Social Work & Disability - Assignment Example

Social Work and Disability Task 1: Report (Approx. 900 words) Introduction The statistics revealed by the World Health Organization approximate the number of disabled persons in the entire world to stand at 600 million. This translates to about 18 percent of the global population. Taking into account that ageing has a direct correlation with the number of disability cases, this percentage is more likely to shoot higher with the ageing of the baby-boomer generation. Social workers lend their services to those people with disability, their families as well as the communities. Their role in minimizing the adverse effects of disability are well evident especially on matters pertaining to direct practise, community development, policy advocacy, research, and many other spheres. There is no doubt that the antidiscrimination policies against disabled persons are a product of these social workers. However, despite the enormous effort put in place by social work organization, families and carers of disabled persons still contend with a myriad of challenges. This report presents the impacts of disability cases on family and carers as well as analyzes the role of social workers in helping the families and carers. Methodology The case study of Mr. Shanono informed the search strategy for relevant data. This exercise relied on secondary data as its primary source of information. Information for this study was obtained through electronic databases such as ebscohost, Google Scholar, and the Worldcat. The procedure entailed searching for key terms such as disability, social work, and the impact of disability on the families. The data obtained from the research was recorded, analyzed, and a report written. Results Mr. Shanono’s mild learning disability and personality disorder not only endangers his life but also the lives of those around him. He was once detained under section (2) of the Mental Health Act due to his violent and threatening behaviour. Financial strain is one of the major challenges which families and carers of the disabled cite. Disability places extra financial demands on the family and carers as families end up spending twice or even more than what they have been spending (Lardner, 2006). This money is required to take care of their illnesses whether mental or physical, their special education, as well as the damages caused by them. Also, since most of the disabled person demand for maximum attention, a family member or carer has to be present at all times to attend to them. This means that they are limited in their income generation capabilities (Lardner, 2006). Analyses by Lovallo (2005) indicate stress and depression as among the challenges carers undergo when taking care of persons with disability. Violence and other life threatening behaviours demand that a carer must always be on the lookout. Statics of primary research quoted by Lovallo suggest that 80% of parents and carers complain of burnout while take care of a person with disability. A third impact of disability to carers and families is possible resentment or seclusion from the community due to negative attitude. Persons with disability and their caregivers withdraw from the rest of the community (HUBERT, 2000). This mostly happens when neighbours and people in the community react inhumanly against the challenged persons (Yuker, 1988). Discussion The case of Mr. Shanono serves as evidence to the financial strains which a families dealing with cases of disability face. Every time Shanono’s condition worsened there had to be an assessment done and prescription given as a solution to the problem. Other overhead costs emanate from the demand of specialized education, health care, and other social services. It is also worth noting that mental disability can cause the family to deal with costs of damages. For instance, Mr. Shanono threatened to burn their house. If enough caution had not been taken into account, the family will have to rebuild their house from scratch. All these are very costly and result to unimaginable financial strain to the family. Secondly, the family of Mr. Shanono had to be always on the lookout in case he reveals the life-threatening behaviours. This results to burnouts which eventually translate to stress and depression to those involved. Lastly, an informed society is likely to behave queerly to a family having a disability. Some societies even associate disability with superstitions which lead to societal seclusion of a family or carer. However, the above challenges notwithstanding, social workers have an important role in helping families and carers of the disabled. Among the prime duties is ensuring that antidiscrimination policies against the disabled are well in place. These social workers act like a watchdog to the organizations and personalities propagating discrimination against the disabled and their families (ROTHMAN, 2003). They then formulate policies and legislations to shield them. This means a person with disability should never be denied an opportunity to carry out a task which is within their ability. Secondly, social worker carry out education and campaign to educate the masses that disability is not a condition to be shunned but rather embraced. Such education helps eliminate social stigmatization. Social workers also play a role in educating families and carers on how best to attend to those persons with disability. This may be through the provision of equipment or books to guide them. Finally, social workers provide an avenue through which carers and families with disability may get financial support. This is through the formulation of non-governmental organizations for the disabled where they champion their call for support (LINDSAY, 2009). Conclusion The cases of disability impact families and the carers to a great extent. Financial stain is one of the areas where respective parties are forced to undergo while trying to provide treatment, education, and general care to disabled person. Other areas of concern include stress and depression from burnout and seclusion or resentment from the society. On the other hand, social workers have come in handy to try and address some of these challenges. Among their contribution is education the society through campaigns that disability is normal and they should thus avoid stigmatizing the families and carers. Additional contribution comes from participating in policy formulations which ensure that the disabled are shielded from discriminative practices. Finally, social workers play a role in the formation of non-governmental organizations and charities which assist families and carers of the disabled financially as well as giving them the relevant advices. Task 2: Written description (Approx. 