Bronx Developmental Disabilities Council (BDDC) is an association of people who represent and advocate for the rights of people with developmental disabilities. The organization provides a wide range of services and holds regular events for them. BDDC has basic principles for integrating these children and adults into society and protecting their rights. Among the functions of the organization’s educational agents is coordinating families about schools with unique or self-contained classes for children. The services include medical counseling, a care coordination committee, housing services, and social interaction. BDDC provides services both through direct referrals and through online inquiries.
The BDDC website contains useful publications that contain information for people with disabilities. Predominantly, these are online resources: the Guide to Supporting Families 2021 (“BDDC Overview”). During events, council, and committee meetings, the organization provides printed materials with information on disability and the prevention of social distancing of people with disabilities. Most of all, the organization pays attention to care and reports on the work done once a month.
For effective communication and cooperation, BDDC uses the resources of the Executive Board, which represents social workers. Working as a consultant for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the organization manages its staff and directs them to particularly critical points. BDDC has a clear mission statement, which acts as a significant cultural factor in the organization’s assistance to people with disabilities. Advocates and medical and social workers represent professional groups. They work at every event and meeting and develop strategies for people with disabilities. BDDC uses funding from the New York State Office and voluntary donations as resources.
Assessment
Thus, the organization has strong material and cultural support because it has the resources for programming and emergency services. It can be judged that BDDC manages its tasks and competently assigns professional groups. In addition, the organization’s leader is always on hand and present at every meeting and meeting. He suggests new service programs and directly engages in contact with adults and children with disabilities.
Ethical Principles of Disability Rights Advocacy
The ethical provision of assistance to people with disabilities and the protection of their rights should only be provided if people need direct help. It is worth understanding that providing unethical aid is worse than not providing it because it only increases the stigmatization of disability in society. Adherence to the code of ethics is most important in this sphere: especially the principle of competence, responsibility, and communication (“Advocate Voluntary Code of Ethics”). Communication is the central aspect of protecting the rights of people with disabilities because it makes it possible to identify the vital needs of people.
Conclusions and Application to Future Practice
The field experience demonstrated how organizations allocate their resources and which aspects they consider necessary. The BDDC example shows that social services and family coordination services are the most important. The ethical and cooperative communication strategy they use can be helpful in future practice. In addition, it will be beneficial to learn from state departments and offices and gain their financial support to implement competent protective services.
References
Advocate voluntary code of ethics. (n.d.). COPAA. Web.
According to the US census report of 2009, people with disability were estimated to be about 20% of the population. Most of them were aged 60 and above. The majority of them are in Florida and most of them are women (U.S. Census Bureau, 2011). With the increasing medical bills and the rising population of women with disabilities, it’s fitting to devise a health plan that will go a long way to enable them to meet their needs. Disability causes an individual’s physical and mental aspects to be impaired. It does not only affect all other dimensions in someone’s life but also causes the disabled to over-rely on other people. In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, disabled women are facing other health challenges such as chronic illnesses, Hepatitis B and C, among others (Center for Disease Control, 2011).
Overview of the Community Health Plan
The Annual Disability Awareness month will be the best time to organize a Community Disability Awareness Program. The program will aim to enlighten the community regarding elderly women’s disabilities. A measurable outcome in the program’s success will be a decline in the rate of crime related to elderly women with disabilities. One of the leading crimes against elderly women in Fort Lauderdale is financial crimes (Roubicek, 2009). Another outcome for success will be an increase in those willing to volunteer in certain programs offered in Fort Lauderdale. Such programs include home repair, companionship, escort, and adult day care programs (Florida Department of Elder Affairs, 2011).
Strategies for Evaluating the Outcomes of the Plan
It is important to have evaluation strategies. Their purpose is to monitor the project outcomes. Besides, they are used not only to find out if the objectives have been met but also to measure the success the progress and success of the plan. Collection of data on the number of current volunteers and crimes will form the project’s formative evaluation. There will be a comparison between these data and the 2011 report from members. Another formative evaluation will entail piloting the processes and program information and making necessary modifications before the launch of the main program.
The third evaluation strategy is summative evaluation. This is where outcomes are evaluated to improve the community’s current and future projects. Summative evaluation can be used in monitoring a project’s success in two ways. One way is that it can show the role played by the program in enlightening elderly disabled women. This can be shown by a decline in crime and an increase in the number of volunteers. Another way is holding a meeting with the community to get their views regarding the progress of the program (Center for Disease and Control, 2009).
How community health projects benefit from social marketing
Like other community health projects, the Lauderdale plan to help disabled elderly women is important. There is a correlation between health policies and population changes. About 52% of the population is represented by females in Florida. Community projects that allow access to drug prescription plans and health care are supposed to be looked at again to incorporate those women who are below poverty. It is therefore important to conduct social marketing of the project because there are areas of need. These include impoverished people who cannot access important services such as telephone (Fort Lauderdale, Florida poverty data information, 2010), prescription drugs, and health care. Other issues entail access to food, transport, and accommodation. Fraud prevention is also a critical concern.
Reference list
Center for Disease Control, (2011). Communicable Disease Surveillance Data 2011. Web.
Florida Department of Elder Affairs, (2011). Elder care program and services. Web.
Fort Lauderdale Florida (2010). Poverty data information. Web.
Roubicek, J. (2009). Financial abuse fraud vs. exploitation of the elderly. Web.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2011). American Fact finder. Web.
The perception of human disability has swayed over time and was incredibly volatile when discussed in different cultures, religions, and social contexts. However, with the first publishing of Darwin’s Origin of Species, the Social Darwinism perspective has negatively impacted those with disabilities, ranging from physical to cognitive (Marini et al., 2011). He did this by equating those with intellectual disabilities as the link between current-day humans and earlier primates. This view enforced the then prevalent and detrimental perception of the disabled as not “wholly” human and inferior compared to others.
