B.Sc.

, (Hons) Health and Social Care

B.Sc., (Hons) Health and Social Care

Module: Social Context for Professional Practice
(SW4003)
Module Leader: Mrs. Diya Ganguly

Assignment 2 – Disability Issue

Submitted By: Michael A. Fadiora

Student ID Number: H1801045
Date of Submission: 27 December 2018

London Metropolitan University

No Contents Page No

1. Disability 1
2. Historical Background of Disability 1
3. Research on issue of disability with focus from newspapers, journals, policy &
legislation 1
4. Stigma 2
5. Stereotype 2
6. Religious 3
7. Cultural 3
8. Action taken 3
9. Policy 4
10. Best Practice 5
11. Social Model 5
12. Conclusion 6
13. Reference 7
Disability
The essay will be on disability with focus on issues such as stigma and discrimination.
Attention will also be directed at actions taken on the issues through government decisions,
petitions, campaigns and strike/industrial action. Disability is a physical or mental condition
that limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities. A disability is any continuing condition
that restricts everyday activities. The disability service Act (1993) defines ‘disability’ as
meaning a disability: which is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive,
neurological, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of those impairments.
The Equality Act 2010 states that you are disabled if you have a physical or mental impairment
that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily
activities. Traditionally, disability was perceived as the tragic problem of unfortunate
individuals whereas now disability is often seen as a form of social oppression and social
exclusion (Oliver & Barnes, 1998).
We come across many disabilities in the course of our daily work as health care workers. Some
example of common disabilities are people with vision impairment, deaf or hard of hearing,
mental health conditions, multiple sclerosis, and other physical disability.

Historical Background of Disability

Disability in time and place reveals how disabled people’s lives are integral to the heritage all
around us. From leper chapels built in the 1100s to protests about accessibility in the 1980s,
the built environment is inextricably linked to the stories of disabled people, hidden and well-
known (Historic England 2018).
Sometimes we need to know where we have been to figure out where we are now, and what
the future may hold. The hard reality is this. Society in every nation is still infected by the
ancient assumption that people with disabilities are less than fully human and therefore, are
not fully eligible for the opportunities which are available to other people as a matter of right.
(Justin Dart, 1992)
Throughout history, people with disabilities have been treated differently from those who
conform to or fit societal norms. Following are some of the unfair treatments that were
acceptable by different societies. In ancient Greece disabled are killed or abandoned in the
woods, they were drowned and burned during the Spanish Inquisition. In 1601, Queen
Elizabeth’s government divided the poor into three groups, the disabled poor were placed in
the group labelled “helpless poor” (Historical Background of Disabilities, n.d.).

Research on issue of disability with focus from newspapers, journals, policy &
legislation.
BBC reports headline – ‘Unsung hero: Autistic tennis coach wins East Midland Award’. People
with disabilities are able to do well in many things as against the stereotype that they cannot.
They may use different methods or assisting devices but they can still excel in their chosen
field. Mathew Chilvers, 22, teacher at special schools is an autistic tennis coach, has won the
“2018 BBC East Midlands Get Inspired Sports Unsung Hero”. Now he wants to encourage
people with disabilities to get involved in sport (BBC News, November 2018)

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Dwarf ‘banned’ from cooking course because of “health and safety risk” was the caption on
independent newspaper. Louis Makepeace claims senior college staff said he would course a
‘disruption’ to the other 14 pupils on the cooking course. Secondly, he has been banned from
a college cooking course because he is a potential ‘health and safety risk’ (Independent,
August 2018). This is discrimination.
Many national governments now have some form of anti-discrimination law or policy to
secure the equal rights of disabled people. Early examples include Britain’s 1970 Chronically
Sick and Disabled Person’s Act and The American 1973 Rehabilitation Act (ProQuest).
Disability rights. The Equality Act 2010 and the United Nations (UN) Convention on disability
rights help to enforce, protect and promote your rights. As disable person, you have rights to
protect you from discrimination on employment, education and dealing with the police
(Gov.uk, n.d.).

