Waking up to disability
My name is John Perry and I am a blind person Living in St Helens England. I
have been involved in promoting social and economic inclusion for disabled
people for many years.
You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 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.
I am a disability/equality trainer/consultant, counsellor and have been online newspaper owner!
My personal/professional ambition is to see the progressive inclusion of
excluded people into society through the development of educational,
training and employment opportunities.
I have great faith in human beings and hope that my faith is justified and
that you will all support me and others like me in our goal of social and
economic inclusion as each person is not aware when they too may have to face
life as a disabled person and experience discrimination. I want you to play
your part in the reduction of prejudice by discouraging discriminatory
behaviour and practices.
As a blind person having to live and work in the community I am aware of the practical and environmental problems faced by disabled people. Through my work and training I am committed to bringing about social, practical and economic inclusion for disabled people, and others facing social, practical and economic exclusion.
I want to promote practical as well as social and emotional change.
Below are some questions and other material which reflect my thinking and reflects the writing and thinking of others working in the field.
1. Do disabled people and their families need counselling? If so, why?
2. Why is there a need? What is causing the need?
3. What does counselling mean to those mentioned above?
4. What are the needs perceived by those concerned, and by the professionals?
5. What are the presenting issues for people? (Social and medical models, employment/unemployment, psychological implications of barriers as opposed to actual disability, etc).
6. Is there a need for people working in the field to have a disability or just to have an awareness of the issues?
7. Do disabled people need social, emotional and practical support because they are disabled or because of other factors, such as social and environmental barriers and practical issues?
8. If such barriers were removed, would support still be necessary, or become less necessary?
9. What issues may need addressing using counselling or other approaches?
10. Do we need to target disabled people or offer support to other groups facing social and economic exclusion as well? If so why?
11. If support is offered would specific techniques, theories or approaches be required? Why?
12. Which groups of people should we be working with?
13. What are the practical implications? Collating information time factors, human and financial resources and management of the information for final product.
Why is it that some disabled people confront the barriers they face, while others prefer to "get by"? What effect would assertiveness training and counselling have, and how far have disabled people understood their own disadvantaged situation?
It has been recognised that there are 4 main Models of Disability
PROVISIONAL MODEL
MEDICAL MODEL
ADMINISTRATIVE MODEL
SOCIAL MODEL
Below is a brief outline of each model:
PROVISIONAL MODEL
This is seen as CONSCIENCE MONEY. This model means giving money. It makes people feel good because they have done their bit? without having or accepting any responsibility?
Another term used in this model is "good causes". This can be seen as a negative model since it encourages people not to accept responsibility for others.
MEDICAL MODEL
This means that a disability is seen as a "case", "condition", or "illness" and therefore "treatment" is the answer? Again this is a negative model, as it tends to generalise the disability when we know that every person is a unique individual with different experiences.
ADMINISTRATIVE MODEL
This model can be both positive and negative.
It generally involves the policies made by government which determines what is or can be available. Local Councils therefore are governed by what government ministers decide i.e. personal assistants, special housing, education and employment, but still the decisions are made by social workers, teachers, doctors and politicians. and depends on the situation and the individual 's views.
SOCIAL MODEL
This is THE model that everyone should be working to. The social model concentrates on the person first and the disability second. It recognises the person with a disability as an individual first, who has the right to the same access to education, housing, transport and other facilities as any other person. It also recognises that the person with a disability has self pride in their identity. The social model is a positive model as it concentrates on the person as a human being first.
When working for inclusion we must make sure that all support systems are
available to those who need support.
Concerning disabled people, the process of inclusion must involve the
education and training of others in disability awareness, the offer and
availability of information in a wide variety of formats, appropriate
guidance and practical support, the provision of necessary equipment and
especially sustained social support.
To this end I will work alone or in co-operation with others to bring about
social, practical and economic inclusion.
I believe inclusion and change are goals we all should be working towards I
urge you to make the choice to support disabled people in working towards
complete inclusion in all areas of society.
I accept that change can be difficult for all of us. However we do not have
the right to exclude anyone.
People have a right to their own personal opinion but not the right to deny
the rights of others.
I invite you to work towards social and economic inclusion as each person is
not aware when they too may have to face life as a disabled person and
experience discrimination.
In my view we should be encouraging inclusion and diversity. It seems to me
that disabled people have been marginalised for far too long and that their
disadvantage and restrictions through education training and employment have
brought about exclusion rather than inclusion.
Whilst I recognize that there have been improvements for myself and other disabled people. I believe that Disabled people are still facing the five-fold problem of
access barriers, prejudice and misunderstanding, the benefits trap and in
many cases lack of an adequate education and unemployment.
Comprehensive legislation has been successful in America, Canada, New
Zealand, Australia and Japan?
What are your views on the above?