Disability IssuesDisability Awareness has set the tone for discussing other disability issues. These issues covered here should be treated as tips on how to take care of persons with disabilities and they include, medical and social models of disability, disability equipment, disability health, disability relationships and disability advocacy. Medical and Social Models of Disability Disability issues are mainly based on the medical and social model of disability. Historically, disabilities have been considered in the negative light. An individual affected was seen as being a patient subject to either to cure or on going medical care. This position is known as a medical model of disability. Over the past 20 years competing view known as the social model of disability has come to surface. In this model, disability is seen more a social construction than a medical reality. Both models agree, to a point that facilities and opportunities should be made as accessible as possible to persons with disabilities who require adaptations. Disability equipment and assistive devices help to dismantle physical barriers making it easier for persons with disabilities to be mobile and have access to other facilities and services. The Person First Movement has added another issue by asking that persons with disabilities be identified first as individuals. “Person First Language” for example to say “girl is blind” rather than to say “blind girl”. This is seen as politically correct and this is aimed at removing some stigma. However, some persons with disabilities do not support this movement for example, persons who are Deaf who consider themselves as members of a specific community, known as Deaf culture and they have rejected the Person First language. Disability Equipment. Another disability issue is that of disability equipment. Disability equipment is the device that the persons with disabilities use to make their every day life easier for example, a wheel chair or clutches. Access to disability equipment is readily available for Christabel but not adequate. At school, there are some basic equipment which is available. Christabel undergoes some physiotherapy exercises twice in a week at school. Since we know that rehabilitation is continuous, we have a small gym at home and she undergoes some exercises at home at least thrice a week. She has a standing frame, a special chair in the sitting room for writing her home work, watching television or relaxing, a wheel chair and a walking stand. Equipment although important should not always be encouraged otherwise they may tend to depend fully on them which may in turn hinder any development. Independence should be encouraged so that even without equipment they may be able to attempt to do something on their own. Disability Health Disability health is the aspect of life that is important in the lives of persons with disabilities. Many persons with disabilities are not physically able to take care of the themselves for example taking baths and eating, so they may lag behind in this area of health. In this case we can help them by encouraging them and teaching them ways through which they may be able to do this or teach them easy ways for them to able to take care of themselves in order to improve on their health. We can also teach them the importance of taking good food and taking good care of themselves generally. Disability Relationships Disability relationships is a situation where by relationships are built with other people or among the persons with disabilities. One way that can help build relationships is by taking the persons with disabilities out, instead of hiding them or feeling ashamed about their disability, arrange meetings or functions where these people mingle together with the rest of the members of the community. This helps them open up and share their experiences which lightens up their burden and for some of them it helps them to accept their conditions when they meet other persons with disabilities. Another way is by forming organisations for the persons with disabilities and teach them skills that they may be able to do on their own without the help of others. These people should be encouraged to come out in the open and realise their abilities which would help build them up otherwise shunning them away only breaks them down. They should be accepted as they are and they will be able to accept themselves too. Disability Advocacy Disability Advocacy is aimed at ensuring that the rights of persons with disabilities are upheld and to make them their own decisions. Advocacy should be encouraged as this is one way that they come out in the open and are made to be part of the community. The most important dimension of advocacy is that the persons with disabilities should do it themselves that is Self Advocacy. This advocacy is important in ensuring that persons with disabilities develop the skills so that their rights and interests are respected and fulfilled. Self Advocacy is about: • Speaking on one’s own behalf • Understanding rights • Making real choices • Learning new skills What does this mean for Christabel? As a family we will provide support to Christabel so that she does the following: • Enhances her self awareness • Enhances her self advocacy • Become more independent • To ensure that she meets her academic requirements by working with her on her school work.
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