800 words) (3.1) Compare and contrast the diverse service provision for individuals with a disability and their family/carer(s) The physical and emotional needs of people with disability, their families, and carers are wide and diverse. A single entity may endeavour to offer help in whatever capacity but such a help may not be as wholesome as it is desired in the ideal situation. This has thus led to the emergence of several organizations which deal with the various aspects relating to disability. This part of the paper compares and contrasts different entities which offer diverse service to individuals with disability and their family/carer(s). Citizen Advice Bureau is among the well-known bodies that cater for the wellbeing of people with disability. They offer free, confidential and unbiased advice to individuals with disability and their families. Their services include; helping people settle problems like, discrimination, debts, housing and many other problems. Such services are accessed through telephone or by face to face dialogue (Lardner, 2006). On the other hand, Revitalize provides respite care. They do this by providing avenue through which persons with disability and their families get their minds rejuvenated thorough a holiday. Keen London is the other charity organization that creates opportunities for the persons with disability to have moments of fun through sports. This is done at no cost. Sporting is likened to physiotherapy (Lindsay, 2009). Therefore both carer`s and people with disability benefit from these. Contrary to Keen London, Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA) endeavours to provide those with disability the right to education. Persons with disability face the challenge of accessing environments for learning. IPSEA therefore moves around in search of schools or other institutions of learning which discriminates the youth and children with disability (Rothman, 2003). Lastly is the Fed Centre which is a federation for people with disability works hand in hand with local organisations. Fed Centre encourages people to have positive attitude towards disabled persons by looking more into their abilities. This is seen as a way of promoting Self worth and independence for every person with disability. They make sure that the views of people with disability are heard and their services are put into consideration. (4.1) analyse the psychological impact on both individuals and their family/carer(s) Cases of disability have the effect of causing serious emotional and psychological challenges to the individual and the family at large. However, such negative impacts may be reduced through the incorporation of relevant bodies that seek to champion for the rights of the disabled as well as provision of the necessary support. This section of the paper analyzes the psychological impacts of such organizations to both individuals and their family/carer(s). Lovallo (2005) in his research found out that there is a general increment in the number of people, both young and old, providing unpaid services to people with disabilities in their community. Attention by governmental and non-governmental bodies has served to strengthen the mental well being of the carers as they feel there is somebody who actually cares for their interests. The disabled individuals have also gathered courage to claim for their right of representation in the government circles. In some countries, a special ministry is set aside to deal with the special need groups such as persons with disability. There is therefore no doubt that the presence of such organizations have served to strengthen the psychological well being of persons with disability. References CANADA. (n.d.). Directory of federal services for the handicapped and disabled. [S.l.], Minister of Supply and Services Canada. FORD, A., & THOMPSON, J.-R. (2007). On their own creating an independent future for your adult child with learning disabilities and ADHD : a family guide. Princeton, N.J., Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic. GREYDANUS, D. E., PATEL, D. R., & PRATT, H. D. (2008). Developmental disabilities. Philadelphia, Pa, Saunders. HUBERT, J. (2000). Madness, disability, and social exclusion: the archaeology and anthropology of "difference". London, Routledge. Journal of social work in disability & rehabilitation. Binghamton, N.Y., Haworth Press (2003). . http://www.haworthpress.com/store/product.asp?sku=j198. LARDNER, C. (2006). Paying the price: the real costs of illness and disability for CAB clients : based on the evidence of Citizens Advice Bureau clients across Scotland. Edinburgh, Citizens Advice Scotland. LINDSAY, T. (2009). Social work intervention. Exeter [England], Learning Matters. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10519216. LOVALLO, W. R., & LOVALLO, W. R. (2005). Stress & health biological and psychological interactions. Thousand Oaks, Calif, Sage Publications. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=474653. ROTHMAN, J. C. (2003). Social work practice across disability. Boston, Allyn and Bacon YUKER, H. E. (1988). Attitudes toward persons with disabilities. New York, Springer Pub. Co. Read More