The Jukes and Kallikaks families were studied to find the relation between genetics and certain undesired behaviors, such as criminality, “feeble-mindedness” and poverty lifestyles. However, both studies resulted in uncertain and biased results. A substantial amount of variables swayed the experiments as well as numerous researchers and their differing approaches to the study. The Jukes were assessed on their ‘criminality’ through genetics but variables of the environment were not accounted for. Additionally, a significant number of individuals that were studied, were not related to each other or the original family. In the case of the Kallikaks, many external factors such as malnutrition were unaccounted for. The accuracy of the experiments is doubtful with many aliases used, recordings of data manipulation, and even practice of religion and pseudoscience as valid research tools.
The segregation of the disabled community from the rest of society is a harmful notion. It is often perpetrated by isolation, unwillingness to obtain knowledge regarding disabilities, and reliance on inaccurate scientific data as the reason for the superiority of able-bodied individuals. In addition, connecting behavior such as the likeliness of criminality to genetics is incorrect and damaging not only to the individual but to a community and society as a whole. Such negative perspectives can lead to the limitation of the rights of disabled people. It can also cause them harm or abuse within their living and family spaces. Lastly, it segregates them from society and minimizes diversity and equal opportunity.
Reference
Marini, I., Glover-Graf, N., M., & Millington, M., J. (2011). Psychosocial aspects of disability: Insider perspectives and strategies for counselors. Springer Publishing Company.
People with disabilities, a significant minority group, are often unable to use standard services or products available to nondisabled people. This frequently leads to inequality and inaccessibility in employment, education, and issues in day-to-day life. There are even more segregational due to negative stigma surrounding disability, financial status, cultural and religious perceptions, and lack of federally provided services and welfare resources (Masango, 2018).
However, many motions and programs are either implemented, put into practice, or developed to solve issues that affect people with disabilities in their daily lives and on a large scale. Lifestyle issues include access to transportation, special clothing if needed, building entrances, health care, and education or employment. Issues that affect more deeply rooted problems like ignorance, social stigma, and inequality in political, occupational, and cultural rights are being addressed with long-term policies and educational campaigns.
Accessibility is an issue that has been very prevalent in most people with disabilities and still requires development. The majority of current technology or publicly available resources are designed in a universal way that usually focuses on nondisabled individuals or groups. To improve accessibility, companies and designers can focus on creating resources that are accessible to any individual, disabled or not, or provide support features that allow disabled people to implement assisting devices. A prominent example is the screen reader, which transforms images and written text into speech or braille to help visually impaired or blind people.
Such devices allow people with disabilities the option to intake information, which is an often overlooked necessity. A variety of laws, initiatives, and regulations are currently implemented to ensure simpler and less costly access to information resources and the functionality of a device. Voice-operated wheelchairs were a vital improvement in technology for disabled people as they allowed quadriplegic individuals, whose disability can be incredibly profound and limit mobility substantially, the ability to move independently.
Transportation is another feature that can be non-accommodative in the life of a disabled person. Locations and modes of transportation can be classified as accessible or inaccessible depending on their efficiency in time-efficient travel for as many people as possible. Currently, many vehicles are still unequipped for passengers with disabilities. Taxis and some public buses are still the only modes for certain disabled passengers. Still, they do not always come with ramps, devices, and stabilizations for the visually impaired, and other necessary features.
Additionally, the incompleteness or inadequate services and maintenance of roads, stations, and vehicles considerably worsen or disrupt travel for disabled passengers. This can include poorly maintained or clean pavements, making them inaccessible to cane and wheelchair users. In rural areas, a lack of roads can make independent living impossible. Audio-projecting devices are also a necessity for blind or visually impaired passengers. Other commuters may also be less inclined to respect the personal space of disabled passengers, bus and taxi drivers may be untrained or unwilling to assist entry and exit of the vehicle when needed. For passengers who cannot travel by bus, taxis may be the only option but are also significantly costlier.
Access and comfortable presence within buildings are significant to people with disabilities. Regular housing units are usually built without consideration for the potential of tenants with disabilities. Modifications are typically made after purchase, though many initiatives have promoted blueprints that adapt wider door frames and ramps to initial building plans. In the case of multi-floor buildings, private or residential elevators are an excellent alternative to commercial elevators, which can also be incredibly expensive.
Accessibility to medical healthcare is the most vital aspect of a disabled individual’s lifestyle. Current issues touch upon scarcity of resources and working staff and the certain attitude employees may have towards patients with disabilities. As with other patients, people with disabilities have the same rights to respect their dignity and privacy. However, there are many cases where these values are not upheld when treating patients with disabilities, often in the person having mental or intellectual disabilities. There is a lack of awareness and educational material concerning HIV/AIDS or other transmittable diseases that is accessible for disabled people. There are frequent instances of medical policies and services offered by departments not being in alignment with actual treatment provided in the clinic or hospital.
Preventative care, rehabilitation services, and early diagnosis methods are not as standard within medical faculties as they should be according to the number of disabled individuals within the medical center’s district. Additionally, clinics often do not employ permanent specialists such as audiologists, psychologists, optometrists, and other therapists that may be needed in an emergency. Clinics rarely have interpreters or may not consider the height of the reception area for wheelchair access. The majority of these issues stem from management and resource delegation as well as fundamental infrastructure planning. Better cooperation between healthcare committees and local government can improve the current state of hospitals for disabled and nondisabled patients.
Within social environments, people with disabilities often face incorrect assumptions, myths, and prejudice, or unequal treatment. Though the perception of disabled people has significantly improved over the past decades, much discrimination remains in used language or associated with illness. Terminology that is used in relation to wheelchair users often implicates chronic disease or a permanent sickly state.
