DISABILITY AND DISCRIMINATION

Discriminatory Practices against the Disabled Individuals



Discriminatory Practices against the Disabled Individuals

Introduction

There is no single definition of disability. Because of the broadness of the concept, it is difficult to provide a concise definition of the term (Shakespeare, 2000, 119). The fact is that all types of disabilities have a drastic, negative impact on the individual and society as a whole.

People with disabilities are labelled, stigmatised, marked for life by the mere fact of being different and placed in a position of inferiority. This practice of treating disabled people in such a way has led to attitudes of rejection, shame, distress and discomfort, also over-familiar behaviour, leading to treat them as people unable to fend for themselves, strengthened and developed (Robinson& Stalker, 1998, 111). The greatest concern, in this regard, is the situation of discrimination and lack of equal opportunities in education, employment, health, as well as the failure to eliminate architectural, social and cultural barriers that hinder its real integration into the community. Moreover, the social disadvantage amongst the disabled people is higher than in the rest of the population. The major problem that arises today to people with disabilities focuses on the relational aspect.

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the difficulties individuals with disabilities face during their life time. The study also focuses on elaborating the experiences of disabled individuals. The discussion on the impact of physical disability and the shortcomings will also constitute the major portion of this study.

Discussion

Why is there disability discrimination?

"Disability” is first and foremost a social phenomenon. There are many types of disabilities, which can include but do not limit to physical impairment, mental or sensory impairment that affects real people (Priestly, 1998, 167). The issue becomes important when considering that in society, 10 percent of people with physical disabilities of which only 2 percent access to rehabilitation services if you live in developing countries. The issue of disabled people is not only dynamic but also it has social, behavioural, biological, environmental dimensions attached to it.

People with disabilities sometimes have difficulty in certain activities deemed by others as totally normal, like travelling by public transport, climbing stairs or even use certain appliances. However, the biggest challenge for the disabled has been to convince society that they are a class apart (Priestly, 2003, 23). Historically they have been pitied, ignored, denigrated and even hidden in institutions.

Disability has a long history. It has always remained a debatable issue throughout the different countries of the world. Policies are in place, but they are not implemented in the truest sense of the word (Oliver& Sapey, 1999, 128). Disability covers a broad range of topics and phenomenon. There are myriad of factors that influence the social behaviour of disabled individuals. They tend to face hatred, discrimination, bullying, and all forms of negative behaviours from the society. The discriminatory practices are everywhere. At some places, it is more evident as compared to other localities.

The social and psychological implications of physical and mental disabilities can be divided into ...