The Disabled Groups in Context 2015

Prevalence of the Disabled The proportion of people with disabilities is growing due to the aging population. According to the ABS, in 2009 there where 4 million people with a disability. The prevalence of disability fell from 20% in 2003 to 18.5% in 2009. Disability increases with age 6.6% of 15-24 year olds are known where as 18% of 45-54 year olds and 40% of 65-69 year olds have been recognised as disabled

Prevalence of the Disabled Disability can be the result of… Disability can create… Accident Genetic predisposition Self Harm Illness

Individual Diversity of the Disabled Means understanding that each person is unique and recognising individual differences. To acknowledge humanitarian rights, we must move beyond simple tolerance to embrace and celebrate diversity and celebrate diversity and address and explore diverse needs. All People, regardless of disability, deserve this equality.

The Disabled… Come from any race, gender, educational or socio economic group May suffer from 1 or multiple disabilities Some are born with a disability whilst others acquire it throughout life Disabilities can be temporary or permanent Disabilities can range from permanent to severe Many live a fulfilling and happy life

P. hysical. (Spina bifida, stroke) I. ntellectual P hysical (Spina bifida, stroke) I ntellectual (Down syndrome, foetal alcohol syndrome) P sychological (Depression, bipolar) S ensory (Hearing or visually impaired)

Terminology Used to Describe the Disabled Attitudes have improved over the years. General population have increased awareness Terminology can be positive or offensive Need to be aware of using words that could be patronising or offensive. Insensitive language is not only inaccurate but it stereotypes the group and individuals within the group. Derogatory and insensitive terms impact on a person’s sense of security and wellbeing.

Terminology Used to Describe the Disabled The people with a disability act (2014) states: That language shapes the way we view the world and that our words influences community attitudes positively and negatively. What are some common terms often used by society? Person with a disability - Poor thing Sick - Spastics Disabled person - Courageous Special

Explain the difference between the terms – “Person with a disability” and “disabled person”?

Satisfaction of Needs for the Disabled Adequate standard of living SES of a disabled person may be affected due to lower work participation rates Food choices- due to disability Clothing- may need modification or assistance to put clothes on. Housing location and modification Health Education Require early intervention to help with development. Schools offer life skills and transitioning courses. Socially- educate society about the disabled. Employment Security and safety Sense of identity Sometimes struggle to establish their role in society. Linked closely with self esteem Develop a sense of identity through their involvement in charity, guest speakers or special events

Specific Needs of the Disabled What is a specific or priority need? A need is considered a priority if the primary basis for an individual being able to satisfy other needs, or to achieve a basic sense of wellbeing. High priority needs of the disabled: Health Education

Health Ill health impacts (either physiological or psychological) sense of self, levels of personal motivation and the ability to complete routine activities (eg: depression affects your want to socialise and go out into society, affecting your need to shower and groom and ability to be physically active and emotionally happy). If there is continual or long term ill health then employment is affected impacting their economic wellbeing. Relationships both intimate and social will also be affected

Education No education, limited education or outdated education will limit people seeking support agencies that serve to meet and advocate for their needs. This will reduce employment opportunities even for able bodied individuals. What does advocate mean? To speak in favor of. To work for or towards. An influence with decisions. Combined with a disability, education can make it even harder to find employment for the disabled.

Access to Services for the Disabled People with disabilities require access to a variety of services that maintain and increase their independence. Such services include educational intervention, employment and support, home care, accessible transport, suitable accommodation and the Internet. Not everyone has equal access to services. Not surprisingly, more services are available in urban areas. However, technology has improved access, and integrative machines allow people with disabilities to use computers to seek information.

Access to Services for the Disabled Types of Services the Disabled require: Financial Transport Accommodation Health care Counseling Education Employment Legal Aid For each type of service, write a brief description and find 2 examples in todays society that help people who are disabled.

Characteristics of People with Disabilities Age – dependent on carers (no matter what age). Can be increasingly difficult to manage and care for depending on age (eg: frail aged person) Gender – Not considered important. But disabilities more common in males than females (risk taking injuries). Women have less opportunities or services provided as a result. Ageing population – majority are women. Level of Education – Need to effectively manage conditions. Knowledge increases access (eg; knowing how to use internet and phone), communication and social skills. Assistance in schools is expanding. Culture – Language barriers affect access. Some places offer cultural services (eg ethnic communities counsel of Victoria). Those services aim to offer accessibility to services from cultural, linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Characteristics of People with Disabilities First language spoken – this is closely related to culture. Affects familiarity and knowledge of services available. Interpreters are often available as well as fact sheets in different languages Type of Disability – Has the most significant effect on the access to services. Disability is diverse and so are the services available. Socioeconomic status – Many dependent on welfare support. This limits access (private health, therapists etc). Those with higher SES can afford specialised equipment (motorised wheelchairs). Those with low ses have long waiting lists and basic resources available. Even leaving home for some can only be a dream.