For instance, referring to people as ‘wheelchair bound’ or ‘confined to a wheelchair’ suggests a lack of independence, vulnerability, or inferiority, though they are untrue. Sometimes assumptions work in reverse, such as the myth that all deaf people can read lips or that blind people gain a sixth sense. Segregation is also promoted by such wrongful guesses. Many assume that disabled people are only comfortable in environments with other people with disabilities or those nondisabled people are always obligated to care for them.
It is essential to find the origins of these myths and format cohesive statements as to why they are false. The unconscious connection between sickness and wheelchairs likely originated from a common method by which patients were transported around the hospital. However, a wheelchair is used for various reasons and is often simply an assistive device the same way a car or bicycle is, with the purpose to move from one location to another.
Lip reading is a different skill for every individual with deafness and frequently proves not entirely reliable. Blind people can develop better perception through their remaining four senses but do not possess a ‘sixth’ sense. Curiosity is often dissuaded in young children though relating correct information at such a young age is incredibly beneficial and can prevent wrongful assumptions in the lives of these children.
People with physical and mental disabilities are among the most vulnerable during crises. The reason is that they do not function normally and cannot run or hide from a calamity on their own; thus, they require assistance. This assistance is usually delayed, and as a result, people may be killed or gravely injured due to one of the natural disasters that impact a country or a location. As a result, it is critical to have a plan in place to ensure that these people are not victimized in the event of such an occurrence. Consequently, the strategy should successfully keep these people safe in a calamity.
People living with a disability can be helpless by themselves; therefore, a good plan is needed to make them safe in cases of emergency. First, before a disaster occurs, the government should be aware of the number of individuals in the scenario and keep track of them to verify the figures are correct (Gjertsen, 2019). Knowledge of the number of persons living with disabilities aids in determining the appropriate resources to invest in the program. The first stage is to identify persons who may require evacuation assistance. This goal can be accomplished by collaborating with local disability organizations or conducting a community poll. Once individuals have been identified, a database containing their contact information, medical information, and other pertinent information must be created. Emergency responders should have access to this information to swiftly and readily identify persons needing assistance. Following creating a database, the next stage is to devise a plan for evacuating people with impairments. This plan should contain a specified meeting location, a transportation system, and a way for communication with persons being evacuated. It is critical to test this strategy before an actual emergency to address any potential issues.
Those people who are unable to leave the area on their own can be evacuated in several different ways. Utilizing public transit, such as buses or trains, is one choice that can be made. Using personal modes of transportation, such as vehicles or ambulances, is an additional choice. It is of the utmost importance to ensure everyone can escape to a secure location in an emergency. After everyone has been safely removed from the area, the next priority is ensuring they receive the required medical attention and assistance. This action can involve giving them something to eat and drink and a place to sleep. Because many people may have experienced traumatic effects due to the accident, you must offer them psychological care. It is vital to take extensive measures to guarantee that all people unable to evacuate on their own will be able to do so securely. During times of crisis, it is possible to safely evacuate all individuals if it is first determined who among them needs aid, and then it is given to them what they require to meet their needs.
The plan can only be successful with much cooperation from the people involved in the process. This engagement is very important to ensure that the physically incapacitated people are not swept by crises such as hurricanes. It is also essential to understand that resources are vital, and with government support, the plan can be very successful. Adherence to this plan will guarantee the safe evacuation of individuals with physical and mental disabilities groups during crises.
Apart from the cooperation among the people involved in the evacuation process, the success of the entire procedure relies on the preparation of the responsible government body. Having a plan alone is not enough for effective safety evacuation. Firstly, the county government needs to have a functional cooperative arrangement system already in place (Hostetter & Naser, 2022). This is a strategy whereby two or more people within a neighborhood, workplace, or institution volunteer to help their neighbors or colleagues with disabilities during an emergency. The government should keep a detailed registry of these individuals, which includes contacts, locations, and names. Doing so would make it easy to get information when the emergency hits. Secondly, the county government, through the department of emergency and action plan, has to ensure that at least one of the assistants is well-trained to help during the crisis. Given that the assistants are volunteers who might not have skills in safety evacuation, it is paramount to train them to protect them from risking their lives and those being evacuated.
Preparing ahead is also an indispensable strategy that significantly contributes to an effective and successful evacuation process. Having the plan and means of evacuation alone can be hampered by a lack of prior preparedness. The involved department in the county government should have a prearranged plan on appropriate evacuation procedures and routes to use. That involves mapping out the entire county to identify safer and shorter ways to use while evacuating people with disabilities. Heavy traffic on the highways can delay transportation and increase the risk to people’s lives. Hence, knowing how to avoid traffic is appropriate to ensure easy and fast movement. The success of an evacuation process relies partly on the availability of transportation and ease of movement. Since the county government has resources and data regarding road traffic, identifying routes should be simple.
Planning also involves considering people with disability and ensuring they have information regarding safety evacuation. For instance, it is necessary to recommend or suggest to people with disabilities to occupy rooms or buildings with safety equipment that can aid their escape even without assistance. Encouraging people using wheelchairs, crunches, and walkers to live in the ground floor rooms enhances emergency response (Hostetter & Naser, 2022). It is easier for someone using an assistive device to evacuate a room on the ground floor than in the upper story. Maneuvering through the stairs is a complex task for a person with walking challenges. Additionally, disabled individuals should be informed about possible evacuation routes, assembly areas, and refuge buildings. Such information is crucial since crisis strikes when least expected, and without prior knowledge of how to escape without assistance, people with disabilities can easily succumb to the disaster.