Stigma
In many cultures, disability has been associated with curses, disease, dependence, and
helplessness. Disability stigma can play out in a number of ways, including discrimination.
People with disabilities may be denied jobs, housing, or other opportunities due to false
assumptions or stereotypes about disabilities. In order for disabled people to have a fighting
chance at living their best life, the stigma and discrimination that oppresses them must be
confronted and uprooted. Disabled people are half as likely to go to University, half as likely
to get qualification, and half as likely to get a job (Earie, Sarah 2003).
Being stigmatised as ‘mentally ill’ can have significant effects on different aspects of
individual’s life. It could result in individuals believing to be different from others and failing
to function adequately in the eyes of others. According to research, the way in which public
react to people with mental disorders has been influenced by the generic label applied to
mental disorders. The first to apply the labelling (stigma) theory to mental illness was Thomas
Scheff (1966), he dismissed the general perceptions on mental illness and proposed that
illnesses were instigated by society.

Stereotype
Stereotype means a set idea that people have about what someone or something is like,
especially an idea that is wrong. An idea that is used to describe a particular type of person
or thing, or a person or thing thought to represent such an idea. Investigation refills that many
of those in receipt of disability benefits are stereotyped as dishonest, malingerers and
scroungers. This stereotyping is damaging to all disabled people and undermines the security
that welfare system is supposed to provide.
For instance, that people with disabilities cannot do things without help is not true. A lot of
people with disabilities are able to do many things by themselves. They may use different
methods, assisting devices or take longer to do some things but does not mean they need
constant help from others. Again, not all disabilities are visible to the naked eye, even though
somebody looks able-bodied. Stereotypes are also by definition unchanging; when a
stereotype has been exposed as inadequate or false to experience, it can be transcended and
left behind (Block, Laurie. 1970)

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Religious
In religions, many people think that sickness and disability are seen as punishments for bad
behaviour; but at least for the four big world religions, disability has a whole different role.
Disability is not simply a punishment for faults but has the purpose to show the healthier and
wealthier people respect, humility and charity. Disabled people play very important role
within the communities as believe in Christian, Islamic, Jewish and Buddhist religions. People
with disabilities are not completely erased or seen primarily as objects of charity, as religious
traditions are sometimes depicted. Disability studies needs more religion, like other
populations, disabled people are often religious (Marx, 2002).
The current figures say 80-85% of people with disability say faith is very important in their
lives, a number roughly equal to non-disabled people. Christian theology and ethics, most
visibly, have made headway into thinking about disability and religion. In countless memoirs,
people with disabilities discuss their comforts, struggles, and ongoing relationships with
religion (Sarah Imhoff, August 2017). The need for attention to religion in people with
disability is not just a theoretical need, nor is it just a historical one, current studies show that
assessing the spiritual or religious needs of patients is challenging for health professionals,
and they do not feel they have adequate tools (Royal College of Nursing 2011)

Cultural
In some culture the belief is that disability is the will of God or Allah, karma, evil spirit, black
magic or punishment for sins may be seen as causes of disability. It is acceptable in some
culture a child with disability is possessed by an evil spirit and an individual is disabled due to
curse or effect of their past life misdeed. The cultural expectation prevents and impedes
disabled people from being included or participating equally, this can impact their
rehabilitation process.
For instance, cultural belief in mental health, African-American and Asian-American had
differing beliefs regarding the causes of their mental illness when compared to another Non-
White. Race/ethnicity was also associated with determining who makes healthcare decisions,
treatment preferences, and preferred characteristics of healthcare providers (Am J Geriatric
Psychiatry, June 2012).

Actions taken
The government has an unparalleled record in helping disabled people to live with dignity and
independence, through the measures it has taken over the past 15years. The government has
therefore set itself on central objective – the elimination of discrimination against disabled
people (Command of Her Majesty, January 1995). Health and safety legislation should not
prevent disabled people finding or staying in employment and should not be used as a false
excuse to justify discriminating against disabled people. The equality Act Code of Practice on
Employment contains information on discrimination arising from disability and the duty the
duty of Employer to make reasonable adjustments (Equality and Human Rights Commission,
February 2015)
Recently an inquiry into online abuse and the experience of disabled people was prompted
by a petition by Katie Price, signed by more than 200,000 people. The petition was about
online abuse directed at people from all background, but also highlights the shocking abuse

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directed at her disabled son, Harvey. Parliament and government have looked at whether
abuse on social media requires new laws and different approaches to enforcement and
regulation (Parliament, July, 2018).
During the first ever Global Disability Summit hosted by UK, it calls on international partners
to tackle the prejudice faced by disabled people. UK further enjoins the partners to take action
to address ‘global injustice’ of discrimination against disabled people (Department for
International Development, July 2018). As stated by to the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May
“The path a person takes in life should not be dictated by their disability and yet people are
forced, every day, to deal with prejudice and even violence”.
Government major reforms to the benefits system continue to make it challenging for people
with disabilities or long-term health conditions to get support. Budgets and Social Care
resources are overstretched, and benefit cuts and rate freezes are still being imposed as
inflation hits a five-year high. As Universal Credits rollout is extended, the way it operates is
constantly changing. Case law is affecting the way the law is applied, particularly to more
recent benefits such as Personal Independence Payment. And in 2018, the current financial
help for mortgage interest cost will be replaced by a repayable loan scheme. At this uncertain
economic and political time, keeping up with the new rules is crucial.

