation and inclusion, the needs of people with disabilities would be clarified. Moreover, these individuals would have the chance to express the issues they are encountering in their life, especially those which relate to their independent living goals. Finally, with participation and inclusion, these individuals would likely be more visible in all societal activities and the non-disabled individuals would have the chance to learn from these individuals and to change whatever wrong or unfavourable connotation they have about these people. These unfavourable and wrong perceptions often prevent people from disabilities from participating fully in societal activities. Conclusion Attitudinal barriers towards people with disabilities refer to attitudes of the general population, including the health community which prevents disabled individuals from living independently. Most of these attitudes include misconceptions and biased perceptions about these individuals which prevent them from actually being fairly considered for work, for educational opportunities, or for social activities which are all part of independent living. As such, these barriers have further shut-in these disabled individuals, pushing them back into their homes and preventing them from finding decent and competent work capable to supporting their needs. As a result, these individuals are continually dependent on caregivers or on government services in order to survive. Their survival is also based on low economic standards because of the limited options provided for them. Better policies have been attempted through the UNCPD, allowing for a better understanding and better opportunities for these individuals. However, the implementation of these policies have to be improved and expanded in order to ensure unrestricted opportunities for these individuals to live relatively normal and independent lives. References Albert, B. (2007). In or out of the mainstream? Lessons from research on disability and development cooperation. Leeds (UK): Centre for Disability Studies, University of Leeds. Bryen, D., Sleseransky-Poe, G., & Baker, D. (1995). Augmentative communication and empowerment supports: A look at outcomes. Augmentative and Alternative Communication 11, 79-88. Chang, Y. C., & Chen, C. F. (2012). Meeting the needs of disabled air passengers: Factors that facilitate help from airlines and airports. Tourism Management, 33(3), 529-536. Cook I. (2008). The Holocaust and disabled people timeline. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/fact/the_holocaust_and_disabled_people_timeline.shtml Kaye, H. S., Jans, L. H., & Jones, E. C. (2011). Why don’t employers hire and retain workers with disabilities?. Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 21(4), 526-536. Kilbury RF, Benshoff JJ, & Rubin SE. (1992). The Interaction of Legislation, Public Attitudes and Access to Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. The Journal of Rehabilitation, 58. Madans, J. H., Loeb, M. E., & Altman, B. M. (2011). Measuring disability and monitoring the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: the work of the Washington Group on Disability Statistics. BMC public health, 11(Suppl 4), S4. McManus, J. L., Feyes, K. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2011). Contact and knowledge as predictors of attitudes toward individuals with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28(5), 579-590. Office of Disability Employment Policy (2014). Attitudinal Barriers for People with Disabilities Retrieved from http://www.ncwd-youth.info/attitudinal-barriers-for-people-with-disabilities Reiter, S. (2008). Disability from a Humanistic Perspective, towards a better quality of life. New York: Nova Biomedical Books. Reiter, S. & Bryen, N. (2010). Attitudinal Barriers to Rehabilitation. In: JH Stone, M Blouin, editors. International Encyclopedia of Rehabilitation. Retrieved from http://cirrie.buffalo.edu/encyclopedia/en/article/297/ Shields, N., Synnot, A. J., & Barr, M. (2012). Perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity for children with disability: a systematic review. British journal of sports medicine, 46(14), 989-997. Tapiwa, M., & Jonathan, M. (2013). An assessment of the effects of local cultures on sports participation by disabled pupils in Masvingo urban primary schools in Zimbabwe. International Journal of Asian Social Science, 3(2), 370-385. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2010). Retrieved from http://www.un.org/disabilities/ Wilkinson, J., Dreyfus, D., Cerreto, M., & Bokhour, B. (2012). Sometimes I feel overwhelmed: Educational needs of family physicians caring for people with intellectual disability. Intellectual and developmental disabilities, 50(3), 243-250. Read More