Foundations of Social Work Practice - Term Paper Example

 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY An able bodied individual is traditionally given advantage in the society and is considered or referred as to as desirable normal category. People without disability are more powerful and can speak with a much stronger voice than the disabled person. The demands of the people with able bodies are overweighed than the people with disability. Marginalized, isolated and institutionalized people with disability have been silenced and their ability has been ignored. The voices of the people with disability should be listened. In the situation of marginalization the voice is the only tool that can bring about political and social changes. The voice against improper treatment, demand for change should be raised. New projects with the vested interest of providing new and positive identity to the people with disability should be channelized (Ryan & Bannister, 2009, pp. 11-12). Generalist practices are the people who have got the ability to work with multiple system including “individual, small group, family, organization and community” (Tolson, Reid, & Garvin, 2003, p. 1). This necessity develops because of the reason that the difficulties that the people confront are multi determined. There are numerous causes to this problem. The challenges that they faces are addressed by the social workers. At the same time the society; environments are all interconnected so the social worker has to work with the problem from the root. However this should be kept in mind that the prevention and reform effort are not so easy to be adopted. It needs to be worked in multiple systems (Tolson, Reid, & Garvin, 2003, p. 1). The paper studies the problem and consequences faced by the people with disability and how it can be solved using the Generalist Intervention Model. Consequences that the person with Disability suffers The disability of a person may be “physical, intellectual, sensory or psycho-social, temporary or permanent, and result from illness, injury or genetics” (Discrimination, n.d., p. 228). The disabled people has the human rights same as all other normal people. However, on claiming their human rights they face “social, legal and practical barriers” (Discrimination, n.d., p. 228). The misperception and the negative attitude towards the people with disability are responsible for such unusualness. It is the general misconception of the common people that that the disabled person are broken or injured and needs to be healed. They are regarded to be the unproductive part of the society. They are considered to be helpless and needed to be cared by others (Discrimination, n.d., p. 228). Various studies shows how the people with disability are considered to be deficit of “functional, physiological and cognitive abilities” (Lang, 2001. p. 3) and how the society oppresses and discriminates against them. They also focus on how the people with disability are treated by the society in the way that is not accepted. Despite being the “social, economical, political and religious character of the society, the person with disability is subjected to oppression and negative attitude of the society” (Lang, 2001. p. 5). They are denied of personhood and status as full citizen in the society. According to Charton the person with disability is psychologically oppressed by the society and this lead to an internalized effect. This oppression has resulted into belief within them that they are less capable than others. This has produced the “Marxian notion of false consciousness” (Lang, 2001. p. 5). Consciousness is the awareness one establishes within oneself from the behavior of the outside world. This awareness is influenced by the “social conditions, chance and innate cognition” (Lang, 2001. p. 5). False consciousness results into self pity, shame and self hate. This state stops one from realizing the real need, capabilities and recognition that one have. Paul Abberley suggested that to understand oppression among the disable, one has to point towards the essential difference between the disable person and the other part of the society. The social oppression helps in giving rise to institutional, sexual and racial discrimination. History is the witness that, disabled people wherever they are in whatever conditions are subjected to oppressive social attitude. This oppression leads to “horror, fear, anxiety, hostility, distrust, pity, over-protection and patronizing behavior” (Lang, 2001. p. 6). This oppression only leads to the discrimination of the disabled people. Discrimination means excluding a person from enjoying the social, political, economical and cultural rights and freedom (Discrimination, n.d., p. 224).Such a negative attitude coupled with “an inhospitable physical environment such, as inaccessible buildings and unusable transport systems” (Lang, 2001. p. 6) is an area of real concern for the disabled people. So it is a common believed that the disabled people lives in a world, which is again disabled. However among all theses negativity there is positivism that disabled people are considered to be a part of the human diversity. They are approached with full accommodations, designs are promoted for their full participation and access, and they are empowered so that they can do their own work by themselves. This positive thought from the society gives the strong base to believe that they are being accommodated in the society as a normal human being (Discrimination, n.d., p. 228). Special problems in case of the disabled people A research carried by the office of Disability Issue shows the various problems faced by the people with disability. The researcher found that the scenario in 2007 was better than that in 2001. However people with disability are less likely to work and get wages. They are often not sent to schools for getting education. They generally lead their livelihood with a very low income, which means that they don’t get enough money to lead their livelihood. Some of the disabled people feel sigh to meet people, join the work force or go for learning. This is because they don’t want to be treated differently by the people. They don’t like the way people treat them. It is also a problem for the disabled people to get into certain places. Older disabled people are more likely to be happy than the younger people since the younger people expects more out of their life than the older people, who are getting older day by day. The people with low income are less likely to be happy since they are more concerned about what happened to them. Accepting the disability and the reality in life, and at the same time adjusting with that disability and settle in the social situation are the major problems for the person with disability (Experiences and Expectations of Disabled People, n.d., pp. 5-8) Generalist Intervention Model The generalist social workers are those who are trying to help those who are neglected by the society. It can start from a homeless individual to a drug addict. Therefore a generalized practitioner is ready to face any kind of situation. The generalized social worker are empower with a huge knowledge base, has rich professional values and a wide range of skill set. They work in an organizational structure, playing major professional roles and an insight with high critical thinking skill (Ashman & Hull, 2009, p. 7). Generalist Intervention Model provides a step by step process of find a solution to the problem. This model allows the social workers to deal with a range of