Resources What is a resource? A resource may be human or non-human. Generally assist in the meeting of goals. Without resources the likelihood of achieving goals is severely restricted. For people with disabilities, a variety of services and support structures are available. However, the personal resources available to these individuals will affect their access to resources. Important resources for the disabled include: Time Money Energy Knowledge Remember -KMERT

Time Individuals and carers need time to be transported to services. Transporting someone with a disability can be time consuming. Time off work for a parent of a disabled child or child of an elderly or disabled individual can be difficult to manage and have accepted by employers. This can make access to specialist services hard. The ability of an individual to tell the time can be affected by their disability. Most commonly those with an intellectual or sensory disability.

How does TIME help people with disabilities access services How does TIME help people with disabilities access services? It allows individuals with disabilities to access transport from outside the home such as booking transport for a specific time in order to attend appointments on time and not be late. These individuals are able to get all of their required medications et cetera from the pharmacy if they have the time to go out and get them, alternatively their carer would be able to do this to save them time. In order to save more time for individuals who require therapy they can build an in home therapy room rather than getting transport to and from the service. They are also better able to access the public transport system if they have more time as they do not have a constraint if the bus/train is late. What are the implications of not having enough TIME to access services for the disabled? They will be unable to attend social events due to limited transport services and change of times in regards to public transport. If unable to attend an appointment including doctors or specialists, their overall wellbeing will decline as their disability may worsen. Once the disability becomes worse, the individual will have less time and less access to transport in order to access healthcare services or fill prescriptions.

Money Individuals can require expensive equipment, medication and rehabilitation. This often places great stress on the finances of a disabled individuals and their families. For example, a beach wheelchair allows a person to access the surf and sand. However, it is much more expensive than a regular wheelchair, which cannot be used at a beach. Allowances are provided to the disabled and their carers, however, it is generally not comparable to that of full-time employment. (e.g. An individual who gains a disability and requires a wheelchair, therefore needing to modify their home which is expensive [and time consuming]) Ability to access financial institutions where money is kept and managed etc. can be difficult especially for those with intellectual disabilities who may not be able to fill in forms etc.

How does MONEY help people with disabilities access services How does MONEY help people with disabilities access services? Having good finances and access to finance allows individuals with disabilities to access services more easily as a great number of these services cost an extensive amount of money that many of these individuals do not have, therefore making access easier for those who have money. For instance, an individual who develops a sensory disability, such as blindness, will need to modify their accommodation, perhaps attend therapy, either a guide dog or other form of guide, all of which require some form of payment. The circumstances are similar for individuals who begin to develop a psychological disability where they may also require some kind of therapy or other assistance in order to live with this handicap. What are the implications of not having enough MONEY to access services for the disabled? Having too little money or financial access will limit people with disabilities ability to access proper care and services, or, at least they will be unable to access the best quality of the service. Not having enough money to access services has often lead individuals to create a fundraiser of some sort in order to not only cover any financial costs the individual may come across in their care, but it is also a way to spread awareness of the individual’s disability and therefore increase their access to services through this awareness of their caring needs. 

Energy Energy of a disabled person can vary depending on age and disability. This can affect the decision to be involved in employment and educational courses/programs. The energy required to look after a disabled person can also effect the wellbeing of their carers and immediate family causing ill being and needs not being met.

How does ENERGY help people with disabilities access services How does ENERGY help people with disabilities access services? People with disabilities who still have energy will be more independent and therefore able to do more on their own without a carer. Having more energy means they are able to get out of the house and access education or employment and enhance their financial circumstances. People who have gone through a temporary disability such as one from a car accident, once they have been rehabilitated and regain their energy, they are able to go and spread awareness of their situation. Having more energy will also increase the amount of time available to them. Having more energy enables individuals to learn how to work with others through situations such as sporting activities, which will therefore increase their social wellbeing. What are the implications of not having enough ENERGY to access services for the disabled? These individuals will become more tired easily, therefore they are unable to gain full time employment or perhaps no employment at all. They will rely more on their carers to assist them, which can develop feelings of dependency. The lack of energy will also lead to a lack of physical activity, therefore hindering their physical wellbeing.

