Physical Disability Awareness

There are positive ways of interacting with individuals with a physical disability that will not make the person feel uncomfortable or helpless, but it is to acknowledge what is acceptable and appropriate. Here are simple notions that should be put into consideration.

• Do not base judgments on their appearance or assume that they are not able to comprehend.
• Position yourself at the same level of the person when communicating.
• Keep eye contact.
• If you think the person may need assistance, ask the person first before making a gesture, but be willing to accept 'no' for an answer. Meanwhile, if they accept the assistance, make sure to ask them what they want help with.
• When a automatic door system or push button is not available at a specific entrance, opening the door will not be taken as a discrimination, but a way to assist the person and show respect.

Reference:

Physical Disability Awareness (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2011, from http://northcoast.tafensw.edu.au/studentservices/DisabilitySupportServices/Pages/PhysicalDisabilityAwareness.aspx

Eliminating Stereotypes

Catherine Radler's article, Going Beyond the Disability - Eliminating Stereotypes, brings emphasis on professionals working with individuals with physical disabilities and ways to facilitate the helping relationship. What can hinder the helping relations is by ''using generic labels emphasizes the disability and not the uniqueness of the person'' (1999). With this regard,  Radler mentions how by referring the person by their disability or by saying a person is ''suffering'' or is a ''victim'' of a disability implies that the individual is helpless. As a professional it is important to make the clients feel strong, powerful, and confident enough to reach their goals. Meanwhile, when creating goals and objectives it is crucial for the client to be involved with this decision of what they also believe is a need that they may want to develop. Not making assumptions of what they should need, but what they truly need to facilitate integration and it will benefit them the most.

Reference:

Radler, C. (1999). Going Beyond the Disability: Eliminating Stereotypes. Received May 1, 2011, from  http://www.itforpwd.com/articles/inspirational/34-going-beyond-the-disability-eliminating-stereotypes.html

I used to be able to walk, now all my four limbs are paralyzed.

    In the article, A Survivor Speaks (2004), we are introduced to a man by the name of Dr. Avinash Pande from India, who shares his experience of how a ''road accident has disabled him''. The accident occurring in January 1999 resulted in having Dr. Pande suffer from a spinal-cord injury, which paralyzed his whole body. He now has to depend on others for all his needs and moves around on a ''servant-driven wheelchair''. He expresses how being in a wheelchair can effect the state of mind, whether it is physically or also mentally. The impact of the accident has influenced a great change in not only himself but as well as his family members. Dr. Pande also reveals how feels helpless for not being able to spend time doing leisure activities with his daughter any longer, which is another obstacle and defeat to his self esteem. The accident has forever impacted his way of life and how he functions in society and at home.  

    Car accidents do occur on a regular basis, but the impact can also be a life changing experience for many. Being physically disabled after a car accident is quite possible. When referring to Dr. Pande's story, it reveals how an average man goes from being able to walk to being wheelchair bound due to an accident the next day. Physical disabilities do not always occur at birth, but can be inflicted at any point in time in a person's life. 

                                                                                                                                

                                                                                 

Reference:

Lifeline (2004). A Survivor Speaks. Retrieved April 25, 2011 from

http://www.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Information_Material_survivor_speaks.pdf

A person with a physical disability is handicapped by society

After interviewing two individuals with a physical disability, they both clarified how they are perceived in their society. Both mentioned that they do have a mobility limitation but that it was not there limitation that prevents them from attending certain events or going to places but rather the society. Both said that it is not all public buildings that are adapted for thier needs and also that when the building is adapted often there will be very poor service. The individuals are often put aside or left behind because they are considered ''different.'' So next time one sees an individual with a physical disabillity don't run the other way or leave them behind include them and go to places that promotes accessibility to those who may have limitations.

One act to facilitate = Integrate into society

According to the Act 69, since December 17, 2006 the policy states that all public and governmental are to wheelchair accessible. Buildings are to accommodate changes in order to fit the standards of installing ramps, widen doorframes and/or elevator accessibility to other floor levels. In my opinion, as a community it is important to encourage integration for the physically impaired. In order to make this process occurs, builds may need to adapt and make changes to allow for the inclusion and integration to being. As a community, we are able to come together and focus on the needs of others. To lowering the water fountains or place in automatic door systems to assist individuals in their daily living is a small gesture that can change and facilitate adaptation for individuals. 

Reference:

An Act to secure handicapped persons in the exercise of their rights with a view

to achieving social, school and workplace integration (2011). Retreieve march 20, 2011 from,

http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/E_20_1/E20_1_A.HTM 

From tragedy to inspiration – Determined to make a difference.

Easter Seals  has provided help and assistance to ‘‘individuals with disability and special needs  and their families, live better lives for nearly 90 years’’(2009). By offereing a wide range of services to assist individuals with disabilities, Easter Seals  brings focus to life challenges and bring forth achievable personal goals. This all started in 1907, when Edgar Allen loses his son in a streetcar accident, due to having a lack of available medical services to save his son. This drives Allen to sell his business and raise money to better equip hospitals which lead him to founding the first organization of its kind known as the National Society for Crippled Children.  In 1934, the first ‘Easter Seal’ appears in the U.S. and the movement comes to Canada in Alberta 1945 followed by British Columbia in 1946 and Ontario in 1947. It is incredible how one organization can make an impact on a world wide basis. This is the milestone of the organizations and services being offered to individuals with disabilities, which has made a tremendous impact on how we view these individuals and how we have come to better understanding diverse disabilities. One person can make a difference in many other individual's lives even after nearly a century!

Reference: 

Easter Seals (2011). Retrieved March 20, 2011, from 

http://easterseals.ca/english/ (Canadian Version)

http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ntl_homepage (American Version)

A physical constraint or limitation will NOT hold me back… I can do anything if I put my mind to it!

The Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA) has proven that a wide range of sports can be done even if an individual is wheelchair bound. CWSA in collaboration with Sports Canada has brought into focus a ‘‘policy of inclusion, whereby sports for all, including both athletes with a disability and able-bodies athletes are administered through the same organization’’ (CWSA, 2008). This has set a new standard as to how sports are being played. In my opinion, if an individual is equipped with the proper materials that allows them to manoeuvre easily on a given court then there is no reason to restrict a person from their passion for playing sports. 

Reference: 

CWSA (2008). Retrieved March 20, 2011, from   http://www.cwsa.ca/en/site

/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=62&lang=us   

Why I choose this topic

I choose this topic for the sociology project becauce the physically disabled are a minority group that are often set aside and have a limited access to public places. We, Emily and I, will use research, interviews and information from oganizations that assist this client group with their needs. I believe that if we stop and look at this group not as a minority but as equals in our society, this might help them and as, the society, to over come this judgement and social exclusion that they are faced with in their everyday life.

The creation of a blog for our class project

As a team project in our Sociology's course, Tania and I (Emily) have created this blog to illustrate our research, experience and overall knowledge of the ''minority group'' of the physically disabled. Our focus will be more specific to the mobility aspect of the disability.

Note: This blog will be developed throughout the course of our project.