Policy
According to dictionary, Policy is a course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an
organisation or individual. Policy comes from Bills. A Bill or draft Act is a proposed law which
is introduced into Parliament. Once a Bill has been debated and then approved by each House
of Parliament – House of Common and House of Lords, and has received Royal Assent, it
becomes law and is known has an Act. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the
legislation and in most cases, approved by the executive (GOV.UK, February 2013). One of
Parliament’s main roles is debating and passing laws. These are the process by which policy
came into been.
Policy refers to the laws, the actions of the government, the funding priorities and the
regulations that reflect given positions, attitudes, cultural ideals or accepted rules. For
instance, when lawmakers pass legislation like the violence Against Women Act, it shows that
there is a priority to provide protection for women. Another policy is when lawmakers impose
a progressive tax system, which is based on public policy which indicates that those who make
more money should pay more money into the system and those who have less money should
pay less into the system (Scope, n.d).
Educational policy to tackle the problem of poor literacy and numeracy, as well as address
general concerns about poor standard in the United Kingdom was introduce in the late 1980s,
a standardized national curriculum was introduced for pupils aged between 7 and 16. The
purpose was to raise standards by ensuring that all students study a prescribed set of subjects
up to a minimum level until the age of 16. The second policy reform, in 1998, was the
introduction of the National Literacy and numeracy Strategies (Machin, S., Vignoles, A. March
2006)
There was growing agitation that achievement had stagnated in schools, and the staying on
rate at age of 16 had been increasing over a number of years. Thus, in the light of this
concerns, the move towards a ‘quasi-market’ in education was kick started by a significant

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piece of legislation (the 1988 Education Reform Act). Academies were introduced through the
learning and skills Act 2000 to boost struggling schools in deprived inner-city areas. Since
then, the number of academies has grown dramatically to just under 7,500. Most secondary
schools now have academic status, as do just over a quarter of primary schools (The
Telegraph, August 2018).
The following are identified as policies and legislation designed to promote inclusion, human
rights of individuals with learning disabilities and of their citizenship and equal life chances.
National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990; Disability Discrimination Act 2005;
Equality Act 2010 and Disability Equality Duty 2006 (Academia, n.d).
Policies are implemented, or put into effect by local, state and federal government.

Best Practice
WHO defines health as “A complete state of physical, social and mental wellbeing, and not
merely the absence of disease of infirmity” (WHO 1946). Social Model of Health approach
attempts to address the broader influences on health such as social, cultural, environmental
and economic factors rather than disease and injury. It focuses on policies, education and
health promotion (Slideshare, April 2013)
The Social Model of disability says disability is caused by the way society is organised, rather
by someone’s impairment or difference. The model postulate people are disabled by barriers
in society, not by their impairment or difference. Barriers can be physical, like buildings not
having accessible toilets. Or they be caused by people’s attitudes to difference, like assuming
disabled people cannot do certain things. In order to create equality and offers disabled
people more independence, choice and control, these barriers have to be removed.
For example, one of the service users who is disable, a wheelchair user was having problem
getting in and out of his house. This is a physical barrier under social model, a ramp was added
to the entrance to give him easy access and by so doing the barrier was removed. In other
word, social model of disability in practice would be our environment designed with
wheelchairs in mind, so that wheelchair users would be able to be as independent as
everyone else (Mental Health Foundation, 2018).
In another instance, one of the service users I look after, 78 years old retired steelworker has
been diagnosed with dementia. He is very shy and find it very difficult to socialise with others
because he feels no one likes his company. I birth an idea of integrating him in bingo once a
week with the rest of service users at the day centre. He did not like the idea of being part of
a team at the beginning but later participated and even won a game. In applying Social model
approach of dementia care, I focused on the remaining abilities and skills left with this service
user to get him motivated to be part of other patients. In the social model approach of
dementia care, the focus is placed on the residents’ cognitive needs rather on medical or
physical needs (American Senior Communities, June 2014).