Knowledge This can affect individuals at different levels depending on their disability. Some disabilities mean individuals cannot communicate. People can misinterpret this as lack of knowledge. Technology such as hearing aids have allowed people with sensory disabilities to be able to have the same educational opportunities as their able bodied peers. Unfortunately the cost involved in technological devices is often great and can limit access for many in society, especially those from low SES backgrounds. The difficulty in accessing technology may also make it difficult for people to find out about employment and educational services in their area. Some disabilities mean individuals are unable to communicate. However, advancements in technology mean that people with disabilities have even more opportunities to acquire knowledge. Difficulty accessing technology may also make it difficult for people to find out about services available in their area (e.g. if a person with a  disability has limited knowledge of surrounding services that would be highly suited for them and their disability, it would negatively impact on their w/b either it being physical or mental depending on their type of disability

How does KNOWLEDGE help people with disabilities access services How does KNOWLEDGE help people with disabilities access services? More knowledge means people with disabilities will be better able to access services, for instance, knowing about the better support in specialised schools which leads to a higher chance of gaining employment. Increased knowledge may mean their awareness of services available for their condition is better therefore improving their overall wellbeing. Being more mature and having a more mature social awareness allows for individuals to utilise common sense to work through social situations. What are the implications of not having enough KNOWLEDGE to access services for the disabled? Limited knowledge based on the geographical location means the individual is less knowledgeable about local services and they can therefore not access them (e.g. moving from Brisbane to Sydney) this will therefore decrease overall wellbeing. If there is a lack of knowledge education and employment prospects decrease.

Services Available Giant Steps Opening the Doors Breakthrough Northcott Disability Services Services Available (for the disabled) NADO Disability car hire TAFE Nova Employment House with no steps Dare disability

RESOURCES REQUIRED TO ACCESS SERVICE RESOURCES REQUIRED TO ACCESS REASONS WHY? NOVA HOUSE WITH NO STEPS Transport Internet Education Money Transport- if you are able to visit the office Internet- accessing website for information Education- to be able to read and write when filling in documents

Aspects of Services for the Disabled Aspects of the Service = (COLS) Confidentiality (C) Opening Hours (O) Location (L) Staffing (S) Opening hours- traditional 9-5 may not suit the schedule of a disabled person. Relying on assistance for help could further cause problems to access services. Confidentiality- Disability Discrimination Act 1992- all disabled people have the right to be treated equitably, right to access services. Location- Urban living= greater access to services (health, education, government services) However, some agencies that are in the city could have difficulties in parking, lift access, etc Staffing- need to well trained to offer support as many people with a disability require assistance with paper work, etc

Confidentiality Opening Hours Explain The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) states that people with disabilities have the right to access services without having to disclose unnecessary personal information and, if information is provided, they have the right to confidentiality Despite many individuals with disabilities are not working, this does not mean they have any time to access services they need as they often rely on others to transport them and assist in their access to these services and, while some services have 24 hour helplines, not all these individuals have access to a phone Specific Example Individuals with a disability who utilise their GP for general health needs and disclosing any of their relationship details, particularly in relation to sexual relations, to their doctor which, as will all individuals, is to be in confidence. Hospital emergency rooms and the 000 emergency line are open 24-7 but not all individuals are able to access a phone nor have someone to transport them to the hospital Impact on PwD If this is not adhered to, individuals with disabilities may find it difficult when seeking work or attempting to access education, training, finding friends or utilising support networks. This may have detrimental affects on the individual’s health and general wellbeing as they may be unable to access a service that is vital in order to survive, which could therefore result in death in a worst case scenario

Location Staffing Explain Despite many individuals with disabilities are not working, this does not mean they have any time to access services they need as they often rely on others to transport them and assist in their access to these services and, while some services have 24 hour helplines, not all these individuals have access to a phone People in urban communities have better access to services than those in rural areas when they require travel assistance to access services Staff members not only need to be available to serve clients but also need to be well trained in offering care and support as well as trained in other administrative tasks Specific Example DisabilityCare Australia, the Newcastle branch was located in a major shopping centre, providing ample access through either personal or public transport Volunteer based services such as small community health centres may lack staff as they are not being paid for their services  Impact on PwD If an individual lives in a rural area and requires assistance to travel, they may be unable to access the services when they are available or, in urban areas, the area may be unequipped to some individuals’ disabilities i.e. the removal of one of the lifts at DisabilityCare Australia  Having a lack of staff means that individuals may have to wait up to several hours to be cared for, which could be adverse for their health and wellbeing

Q1. D Q2. A