CAFS - HSC Notes Groups In Context (Core Two) PDF

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CAFS - HSC Notes Groups In Context (Core Two)...

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COMMUNITY AND FAMILY STUDIES HSC COURSE STUDY NOTES: CORE 2 Groups In Context MODULE FOCUS: Specific groups within the community CATEGORY A People with disabilities Youth

CATEGORY B Culturally and Linguistically Diverse LGBTIQ+ Community

MODULE FOCUS: Exploring the four specific groups within the community 1. PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Definition:

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that, “Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.”

Why are they classified as a marginal group? They are classified as such due to disabilities having the ability to affect activity and restrict participation in everyday life. It affects many aspects of a person’s lifestyle and can also have a significant impact on the lives of family members

● Prevalence of each group within the community ● ● ● ●

The Australian population is an ageing one, therefore the rates in disabilities is seen to grow as a result—it increases with age This can be seen as the older the population, the more cases of disabilities are seen 6.6% of 15-24 year olds have a disability compared with 18% of 45-54 year olds and 40% of 65-69 year olds Over 4.4 million people in Australia have some form of disability—that is one in five people

Physical ● Only 4.4% of people with a disability in Australia use a wheelchair ● Over three-quarters (76.8%) of people with disability reported a physical disorder as their main condition. The most common physical disorder was: ○ Musculoskeletal disorder (29.6%) ■ Arthritis and related disorders (12.7%) ■ Back problems (12.6%) Intellectual ● Over half a million Australians have an intellectual disability and most (61%) of them have a severe or profound limitation in ‘core’ activities of daily living ● People with this form of disability are a major group of users of disability support services in Australia ● Every two hours a child is diagnosed with an intellectual disability ● Down Syndrome—which affects around 1 in 1,100 births in Australia—is the most common form of intellectual disability Psychological ● Mental health problems and mental illness are among the greatest causes of disability, diminished quality of life and reduced productivity ● 45% of Australians aged 16-85 experience a mental health condition during their lifetime ● 3 million Australians live with depression or anxiety ● Research shows job or financial loss can increase a person’s risk of health problems, such as depression and anxiety

Sensory ● 1 in 6 Australians are affected by hearing loss. There are approximately 30,000 Deaf Auslan users with total hearing loss ● Vision Australia estimates there are currently 357,000 people in Australia who are blind or have low vision. They project that the number of Australians who are blind or have low vision will grow to 564,000 by 2030. (Refractive error not included) ● 1 in 2 Australians are affected by eye problems

● Individual diversity within the group ● ● ● ● ● ●

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People with disabilities can come from any race, gender, educational or socioeconomic group They may suffer from one or multiple disabilities Some may be born with a disability or may acquire it at some point in their life They can be temporary or permanent, and can range from mild to severe The concept of diversity means understanding that each person is unique and recognising individual differences To acknowledge humanitarian rights, people must move beyond simple tolerance to embrace and celebrate diversity, and address and explore diverse needs ○ All people, regardless of this diversity, deserve this equality Humanitarian rights are seen to move beyond simple tolerance through many people with disabilities being able to complete a university education and have productive working lives Some have relationships, marry and have children Some are actively involved in disability rights and others, in sport They could be authors, comics and artists Others may participate in a sheltered workshop and require more assistance with the activities of daily life This shows how humanitarian rights are embracing and celebrating diversity and also address diversity needs Physical—This is a physical condition that affects a person’s mobility, physical capacity, stamina, or dexterity (skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands) ○ Brain or spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, respiratory disorders, epilepsy, hearing and visual impairments Intellectual—This is also known as general learning disability and mental retardation, being a generalised, neurodevelopmental disorder which is characterised by significantly impaired intellectual and adaptive functioning ○ Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, fragile x syndrome, birth defects, infections Psychological—This describes disabilities that may arise from mental health issues. It is also known as a psychiatric disability and refers to a spectrum of mental disorders or conditions that influence one’s emotions, cognitions and/or behaviours ○ Depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder Sensory—This is a disability of the senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch), this can affect how a person gathers information from the world around them ○ Sight impairment, hearing impairment, overreactions to touch, movement, sounds, odours and taste

● Terminology used by the community to describe the group ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