Lastly, Caroll County should have a well-coordinated workplace for emergency response. Safety evacuation of people with disabilities relies on proper coordination between the various departments and agencies. Professionals in medical, fire and rescue, public health, public works, and law enforcement services offer unique help to the victims (Hostetter & Naser, 2022). Ensuring that these different personnel works seamlessly during an evacuation reduces the likelihood of losing lives. Therefore, educating and training the various respondents from different agencies and departments on collaboration and coordination during a crisis makes a huge difference.
Overall, people with mental and physical disabilities are vulnerable and thus require proper evacuation plans in a crisis. The plan includes keeping track of these individuals, evacuating them using public means, having a functional buddy system, preparing ahead, providing crucial information, and enhancing interdepartmental coordination. Such a plan reduces or prevents the loss of lives during a crisis. Therefore, Caroll County can utilize the information to ensure that the safe evacuation of people with disabilities is successful during an emergency response.
References
Gjertsen, H. (2019). People with intellectual disabilities can speak for themselves! A methodological discussion of using people with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities as participants in living conditions studies. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 21(1), 141-149.
Hostetter, H., & Naser, M. Z. (2022). Characterizing disability in fire evacuation: A progressive review. Journal of Building Engineering, 53, 1-20.
Gilson, K. M., Davis, E., Corr, L., Stevenson, S., Williams, K., Reddihough, D.,… & Waters, E. (2018). Enhancing support for the mental well-being of parents of children with a disability: developing a resource based on the perspectives of parents and professionals. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 43(4), 463-472.
This article is intended to provide the parents whose children have a disability with the necessary source to be able to handle the process of caregiving. Parents and caregivers experience a lot of stress due to the lack of close communication, socialization, and free time to rest and dedicate to their hobbies. Thus, parental mental health deserves more attention since mental well-being directly affects children and other family members. This independent research was conducted by the primary author Kim-Michelle Gilson who has a postdoctoral fellowship, and his colleagues, who also have academic and practitioner fellowships. Since the article was published in the authorized medical journal by professionals who intended to find a way to help caregivers with their struggles, this source is applicable to the research.
Waters, C. L., & Friesen, A. (2019). Parent experiences of raising a young child with multiple disabilities: The transition to preschool. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 44(1), 20-36.
In summary, the resource’s topic is about the experience of the families who raise children with multiple disabilities. It discusses how to prepare children for preschool, considering all the limitations that they might face. Ten parents shared their thought and experience on the topic and participated in the survey to find the most significant process elements. Since they directly had to deal with the obstacles and challenges of adapting their children to social interactions, their experience might be valuable for the research. The article’s authors are the doctoral student and the associate professor, who both study the early intervention and educational policy regarding children with disability. Comparing it to the first article, the focus is primarily made on the specific phase of children’s lives when they are still at the preschool age and is narrower for observation. In total, the article gives a more detailed look at the struggles of parents whose children of an early age have disabilities.
Montirosso, R., Mascheroni, E., Guida, E., Piazza, C., Sali, M. E., Molteni, M., & Reni, G. (2021). Stress symptoms and resilience factors in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Psychology, 40(7), 428.
The main topic of the article is the impact on the mental resilience of parents and their children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Children with NDD are more exposed to stress and anxiety during the period of the coronavirus pandemic. Their age or sex did not affect the final results, and the Covid-19 was a critical factor. However, those children whose parents demonstrated a low level of resilience eventually affected children. The authors of the article have a degree in phycology, and the main author Eleonora Mascheroni has a PhD degree in the field. The study was partly sponsored by the Italian government. Taking care of a child with disabilities is already a tough challenge for the parents, but in the conditions of the pandemic, it is even more challenging. This source provides the readers with the different sides of childcare under the impact of the external factors and how they affect the family.
Jackson, J. B., Steward, S. R., Roper, S. O., & Muruthi, B. A. (2018). Support group value and design for parents of children with severe or profound intellectual and developmental disabilities. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 48(12), 4207-4221.
The study researches the value of support groups for parents whose children struggle with severe disabilities. It showed that the participants, by the end of the experiment, felt so much better with the group support. By communicating with other parents who go through similar situations and getting encouragement and understanding from others. However, some parents were not fully satisfied because their child’s diseases were so rare that they could not discuss them with anyone, even within the support groups. The lead author of the article is a PhD psychology professor with more than ten years of practice and several scientific publications. This article posted in the scientific journal suggests one more way of helping parents and providing them emotional support during the care of children with disabilities.
References
Gilson, K. M., Davis, E., Corr, L., Stevenson, S., Williams, K., Reddihough, D.,… & Waters, E. (2018). Enhancing support for the mental well-being of parents of children with a disability: developing a resource based on the perspectives of parents and professionals. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 43(4), 463-472.
Jackson, J. B., Steward, S. R., Roper, S. O., & Muruthi, B. A. (2018). Support group value and design for parents of children with severe or profound intellectual and developmental disabilities. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 48(12), 4207-4221.
Montirosso, R., Mascheroni, E., Guida, E., Piazza, C., Sali, M. E., Molteni, M., & Reni, G. (2021). Stress symptoms and resilience factors in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Psychology, 40(7), 428.
Waters, C. L., & Friesen, A. (2019). Parent experiences of raising a young child with multiple disabilities: The transition to preschool. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 44(1), 20-36.
The case revolves around a 22-year-old male, John, whose age category is “Younger Individuals.” It is important to note that the client’s educational category is high school. The case presents an individual who has no evident physical disabilities but has certain learning or cognitive ones, which is especially prominent in math skills. Since he is capable of performing physical labor and any form of work, which does not involve strenuous cognitive skills, his Residual Functional Capacity is a non-complex low stress work with an emphasis on physical labor. In accordance with the Dictionary of Occupational Titles or DOT, John’s category, he is capable of handling medium work due to his short stature and low weight of 120 lbs. (Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT), n.d.). John does not need any form of reasonable accommodations and assistive technologies.
