Physically Impaired Against Segregation

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

*According to the Union of the Physically Impaired against Segregation (UPIAS), disability is the disadvantage or restriction of activity caused by a contemporary social organization which takes little or no account of people who have physical impairments and thus excludes them from participation in the mainstream of social activities.

*According to the United Nations Standard Rules on the equalization of Opportunities for Persons with disabilities, the term disability summarizes a great number of different functional limitations occurring in any population in any country, of the world. People may be disabled by physical, intellectual or sensory impairment, medical conditions or mental illness. Such impairments, conditions or illnesses may be permanent or transitory in nature. 

*According to the New Zealand Disability Strategy, disability is not something individuals have, which are impairments. They may be physical, sensory, neurological, psychiatric, intellectual or other impairments. It is the process which happens when one group of people create barriers by designing a world only for their way of living, taking no account of the impairments other people have.

b. Similarities and Differences

From the three definitions mentioned above, the similarity between the meanings of disability according to the Union of the Physically Impaired against Segregation (UPIAS) and the United Nations Standard Rules on the equalization of Opportunities for Persons with disabilities is that both of them conveyed disability as the restriction of the ability to perform activities or tasks and not socially imposed restrictions. The two organizations did not directly define disability as being discriminated by the society or being socially constrained due to their impairments which is different from what New Zealand Disability Strategy conveys. They defined disability as the process which occurs when a society creates barrier and discriminates those who have impairments. However, the UPIAS and United Nations Standard Rules on the equalization of Opportunities for Persons with disabilities differ when the former described disability as being referred only to those who have physical impairments alone which means it only applies for those who uses wheelchair, unlike for the latter, they defined disability as it comprises different functional limitations; these includes physical, intellectual, sensory, medical conditions or mental illness.

1.2.

a. Definition of Aging

*Based on Alex Comfort’s definition of aging on 1979, it is a progressive increase throughout life, or after a given stadium, in the likelihood that a given individual will die, during the next succeeding unit of time, from randomly distributed causes.

*According to Michael Rose’s definition (1991 edition), aging is a persistent decline in the age-specific fitness components of an organism due to internal physiological deterioration.

*For Charlesworth’s view (2001), process of aging is not actually a physiological process, in and of itself. Although it certainly involves physiological changes, the physiology of aging is molded and constrained according to the dictates of natural selection shaping adaptation. Some of the genetic foundations of adaptation serve to sustain survival and reproduction later in life, presumably because of age-independent benefits.

b. Similarities and Differences

With the three definitions of aging, the difference between them is that each has its own perception of what aging is. For Rose, it is a deterioration of fitness components of organisms because of physiological decline. He made it specific that the cause of that deterioration is a physiologic process but according to Comfort’s concept, he did not directly say that the reason for that decline is due to physiologic deterioration. The latter’s view is too broad in which he mentioned that aging is a progressive increase throughout life, in the likelihood that the person will die for some random causes. On the other hand, Charlesworth opposed Rose’s definition. He stated that aging is not purely a physiological process and adaptation is a significant factor. However, they are the same in a manner that the three of them agreed that it is a deterioration of organism due to changes in structure in which it may lead to inability to cope with stresses and later on cause death.

1.3

1. Theory of Disability

a. Social Model- the social model of disability is created to remove the barriers that disable a person within the society. The model welcomes acceptance and equality so as the individual will not be restricted from doing their interests and wants in life. It also encourages a person to be involved and be productive in the society without any judgment, regardless of individual differences. Through the social model, it will improve the person’s wellness and self-esteem. This also provides a safety environment as well as the support they need.

*Age- as the individual is getting older, the more that it will be difficult for that person to meet his needs. Since the physical condition of an individual deteriorates as the person age especially that the person is disable which means that there is a restriction with his ability to perform tasks, the harder for him to accomplish the activities resulting to feeling unproductive to society and that some people would view them as being useless. Through the social model, age is no longer a hindrance for the disabled individual to be left out because the model is formed in order to remove the barriers that inhibit the individual from functioning in the society.

*Gender- gender has a little bearing for a disabled people as a disabled person is often represented as others to the social norm. Sometimes, people in the society do not care what gender a person belong as long as he/she is disabled, they would not involve them in the society. There is also a time in which the image of disability might be intensified by gender. Females would be identified as being helpless and more passive while males would corrupt their masculinity because of being dependent. This would lead them into lesser chance for employment, education and personal relationship. But with the social model, the opportunity of the disabled person to be involved with the society is possible and that the capability of each individual, whatever the gender is, will be appreciated.

*Class- the socio-economic class of an individual might have an impact on the person’s accessibility to the resources that are of great importance to his life. A person with disability who belongs to a low middle class of the society might cause him not to be able to have an access with the basic wants that he needed. A person with a disability who does not have a suitable income to serve him may not be accepted or could not afford into having an education, employment, living arrangements, and personal relationships, victimization and abuse that then in turn reinforce the images in the public thus limiting them to perform their interests. The social model opens door for everyone whatever the status is. This model would be very helpful to improve the disabled person’s wellness in a way that those who cannot afford a facility to treat themselves will be possible and at the same time the chance of being employed will be considered.

*Race- the implication of race into the social model of disability is that it will improve equality and prevent racism. It is already very depressing for the person that he/she is disabled, how much more if that person is being judged because of his/her color. With the social model of disability, the affected individual will be able to participate in the society and that he/she will be encouraged not to be afraid of pursuing his/her interests without being criticized because of the race he/she belongs.

2. Theory of Aging

a. Psychosocial Theory- According to the psychosocial theory of aging, as the human age, there is a transformation in their appearance, behavior, experience and social roles. It means that change, with the way they behave and how to socialize, occurs as people grow older. It says here that a person acts according to their age. The theory also explains that environment plays an important role in modifying the life span of the individual meaning it influences one’s behavior.

*Age- as people age, there is a change with the activities the person engages in. The older an individual is, the more that he withdraws himself from the society in the sense that he will keep himself more serious with his career and family, therefore not be able to participate with the society’s activities. There are some elderly who are unable to get along with the society’s new generation such as new technologies which is why there is a wide gap between the relationship of older and younger generation because the former does not understand the latter so as change in social roles is affected. Also, when they reach the stage of old age, they isolate themselves from the society because of their physical condition. It is therefore important that the lost activities due to aging must be substituted and new interests should be supported.

*Gender- as an individual grows older, their preferences according to their sex are being defined and these are greatly influenced by the society. The environment plays a significant role into molding an individual’s character. Males in general as they grow old, tend to be the provider and protectors of their family as females are the house maker. When they reach the age of being an elderly, the roles of each gender might change. For instance, the husband who used to be the financer and provider is demented; the wife will take its responsibilities. Also, the relationship between each gender may also be altered. The activities, for instance of women, may not be suitable with men and vice versa.

*Ethnicity- the cultural perspectives and practices affects the individual’s adaptation and coping mechanism as he/she grows older. Each person has their own beliefs and practices which influence their social participation as they age and that it should be respected. For instance, an individual who strongly believe that he must be enjoying the rest of his life by not working and just spend the remaining days of his life with his family will retire at this kind of age. The way an old person behaves and socializes reflects on what ethnicity he/she belongs.

*Class- the socio-economic status of a person who age affects the way they behave and socialize. An older person who does not come from a well-off background would feel low and depressed because he can’t socialize with others due to being unproductive. His esteem is low because he does not have anything. This feeling will affect the person’s behavior and ability to communicate or interact with others. For some, an elderly who are in a poor socio-economic might not be given an opportunity to be involve in the community such as in education and employment. Some would create barriers and be mean to them.