Current issues in dissability studies activity 5 - Essay Example

1 Question Think of someone you know who has difficulty expressing his or her own point of view. To what extent can another person speak reliably for that person (i.e., act as a proxy), and how could you develop an assessment approach that would access the individual’s feelings and perceptions?Answer 1: One of my neighbour’s children is disabled and whenever the Social Health Worker visited the home to encourage my neighbour about how to handle his son’s conditions, I had often noticed that my neighbour normally offered his own thoughts about the probable feelings of his son.

This approach may not be appropriate in as much as it could not reveal my neighbour’s son’s true feelings. The correct procedures that should be applied in gathering information about a disabled person include but not limited (i) monitoring the emotional changes of the boy; (ii) paying more attention to the boy’s actions, as a whole; (iii) identifying instances where the boy’s behaviour is different from that of the non-disabled boy; (iv) estimate the level of empowerment possessed by the child; (v) constantly investigating the child’s self-enhancement; (vi) paying close attention to everything about the child’s life (Brown and Brown, 2003).

Question 2: After reading the Asch (2001) article, make some comments about the issues that this raises for you. What are your views on both the extreme bioethical position as expressed by Peter Singer, and the Social Justice/Social Models of Disability? Post your comments on FLO. 2Answer 2: Peter Singer’s extreme view about bioethics in relation to disability is inappropriate, in the sense that it neglects social justice or acceptable social model of dealing with disabled people.

It is morally (and religiously) improper to carry out prenatal testing and selective abortion on any human soul; I think it is unethical for doctors or any member of medical team to make life-or-death decision for anyone; one can never deny the stupidity of robbing disabled people of their quality of life, even though they seem unresponsive to the cares and solutions devoted on them. Everyone with moral aptitude will totally disavow Singer’s suicidal tendencies, which belittle the sacredness of human soul—whether possessed in a sound physical body or not (Asch, 2001).

The proponents of bioethical solutions have forgot that circumstances have helped some people who were previously disabled to regain some form of normal behaviour over a long period of time.Question 3: After reading the Beck (2002) article, make some comments about the issues that this raises for you. Is this an overly optimistic view of the world or do you think that this type of experience is possible for other families who have a member with a disability? Post your comments on FLO.Answer 3: Beck’s explanations of her experience raising a son suffering from Down Syndrome posit some positive expectations which are not always realizable.

Most parents of kids with SD often feel dejected considering the extent at which their children have been excluded from the societies based on their intellectual disability or low IQs. The major problems associated with SD cases are that of rejection, feeling miserable among the rest of 3 the population, under-achievement in both academic and social life, poor communication and asocial tendencies.

Beck has been too optimistic about handling a child with SD; but, in reality, it is not always easy to face the unending dejection, fears and hopelessness many parents of SD children face (Beck, 2001) . Our society, as a whole, is not fully prepared to help children with Intellectual Disability adjust to their environments, which may be too overwhelming for them to bear at times. This is saddest reality in our present world! ReferencesAsch, A. (2001).

Disability, bioethics, and human rights. Chapter 11 (pp. 297 – 326) in G.L. Albrecht, K.D. Seelman, & M. Bury (Eds.) Handbook of disability studies. London: Sage Publications.Beck (2002). The gifts of Down Syndrome: Some thoughts for new parents. In W. I. Cohen, L. Nadel, & M. E. Madnick (Eds.) Down Syndrome: Visions for the 21st century. Wiley-Liss, Inc.Brown, I. & Brown, R.I. (2003). Quality of life and disability: An approach for community practitioners. Chapter 6, Assessment and measurement of quality of life, (pp.

122 – 146), London: Jessica Kingsley.