The three jobs interesting for John are web designer, video game creator, and truck driver. For the latter, the DOT Code is 905.663-014, whereas the code for a web designer can be 141.061-038 for commercial designers or 030.062-010 for software engineers (DOT, n.d.). It is important to point out the fact that the code will depend on whether or not the emphasis of the position is put on design elements or code-related technical aspects (DOT, n.d.). The code 030.062-010 for software engineers is also applicable for video game developer jobs (DOT, n.d.). Therefore, the first two jobs of interest are mostly in the field of information technology areas, whereas the truck driving occupation is preferred by John for the potential growth into a business, which he can one day own himself.
Both web designer and video game developer positions require an in-depth knowledge of programming languages, which rely heavily on one capability for operating and working with math at an advanced level. In other words, John’s RFC on jobs not requiring a high level of math can become a major hindrance in regards to these positions. In addition, these two positions are highly complex jobs, which counteracts with John’s RFC in regards to non-complex jobs. Therefore, the only job, which is compatible with the client’s RFC is the truck driver position because it is not as complex as the other two, and driving does not rely heavily on math.
Although truck driving can be a stressful job, it is not evident if it is true, and thus, it is important for John to experience the job-related himself and determine whether he can handle it. The truck driver job is also compatible with John’s RFC because he scored high at being an excellent worker, who follows instructions, has an outstanding attitude and motivation, and is punctual. All of these qualities are highly important for truck driving jobs. In modern conditions, the social adaptation of disabled people is becoming the most important function of society, all of its governing bodies and social institutions. By social adaptation, we mean the process of including a person with disabilities in the social environment, his adaptation to existing living conditions and employment, the system of norms and values.
Despite the fact that the problem of employment and employment of people with disabilities in modern society is very relevant, nevertheless, in everyday life, people with disabilities experience difficulties in getting a job. In accordance with OOH, there are 2,029,900 truck driving jobs in the United States (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2021). It is stated that “employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2019 to 2029, slower than the average for all occupations. As the demand for goods increases, more truck drivers will be needed to keep supply chains moving” (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2021, para. 11). In other words, one can see that there are plenty of truck driving positions, which will only increase in demand post-pandemic due to the removal of restrictions and lockdowns.
In addition, the job does not require advanced degrees or work experience because the majority of training procedures are conducted on-site. In accordance with JAN, it is stated that “it is up to the employee to disclose the disability and ask for accommodations when he feels there may be performance or conduct issues that are tied to the disability” (Job Accommodation Network, n.d., para. 2). In other words, John will need to request accommodations if he experiences any form of difficulties in his truck driver job. One of such accommodations might involve designing a simpler format for refueling and distance measurements, which are conducted by the supporting coordinators. However, it is important to note that John’s math skills might be sufficient enough to handle these rather easy operations. JAN puts a great deal of emphasis on intellectual impairments in regards to reading, which is not present in John, which is why the selected job position might not require any form of accommodation.
Taking into account the insights obtained from the analysis, we believe that at the level of educational institutions, it is important to intensify social work at the stage of vocational training in order to form the motivation for young people with health problems to work. For these purposes, it is important to develop recommendations aimed at the formation of motivation and professional self-determination. The activities need to include various training, consultations, conversations, career guidance work, and even role-playing games. Activities should be aimed at the psychological preparation of the future specialist, developing his active professional position, increasing motivation, determining his place in the labor sphere.
Thus, the solution to the problem of employment of young people with disabilities, like John, consists not only in state incentives for employers to hire people with disabilities and creating special jobs for them, but also in organizing their preparation for employment at the level of an educational institution, and further support after graduation. In this regard, it becomes necessary to use key resource centers, such as JAN, OOH, and DOT, which interact with both educational institutions and employment centers. This work will allow young people with disabilities to be motivated to work and find a job based on the received analysis of their strengths and weaknesses.
The short-term goals for John should primarily focus on ensuring that he lands a truck driver job successfully. These are:
Try to complete the 12th grade with a diploma
Acquire a commercial driver’s license (CDL)
Apply for truck driver positions
Successfully complete his on-job training
Identify and request accommodations, if needed
The long-term goals for John should focus on establishing him as a highly skilled professional in his career path in order to enable his transition towards starting his own firm. These are:
The article under analysis is concerned with the resilience experiences of people with disabilities who pertain to gender or sexual minority groups. The authors identified resilience maximizers and minimizers based on the participants’ accounts. Hunter, Dispenza, Huffstead, Suttles, and Bradley (2020) defined resilience as individuals’ positive adaptation to negative conditions. It is often accepted in academia that resilience is innate, but Hunter et al. (2020) stressed that it could be built under certain circumstances. The following research question guided the study under consideration: “How do SGMPWDs define, understand, experience, and describe their lives?” (Hunter et al., 2020, p. 2). The researchers implemented a qualitative phenomenological study based on semi-structured interviews. The focus of the study was on the participants’ lived experiences, as well as their attitudes towards certain aspects, so the use of interviews as a data collection method is justified.
The participants identified such resilience maximizers as advocacy, self-acceptance, the recognition of humanity, and social support. The following resilience minimizers were identified: punishment, fragmentation, and identity concealment. One of the unexpected findings was the fact that the plea for recognition was a significant resilience maximizer. The authors noted that the major implication of their study was the description of major stressors and resilience builders for the target population that could be utilized by counselors and social workers. The authors also emphasized that counselors had to adopt a multicultural approach, meaning that they could not focus on one of the identities of their clients. Hunter et al. (2020) recognized the homogeneous structure of the sample as the central limitations to their study. The vast majority of the participants had a physical disability, had a college education or a degree, and identified themselves as cisgender. Future research could involve a detailed investigation of each stressor and resilience builder.