People With Disability Australia (2014) states that language shapes the way the world is viewed and that words influence community attitudes positively and negatively The term ‘person with a disability’ reflects an understanding of the importance of the person first, while the term ‘disabled person’ implies that the disability identifies the person Similarly, ‘a person living with bipolar’ is preferable to ‘a sufferer of bipolar’, and ‘a person using a wheelchair’ is preferable to saying a person is ‘confined to a wheelchair’. Using words such as ‘brave’, ‘special’ or ‘courageous’ to describe a person with a disability can be seen as patronising Referring to those without disability as normal and healthy can be offensive The word ‘accessible’ rather than ‘disabled’ needs to be used when referring to parking spots, accommodation or bathrooms Insensitive language is not only inaccurate, it stereotypes the individual unfairly Derogatory and insensitive terms impact a person’s sense of security and wellbeing Individuals may feel unsafe or unwelcome, and unjustified social taunting further impacts on their ability or desire to participate socially and economically in their community

Positive and Negative terminology used by the community to describe the group

POSITIVE ● Person with a disability ● Person who is deaf ● ...Developed the disability ● Wheelchair user

NEGATIVE ● Disabled person ● Deaf person ● Suffering from a disability ● Confined to a wheelchair

Discuss the impact this terminology might have on the individuals within the group.

Positive terminology when addressing a person within this group allows for their liberation, as well as them feeling that they are included and normal to an extent. This makes them feel happy and as if they are not defined by their disability. An example of such terminology includes “a person with a disability,” instead of “a disabled person”. This way, the individual is being put before their disability—they are recognised as a person before their disability. In using negative terminology when identifying a person within this group, they may feel offended, irritated and excluded. They feel that their disability is what defines them and what they see as normal is perceived as exceptional by others. Therefore, negative terminology creates discomfort for the person.

MODULE FOCUS: Issues of concern for the specific group within the community Satisfaction of needs ● Specific needs of the group.

Adequate standard of living (food,

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People with disabilities have the right to an adequate standard of living, not only for themselves, but for their family An, 'adequate standard of living,' includes food, housing, clothing, needed social services, as well as medical care An adequate standard of living also involves support should they

Prioritise Need

clothing, shelter)

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● Health

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● Education EARLY INTERVENTIO N

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Employment

Safety and security

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experience other lack of livelihood in circumstances that are beyond their control ○ Mothers, as well as children, have the right to care and assistance ○ Every child has a right to the same social protections—despite ability Families of the person will struggle to take care of them May face discrimination and increased struggle to function easily Their chances of employment may decrease Lack of services and support ● Psychological effects Increased degree of stress to get things done Sense of loneliness or isolation ● Physical effects May worsen their disabilities ○ Not having access to equipment or resources may hinder their rehabilitation/recovery People with disabilities have varying health problems, but regardless of their health, every person with a disability needs a regular GP and regular dental and optical checkups to meet their health needs Depending on the disability, some people experience further deterioration in their condition as part of the ageing process Those with disabilities may also feel excluded, irritated and hopeless about their condition—which also links to their sense of identity—which can lead to mental health issues ○ They need more support for their health than others It’s vital as everything in life revolves around education these days and if not met could have a negative impact on their life, not just in education Many people with disabilities require early intervention through programs designed to enhance physical, intellectual, living skills ○ The earlier it starts, the more it enhances their wellbeing It plays a social role, as it assists people to meet others and develop relationships Impacts their ability to gain employment and develop a sense of identity Employment can help individuals to meet their needs of an adequate standard of living and a sense of identity Increase the social wellbeing of an individual's sense of identity ○ Australia's poor performance in the employment of people with disability explains their low socioeconomic status, with 45% living near or below the poverty line ○ Government policy and programs are failing people with disabilities who want to work Security and safety is a vital area of an individual’s life Individuals such as people with disabilities may not have the same opportunities as those without disabilities They need reassurance in the physical, emotional and financial areas in life Those with disabilities need extra health benefits and attention such as nurses, more health appointments etc.

● Sense of identity

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A person’s sense of identity comes from involvement in work, family life and activities, and making an overall contribution to the community The factor of sense of identity is closely linked to self-esteem ○ A person who has experienced many negative experiences due to their disability will suffer later on in life as a result of finding it difficult to find their identity in society Closely linked to self esteem, comes from their involvement of work, family, life and activities

Justify the TWO most significant needs for the group and discuss the implications if these are not met ● A need is considered a priority if it is the primary basis for an individual being able to satisfy other needs, or to achieve a basic sense of wellbeing ● Given the variations in ability, degree and type of disability, it can be difficult to identify priority needs in the disabled community—generally, health and e  ducation are considered high-priority needs Health

When a person is disabled, there is a higher urgency in meeting their health needs, so if this is not met adequately, this can lead to ill health. This ultimately impacts upon the person’s sense of self, levels of personal motivation and their ability to complete routine activities. The absence of good health is a large risk factor for this group, as it could lead to them being even more disadvantaged within the community—they will be unable to hold down employment due to the health needs that must to be met constantly and their inability to properly take care of themselves as a result of continued neglect in the health department. This will essentially lead to the decrease in income which will severely impact on their economic wellbeing in a negative manner. Relationships are also a factor to consider as an individual’s level of health, if not adequately met, will drive people away from them and therefore, cause a loss in relationships, both socially and intimately. This affects their social wellbeing and causes dissatisfaction in relation to their sense of identity needs.