problems starting from personal relationship to blatant discrimination. This model works on the basis of the few steps: Engagement: This is the initial period where the practitioner establishes a communication and starts realizing and addressing the problem. In case of the people with disability the social worker talks with the client and the family members to understand the problem more clearly. Assessment: In this phase the practitioners evaluates the situation more closely and try to judge it from the micro, mezzo and macro perspective. The worker at first gathers information about the problem and then tries to find a solution. Micro skills are required for those who are addressing the problem on an individual basis. In this case the worker will talk with the disabled person individually and separately. This is the foundation pillars to work in a larger group, community and organization. Mezzo means working in small groups like the family. Like in case of disability working with the family members to understand the problem more clearly and providing them with the ways to find a solution to the problems. Macro means working with a larger group like any community or organization who are working on the people suffering from disability. Planning: After the assessment planning is the stepping stone of problem solving process. Here the workers need to talk to the people suffering from disability and their family members to have a better understanding of the problem. The basic needs should be clearly understood and according to which the goals must be designed. The goals should be very specific to the problem faced by the people with disability. Implementation: After deciding the goal and planning for the solution, implementation has to be done with proper measures followed. The implementation should be such that the problem faced by the disabled people gets eradicated. Evaluation: After implementation it should be seen whether the goal has been effectively achieved or not. The three perspectives that are micro, mezzo and macro should be considered while judging. The three perspectives should be very clearly judged in order to decide on the effectiveness. It should be seen whether the problems that the disabled person and his family used to face has been eradicated or not. May not be totally but partial eradication is expected. Termination: After the whole process has been successfully implemented, the termination occurs. Here the worker bids “Good Bye” to the client who is the disabled person. Follow up: This is a never ending process so periodic follow ups are very necessary. This will help the worker to understand whether the client has been beneficial from the whole process or not. The worker should visit the disabled person and should take periodic review (Ashman & Hull, 2009, pp. 32-42). Resources available to the people with Disability The people who are suffering from physical disability generally face difficulty in moving from one place to another. Using pen, pencils or keyboards becomes troublesome. People with physical disability generally have normal intellectual functioning. In this case the disability should be properly understood whether it is by birth or the disability has been caused by any disease or there is any other cause for the disability. Most disability is permanent and even sometimes worsens over time (Helping Students with Mobility/Physical Disabilities, 2003, p.1). For several decades the disability right activists fought for the social possession and rights of the people with disability and hence in 1990 the Disability Act came into power. However this act failed to address oppression that do not fall under the legal definition of discrimination. The environmental barriers were still there for the participation of the people with disability and hence failed to eliminate the problem of discrimination (Schriner & Scotch, 2001, p.1). The social and the physical barrier that were previously there, eliminating the chances of the person with disability to exercise their rights, are now gradually getting reduced. Now wheelchairs and building with the provision of wheelchair access are there, that helps the person with disability to participate in the society. Children with disability are now considered to be the children with special need. The social institutions are now indebted to make adjustments for them. A large portion of these students now attend the regular school system. The students who are not intellectually capable special curriculum and teaching methodologies are to be developed for them (Discrimination, n.d., p. 228). Special vocational rehabilitation services are developed for young people and children to design proper educational formats and provide equal opportunities for the children to learn. They prepare proper educational and vocational training for the individual with disability keeping in mind their ability, aptitude, interest and age (Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Disabled Persons, 1998, p. 106). The topic of spirituality and religion has become more popular in the context of social work. Text books and journals written on social work are now more frequently addressing spirituality and religion. “Religion is now included as one of the groups, which social workers are implored to be sensitive to along with race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, political belief, and mental or physical disability” (Ressler, n.d., p. 98). The social workers are now directed to obtain education regarding social diversity and oppression (Ressler, n.d., p. 98). Conclusion The people with disability are now considered as the people with special need. The society is becoming friendlier towards them. Governments have also taken significant steps to help them in leading a normal life, enjoying all the rights and privileges of a normal person. Beside a large group of social workers are also working in order to provide them a better life. REFERENCES Ashman, K.K.K. & Hull, G.H. (2009). Understanding Generalist Practice. Cengage Learning DISCRIMINATION: Discrimination contradicts a fundamental principle of human rights, (n.d.), retrieved on January 25, 2013 from http://www.eycb.coe.int/compasito/chapter_5/pdf/3.pdf Experiences and Expectations of Disabled People, (n.d.), Office for disability issue:HM Government, retrieved on January 25, 2013 from http://odi.dwp.gov.uk/docs/res/eedp/eedp-easy-read.pdf Helping Students with Mobility/Physical Disabilities. (2003), retrieved on January 25, 2013 from http://www.uatpat.org/resources/educ_sheets/mobility.pdf Lang, R. (2001). THE DEVELOPMENT AND CRITIQUE OF THE SOCIAL MODEL OF DISABILITY. Retrieved on January 25, 2013 from http://www.ucl.ac.uk/lc-ccr/lccstaff/raymond-lang/DEVELOPMMENT_AND_CRITIQUE_OF_THE_SOCIAL_MODEL_OF_D.pdf Ressler, L.E. (n.d.). WHEN SOCIAL WORK AND CHRISTIANITY CONFLICT, retrieved on January 25, 2013 from http://www.nacsw.org/Download/CSW/Collide.pdf Ryan, E. & Bannister, K. (2009). Ability Speaks: Talking with a person with disability. ARESTA Schriner, K. & Scotch,R.K. (2001). Disability and Institutional Change: A Human Variation Perspective on Overcoming Oppression. Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 12(2), retrieved on January 25, 2013 from http://www.worksupport.com/documents/proed_instituationalchange.pdf Tolson, E.R., Reid, W.J. & Garvin, C.D. (2003).Generalist Practice: A Task-Centered Approach. Columbia University Press Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Disabled Persons. (1998). International Labour Organization Read More