Reference
Hunter, T., Dispenza, F., Huffstead, M., Suttles, M., & Bradley, Z. (2020). Queering disability: Exploring the resilience of sexual and gender minority persons living with disabilities. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin. Web.
People with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at high risk of engaging in aggressive actions. Such issues commonly transform into behavioral disorders that could put them and other people at risk of injury or property destruction. According to the research, 10% of intellectually disabled people showcase some forms of challenging behavior (Kerr et al., 2013). Therefore, the surrounding of such people faces significant challenges while working with them.
The significance of behavioral problems among individuals with intellectual disabilities remains one of the central, as they must be thoroughly researched due to its specific determinants. Special people who demonstrate aggressive attitudes require more comprehensive care and patience regarding their mental health. If the behavioral issues are not correctly managed timely, they can become a barrier for people with ID to have proper access to many vital resources like education, societal communication, or an opportunity to work.
Though many research types are focused on attitude problems among intellectually disabled people, they put more emphasis on interventions that prevent or manage it. Nevertheless, the reasoning and outcomes of such behavior require a more thorough analysis based on the actual first-hand feedback. The study is aimed to determine and examine the triggers that cause aggressive behavior among people with ID and possible associated diseases. The research is intended to confirm the hypothesis that intellectually disabled adults frequently demonstrate signs of aggressive behavior from an early age, which continues to become more severe with time.
Literature Review
Frequently patients with diagnosed intellectual disabilities demonstrate aggressive behavior that indicates the presence of underlying psychiatric conditions that must be dealt with as soon as they are diagnosed (Kerr et al., 2013). Behavioral problems are classified as chronic, meaning intellectually disabled people diagnosed with such conditions continue to display them over time, which negatively influences their quality of life (Gur, 2016). The severity of ID can determine the condition and asperity of behavioral problems, which usually manifest themselves in childhood and linger throughout the lifetime (Sappok et al., 2013). A study confirmed that over 50% of intellectually disable people demonstrate some conditions of behavioral problems and reports that anger problems within ID are closely connected to mental health issues like depression (Rose et al., 2013).
Another research study states that individually designed interventions and constant work on reducing aggression can be effective in preventing behavioral issues among people with intellectual disabilities (Kim et al., 2017). No action taken to reduce behavioral problems can lead to applying harsh measures that limit the regular life of a person. Examples may include involvement with the police, social isolation, or exclusion from treatment services (Rose et al., 2013). Moreover, severe aggressive behavior can possibly threaten the well-being of both an intellectually disabled person and people around, especially the caregivers.
Research has shown that mild and borderline intellectual disorders are at increased risk of having mental problems that result in aggressive behavior and have higher irritability (Kim et. al., 2017). Attitude issues may be the reason for a person’s exclusion from social interactions and negatively influencing their well-being and quality of life (Gur, 2016). Therefore, aggressive behavior must be continuously controlled; otherwise, it may develop more severe conditions of intellectual disabilities.
Methods
Design
The proposed quality designed study will evaluate the behavior of people with intellectual disabilities over a certain period of time and consequently conclude the primary triggers that influence ID people to demonstrate behavioral issues, including aggressiveness. Their relatives must complete a survey to assess current mental state of disabled patients and reflect on previous behavioral patterns. The study will be conducted by highly qualified specialists, where scientists and key workers will evaluate challenging behavior (Rose et al., 2013). The information will provide enough knowledge to answer the main question and confirm the hypothesis in a non-experimental way.
Participants
All participants must be voluntarily recruited with permissions from their caretakers in order not to cause any harm. The approximate amount of individuals can vary; however, more people would provide the research with more precise results. The participants of the study are people with various intellectual disorders. Some of them have confirmed aggressive behavior; others are being studied on the subject of any behavioral issues and how they manifest themselves. Therefore, the collected data will give a more inclusive and generalized answer to the central question. Such a sampling method is useful for tracking the person’s journey of any kind of aggressive behavior and can ultimately contribute to confirming the hypothesis that behavioral challenges become apparent at a young age.
Procedure/Measures
Primary to the assessments, all participants must be evaluated by a psychiatrist on the existing conditions of the mental disorder. Such check-up must identify and confirm the medical history of individuals as well as their current state of mental health. For the determination of triggers of behavioral problems, the measuring method called Staff Observation Aggression Scale-Revised, Adapted for People With Intellectual Disabilities (SOAS-R-ID) will be used for the medical staff and relatives of ID people. The questionnaire consists of five columns that help identify the nature of aggressive behavior an individual has ever displayed. The columns include types of aggressive behavior, objects used to assist their violence, people targeted by the challenging behavior, outcomes, and measures taken to stop the aggression (Kim et. al., 2017). The questionnaire will be specially adapted for the participant’s medical history.
The answers given by caregivers and relatives can be added up and have a score from 0 to 22 – 22 being the most severe form of behavioral challenges. The procedure of calculating the score consists of summing up the highest score in each column (Kim et. al., 2017). Consequently, the numbers scored by a participant would be converted to the percentage, which will help understand the level of aggression more clearly.
Participants with intellectual disabilities will be observed for some time in their natural settings and also would be put in certain situations that could trigger the aggression. The procedure used is called the Provocation Index (PI), which is summarized as an analysis of responses to anger-provoking situations (Rose et al., 2013). The evaluation includes 25 cases that can evoke inadequate behavior, which is evaluated on a scale of 0-3, according to its severity. Therefore, the experts will be able to identify precisely what provokes anger issues in people with intellectual disabilities most.
