Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Dear Orange!

Its time to do some sharing again:)
THe topic for today's social work lecture was on disability. The first qn that Dr Nair asked was: "When I say disability, what do you think of?"
The first thing that came to my mind was "impairment and a lack of something". Some others suggested "wheelchair bound, handicap, mentally ill".
But really, the types of disability that the society recognises go way beyond all these.
An individual is disabled when an impairment(loss of physical body parts or abnormality) restricts him/her from carrying out normal activities independently.
Disability affects 10-15% of a nation's population!
In Singapore 1 in 7 children is born with learning disability!
I am shocked that the morbidity rates are so high!

There is an urgent need to do something. The guest speaker of today ended with another qn, " What difference can social workers make?"
Personally I feel that the issues that needs to be addressed are:
1) Making places accessible for those with physical disability(wheel chair bound)

2) Reduce social stigmatization!! (create a culture not of handicap, but one that is enabling, accepting,with care and concern for the disabled.)

3) Support group for the disabled,where they can meet other people they can relate better to. (push for interaction, to boost their self-esteem, to motivate)

4) Protect the disabled; prevent exploitation, bullying and victimisation. Be gracious towards them. (for dementia patients,mentally ill, down syndrome)

5) Advocate for services to cater to specific groups of disability (medical care, education, skills training, help them seek employment)-->empower them; disabled can be useful to our society too!

6) Identify them and intervene early.(Education is important to let families with disabled people become aware of the resources available in the community)

7) Strengthen these families, family support is crucial!

How can we successfully integrate people with disabilities into our society? Is it ever possible to 'normalise' them?
I feel that Singapore really needs a nation-wide event(e.g. An "I CAN" campaign to advocate for equal social rights together with people with disabilities) to bring to light the possibilities that disabled people can create if our society have been more inclusive.

SEE! People with disabilities can play and do things like you and me!


Social worker's role is really to step in to empower and encourage them, to make them and others see what they can actually do and achieve. They are humans like us! I think the major obstacle is still how we as members of the society react towards them. I understand that there are many types of disabilities and the general public would not have background knowledge of all of them, and this may end up with stereotyping, sometimes behaving insensitively towards them.
I shall ponder more on how to improve this! Changing of attitudes and perception needs time I guess!

One thing I need to constantly remind myself is that I shouldnt sympathise with the person, but empathise.

Even if it is the most insignificant, quietest or a public enemy, they have something to say about their lives. Lend a listening ear to them once in a while!:)

Hope i didnt bore you orange! haha. How i wish i put in more of my own views and thoughts for my portfolio! Think i'll fail it:(

Love, Joy

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jiamin=) out
@ |Tuesday, November 02, 2010|