Social Model
The Equality Act 2010 and the Social Model of Disability protect the following characteristics;
age, disability, gender, reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, marriage or civil partnership,
pregnancy and maternity (Gov.UK).

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The present reality is that the position of disabled people in employment in the UK is still
bleak even with Equality Act 2010 which was seen as an improvement over Disability
Discrimination Act 1995 because in 2012, less than half of disabled people of working age
were in employment (46.3%), compared to 76.4% of non-disabled people. The current
disability provisions in the Equality Act 2010, hinder disabled people from joining the labour
force in greater numbers rather than facilitate disabled peoples’ equal participation in the
workplace (Centre for Disability Studies, 2013).

According to social model analysis, there are two specific failings in the Equality Act 2010 as
in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 before it. First the restrictive statutory definition of
disability and secondly the reactive nature of the duty on employers to make reasonable
adjustments. For instance, teaching autistic person a sign language rather than making
speech teaching part of the school curriculum in schools.

Conclusion
In summary the current issues on disabilities over social impacts on disabled people should not
be discarded. A number of assumptions and beliefs that are rarely questioned are still part of
the problems militating against disabled people to fulfil their potentials. Attitude of the public
in general towards disabled people need to improve coupled with viewpoints of employers of
labour regarding employing disabled people.
However, the trend today shows a far more positive attitude towards the understanding and
inclusivity of the disabled in the communities. Laws and legislations are working to ensure
that the Disabled are given equal opportunities at work, Businesses ensure that staff are
aware and are to adhere to the Equality acts, and ease of access and movement for different
disabilities are considered in Architecture to allow disabled people to live with less
inconvenience.
It is through education and social awareness that society will be able to fully integrate
disabled people hence removing the stigma, stereotypes, discrimination and other related
issues.

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Reference

1. Parliament (2018) Inquiry: Online abuse and the experience of disabled people
examined Available at: https://parliament.uk (Accessed: 6 December 2018)
2. Scheff, T. J (1966) Being Mentally Ill: A Sociological theory. 3rd edn. New York: Aldine
Publishing Company.
3. Department for International Development and The Right (2018) Press Release: UK
calls for action to address ‘global injustice’ of Discrimination Against Disabled People.
Available: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-calls-for-action-to-address-
global-injustice-of-discrimination-against-disabled-people (Accessed: 23 December
2018)
4. Scope (2018) Equality for Disabled People: The Social Model of Disability. Available:
https://www.scope.org.uk/about-us/our-brand/social-model-of-disability (Accessed:
23 December 2018)
5. Slack, D. (n.d) Health and Social Care Level 2 Unit: 24 Understand the context of
Supporting Individuals with learning Disabilities. Available:
https://www.academia.edu/6359450/unit_24 (Accessed 24 December 2018)
6. American Senior Communities (2014) The Social Model of Dementia Care, Blog, 17
June 2014 Available: https://www.asccare.com/social-model-of-dementia-care/
(Accessed: 24 December 2018)
7. Jimenez, D, Bartels, S, & Alegria, M 2012 ‘The American Journal of Geriatric
Psychiatry’: Cultural Beliefs and Mental Health Treatment Preferences of Ethnically
Diverse Older Adult Consumers in Primary Care. Available:
hppts://www.scholar.google.co.uk (Accessed 26 December2018)
8. Imhoff, S. (2017) Article: Why Disability Studies Needs To Take Religion Seriously –
MDPI Available: https://www.mdpi.com>pdf (Accessed:26 December 2018)
9. Plattner, M. (2011) Disability in Religion: Disability in the eyes of Religion. Available:
https://www.myhandicap.com (Accessed: 26 December 2018)
10. Chilvers, M., 2018. Unsung Hero: Autistic Tennis Coach Wins East Midland Award.
BBC News, Leiceter {Online} 27 November 2018. Available:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability (Accessed: 29 November2018)
11. McAllister, R. (2018) Dwarf ‘banned’ from cooking because of “health and safety
risk”. Independent, 27 August 2018. Available at:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dwarf-banned-college-
cooking-course-louis-makepeace=teen-health-and-safty-worcestershire-college-
98509571.html. (Accessed: 29 November2018)
12. Historic England (2018) A History of Disability from 1050 to the present day.
Available at: https://www.historicengland.org.uk (Accessed: 5 December 2018)