Data Analysis
Descriptive statistics in the Statistical Package for the Social will be used to analyze the data from the SOAS-R-ID questionnaire. This would be the most sufficient way to obtain the most accurate data. The results from the Provocation Index test will be analyzed in two stages. Firstly, bivariate results must be summarized for all variables. Next, to predict the accurate PI scores, a linear regression will be used, where the variables are computed in three parts: demographic variables, mental health and challenging behavior measures (Rose et al., 2013). It will be possible to identify the aggression triggers more accurately by dividing and analyzing the received data.
Ethical Issues
Participation in the research will be entirely voluntary for both people with intellectual disabilities and their caretakers. Moreover, the permission forms the responsible individuals for participants with ID will be requested, so the research is conducted strictly willingly. In no way does the study worsen or trigger any new mental health conditions for the participants, all precautions and constant psychological assessments will be used.
The anonymity of each volunteer will be secured. No names will be used in the surveys or the published research. All individuals will be assigned their unique identification numbers under which they will undergo during the experimental process. The list of names with people taking part in the procedure will be destroyed according to the guidelines of the Institutional Review Board three years after the conducted research.
As the research involves the participation of a vulnerable group of people, it will be ensured that their involvement does not threaten their mental state and reassure their willing participation. If in any case, the person or their guardian starts to feel uncomfortable or unsafe, the participation can be immediately terminated. The comprehension of all intellectually disabled individuals will be evaluated as well as the specific tools for conducting the research will be created in order to establish a safe and friendly atmosphere.
The research will be entirely objective and will avoid facing any biased aspects of the study to keep it as accurate as possible. Any people the examinators have acquaintances with will not review the article, and full equality will be established at the setting of the conducted study. Any personal and financial interest that might be followed during the research will be immediately disclosed in order for its full transparency.
Conclusion
People with intellectual disabilities frequently have behavioral disorders caused by various external factors. Most individuals with ID have demonstrated any kind of aggressive behavior at least once; thus, around 10% of such patients continually become a behavioral challenge for their surroundings (Kerr et al., 2013). Therefore, many underlying factors may be causing the aggressive attitude that must be identified and dealt with. In case of neglecting or worse endorsing such behavior, mental conditions of intellectually disabled people may worsen and lead to the exclusion from society or problems with the criminal justice system.
Assessment of behavioral issues and identification of the leading causes that trigger it is the primary goal for the research. The foundational factors that lead to such actions should be determined in order to deal with such behavior effectively. Inappropriately designed interventions that aim to help manage anger problems among intellectually disabled people can negatively influence their mental health and initiate the new conditions.
The methods used for the assessment are expected to be extremely accurate as they involve not only mentally ill people but also their caretakers, which must provide a more objective analysis. The conducted research is vital and essential for further studying behavioral issues among people with intellectual disabilities as little empirical analysis regarding the principal causes of aggressive behavior within the ID community was conducted.
Every person has unique needs affecting his/her life and well-being. The ability to satisfy the current demands is essential for individuals as it helps them to become happy and move forward towards the achievement of new goals. Unfortunately, some groups can be limited in their opportunities because of disabilities affecting their lifestyles and preconditioning the emergence of unique demands. Today, there are multiple attempts to assist such people in their everyday tasks and create an environment vital for their improved well-being. People with disabilities are part of every community, meaning that providing help to them is one of the necessary directions of social work. The existing agencies and organizations are focused on an improved understanding of existing needs with the primary goal to create the framework for their satisfaction and these people’s inclusion in the lives of communities.
Social issue
Throughout the history of humanity, the attitude towards people with disabilities has been changing. The existence of specific needs that can be satisfied with the help of other community members preconditioned the difference in perspectives on how to treat this group. However, the dominance of humanistic values and tolerance today, along with the recognition of the critical importance of every life, resulted in the radical shift in people’s mentalities and visions. People with disabilities are determined as persons who have physical or mental impairment limiting one or several major life activities (Dobransky & Hargittai, 2020). They are considered significant members of society who should be assisted to improve the functioning of a community. For this reason, there is an attempt to create a supportive environment favorable for providing help to such people. Multiple agencies and organizations function in the given field to enhance the situation.
The importance of considering this population group’s needs is explained by the growing topicality of the problem. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2020) states that 61 million adults live with disabilities in the USA. In general, 26% of the population, or one in four adults, have some type of this problem (CDC, 2020). Moreover, there is a tendency towards the rise in the number of such people because of the deterioration of the situation and the growing number of environmental concerns (Dobransky & Hargittai, 2020). Disability also impacts the communities’ health, status, and a financial burden (Dobransky & Hargittai, 2020). Adults with such problems have a higher risk of becoming obese, developing smoking or drinking patterns, or heart disease (CDC, 2020). The question is complicated because there are barriers limiting access to health care for such people. CDC (2020) also states that 1 in 3 adults with such concerns do not have a health care provider, or their current disease is not treated because of the high cost (CDC, 2020). Furthermore, 1 in 4 adults does not have routine assessments of their states (CDC, 2020). All these factors prove the existence of a serious problem and the need for its addressing.
Under these conditions, the role of social workers acquires the top priority. Public health is a common concern that can be promoted by using local resources and governmental support. The statistic shows that social workers’ interference reduces the number of adverse effects among people with disabilities associated with their health issues (Smith et al., 2020). Additionally, the in-time provision of help can help to avoid psychological problems, alcohol, tobacco, and substance abuse and reduce the overall number of problems linked to disability (Smith et al., 2020). Moreover, the National Survey shows that people with disabilities appreciate the contribution of social agencies and value the social workers’ assistance as it helps them to avoid barriers to happy living and enjoy life (NCHS, 2015). In accordance with the recent reports, 13.7% of people with disabilities have issues with walking and climbing stairs, 10.8% have a cognition disability, 6,8% cannot live independently, 5.9% have damaged hearing, 4,6% have a vision disability, and 3.6% have difficulties with dressing and bathing (CDC, 2020). It means that all these groups should be provided with the appropriate care to guarantee no deterioration in their states.