Education

Education is an essential factor in accessing support services that serve to enhance or advocate for their needs. This is in the sense that without the knowledge of these services, one will remain hidden to the support networks that surround them, which they can easily access. Therefore, diminished opportunities of education can lead to ill being. Low levels of education within people with disabilities will also lead to a decreased chance of employment opportunities, which may already be a difficult goal to achieve for those with disabilities, which means they will be unable to secure a stable income for themselves. This will result in a negative effect on the person’s economic wellbeing. An easy and assured way of meeting this need for those who are disabled is through early intervention—playing with children is an example of this, as parents are able to teach their children how to live with their condition through simply playing with them. This will also enhance their social wellbeing, as they are learning how to interact with others.

Access to services  xplore the factors that can affect the group’s access to services E

● Types of services group require access to? Type Of Service Financial support services

Transport

Example(s) ● ● ● ● ●

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Accommodation

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Health Care

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Counselling

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Description

Sickness allowance Mobility allowance Child Disability Assistance Disability support pensions Child Disability Assistance Payments and Youth Disability Supplements

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NDIS (EasyLink) Community transport services Parking spots Helpful transport and community links

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The Department of Housing Specialist furniture, ramps, security and adapted appliances Supported Independent Living (SIL) Civic Australia

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Global Disability and Healthcare Services Your Side Australia Medicare GPs, dentists, nurses, psychologists, counsellors, etc.

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NDIS counselling Rehabilitation People with a disability can suffer by emotional wellbeing, which can cause depression

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Access to financial support services is closely aligned with education, as individuals must be made aware of such schemes before they can access them The provision of money to enable access to goods and services, usually provided to marginalised groups Right to travel in a safe manner Public transport—accessibility standards have been enforced; designated seats Access to public transport— important Car spaces—promote social wellbeing The type of disability will determine the accommodation required May require modifications to their home Provides care and support in their own homes Reduces risk of illbeing through their disability Use a range of health care services —promote health May be discriminated by health care professionals Lengthy waiting time, costs Provide assistance to help manage their disability Managing physical, intellectual and mental disabilities Allows people to come to terms, and deal with, their disability in rational ways Safe place, comfortable, place to learn to embrace disability Offers communication and coping skills

Education

Employment

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St Lucy’s School ADCET.edu.au Giant Steps Unicef.org ScopeAust.org.au Raisingchildren.net Betterhealth

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Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE)—Part of a continuum of employment opportunities Services promote and assist employment of people with disabilities

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Disability Rights Service Mental Health Intervention Team Legal Aid NSW Community Justice Program

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Legal Aid

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Will look different for each type of disability People with disabilities have diverse abilities and learning needs—may require help, learning tools, books, technology Life without barriers—a large range of disability support and assistance State of having paid work Average wage for a person with a disability is close to $.50 an hour Difficulty finding employment due to nature of disability, level of education, attitudes of employers Makes opportunities to achieve economic and community participation through meaningful employment Helps to ensure all people in NSW are equal before the law’ Advocates for vulnerable people, protects their rights Free services offered to people with disabilities (Disability Discrimination Legal Service)

N.B T  he types of services should include: financial support, transport, accommodation and housing, health care, counselling, education, employment, legal aid

• factors affecting access to services How do the characteristics of individuals within the group affect their access to services? Age

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Gender

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At both ends of the lifespan, a person with a disability may be dependent upon a carer or support group for assistance in accessing services such as health care or financial support In some instances, individuals may be difficult to assist, due to immobility and factors related to age and size For example, a carer may need to consider the increased fragility of an elderly person with a disability Gender is not often recognised as an important factor for these individuals, but consider that disabilities are more likely in males than in females to result from motor vehicle or occupational injury As a result, more compensation and greater rehabilitation opportunities may be available for men According to a group called Women with Disabilities Australia, women with disabilities experience fewer educational opportunities than men, earn less money, are more likely to be institutionalised and are more vulnerable to violence With an ageing population and the longevity of women, a large proportion of this

group are elderly women Level of education

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Culture

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Type of disability

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First language spoken

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Socioeconomic status

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People with disabilities need education to effectively mana...