Texas Health and Human Services. An Agency Perspective
The agency called Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) is focused on helping people to live their best and enjoy all benefits available for them at the moment. The organization cares for people in local communities to meet their diversified needs and ensure they do not have a deficit of care (HHS, n.d.a). The agency has multiple programs designed for various population groups regarding their current health status and demands linked to it. It also emphasizes that people who are limited in one or more life activities should count for specific services, and the HHS’ main function is to guarantee that they will be provided to this cohort (HHS, n.d.a). The agency offers data from the American Community Survey, showing that 3,4 million Texans have different types of disabilities (HHS, n.d.a). For this reason, it is vital to help them to acquire federal assistance such as rehabilitation, medical equipment, medical care, and personal attendants (HHS, n.d.a). The organization’s workers help Texans to receive such services and improve their wellbeing.
Values
Working with disabled people, HHS emphasizes that it adheres to tolerant and democratic values and view them as the basis for aligning the meaningful interaction with individuals. The central ideas include social justice, integrity, and quality (HHS, n.d.b). HHS (n.d.a) states that its major goal is to ensure that all disabled persons, regardless of their status, are can acquire services that are needed for them. Under these conditions, all social workers try to cooperate with representatives of this group in ways that meet their current demands (HHS, n.d.b). Moreover, the quality of provided assistance is another pillar of the HHS’s functioning. The agency cultivates the ability to offer in-time and comprehensive service to all individuals, which results in improved outcomes. Correctly realizing the existence of multiple barriers that might decrease the quality of people’s lives, HHS tries to follow these values to create a favorable framework for improved cooperation.
Social Workers Knowledge and Skills
Social workers who provide care to people with disabilities have to possess specific knowledge and experiences. The recent research shows that this cohort has specific needs impacting cooperation with them (Dobransky & Hargittai, 2020). It might demand unusual strategies and approaches to align collaboration with these individuals and provide the requested services effectively. Under these conditions, social workers have to possess enhanced communication skills and empathy to realize the current moods and manage them (HHS, n.d.a). Additionally, they should be good listeners and demonstrate basic psychological experiences to understand the nature of problems people face at the moment and help in eliminating them (Dobransky & Hargittai, 2020). The high level of responsibility peculiar to the sphere demands reliability and flexibility from social workers to adapt to new clients’ demands and guarantee their diversified needs are considered.
Evaluation
In general, the HHS can be viewed as an effective organization aimed at providing help to minorities or vulnerable groups. Results of its functioning are reflected in the current reports and statements. At the same time, the agency’s top managers conduct a regular assessment of its work to outline the guidelines for further improvement and ensure there are no unresolved issues (HHS, n.d.a). The contribution of social workers and their ability to work with different groups is also assessed to ensure that the agency is capable of providing care to the most vulnerable groups. This approach helps to remain effective and promote the community’s health.
Personal Reflection
Cogitating about the HHS, I believe that its work is a necessary component to help people with disabilities. First of all, they try to eliminate social injustice cases and ensure that all individuals with specific needs are provided with the care and assistance they require at the moment. Moreover, the work of such agencies is fundamental for the gradual improvement of local communities and their becoming better. Finally, the correct management of the problem of disability demands the utilization of local resources to achieve existing goals, and HHS can be viewed as an important actor helping to attain this goal. I am sure that the work of the organization will help to improve the well-being of people with disabilities and ensure they will not feel lonely, isolated, or abandoned.
Evidence
The critical importance of agencies such as HHS and their contribution to the improvement of the problem is evidenced by multiple research papers involving social workers. For instance, results of interviews conducted among experienced specialists working with disable people show that in most cases, further deterioration of the situation and the emergence of new health issues among this cohort can be prevented if timely interference is provided (Fisher et al., 2020). Moreover, the communities’ health depends on the status of this group, meaning that the use of local resources to resolve the problem is one of the most effective ways to attain better outcomes (Smith et al., 2020). Under these conditions, the positive effect of agencies, such as the HHS, is evidenced by experienced social workers and recent research as they are viewed as vital elements of the existing system (Fisher et al., 2020). It also means that the work of such organizations should be supported by the government and local actors.
Conclusion
Disability is one of the central concerns of contemporary society. It affects the well-being of people, the community’s health, access to care, and the quality of life. People with different disabilities might suffer from various barriers and challenges, such as problems with self-care, movement, hearing, vision, and exclusion from social life. Under these conditions, social workers and existing agencies’ work towards improving this group’s life cannot be overestimated. Agencies such as Texas Health and Human Services promote better access to services guaranteed to such people and ensure that they will not suffer from the deficit of attention or care. Disability will always remain a nagging problem; however, social workers’ contribution and engagement can help to resolve tension and attain better outcomes.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020). Disability impacts all of us. CDC. Web.
Dobransky, K., & Hargittai, E. (2020). People with disabilities during COVID-19. Contexts, 19(4), 46–49. Web.
Fisher, K. R., Robinson, S., Neale, K., Graham, A., Johnson, K., Davy, L., & Hall, E. C. (2020). Impact of organisational practices on the relationships between young people with disabilities and paid social support workers. Journal of Social Work. Web.
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). (2015). National Health Interview Survey on Disability. CDC. Web.
Smith, S. D., Hall, J. P., & Kurth, N. K. (2020). Perspectives on health policy from people with disabilities. Journal of Disability Policy Studies. Web.
Texas Health and Human Services (HHS). (n.d.a). Disability. HHS. Web.
Texas Health and Human Services (HHS). (n.d.b). Value-based care. HHS. Web.