Youth and Disability

1
Youth and Disability

• Getting a clear picture

2
Picture of Disability

• 19 or 54 million Americans have disabilities
• 8 to 12 of children as a whole
• What counts as disability?
• Someone has a condition that makes it difficult
  to carryout life activities, like school, work,
  independent living, social relationships
• Learning, emotional, intellectual or cognitive,
  mobility, sensory, health
• For example, Dyslexia, ADHD, TBI, PTSD, Cerebral
  Palsy, Down Syndrome, Blind, Deaf, Diabetes,
  Arthritis

3
Disability and Life Outcomes

• Unemployment about 70
• About 33 of students with disabilities graduate
  from high school
• Attend postsecondary at about one third the rate
  of students without disabilities
• Majority live in poverty (est. 70)
• Many youth with disabilities are socially
  isolated
• Higher rates of substance abuse, pregnancy,
  smoking, violence

4
Double Whammy of Disability and Foster Care

• 30-40 of foster youth receive special education
  services
• 70 have a disability if we count having a mental
  health diagnosis
• Only 16 of foster youth with emotional
  disabilities graduate high school
• 18 dont finish because they are incarcerated

5
Double Whammy of Disability and Foster Care

• Compared to foster youth as a whole, foster youth
  with disabilities are less likely to
• Be employed
• Graduate from high school, get a regular diploma
• Have social support
• Become self-sufficient

6
How People Think About Disability Matters

• Moral Model (dominant until WWI)
• Sin, shame, fault of individual and family
• Resides in individual or sin/curse on family
• God or religious person is helper

Societal Response killing, isolation,
institutionalization, religious healing, sacrifice
7
Ways of Thinking About Disability

• Medical/Rehabilitation Model (post WW I through
  1980s continues now to some extent)
• Defect, illness of individual
• Professional is helper assesses and treats
• Goal is cure or normalization of individual

Societal Response special services and
rehabilitation programs, get people ready
before they can do typical activities, Jerrys
kids, sterilization, pity
8
Ways of Thinking About Disability

• Social/Rights Model (now)
• Disability is neutral diversity to be appreciated
• Lack of access, discrimination, and prejudice are
  at the heart of the problem
• Goal is for person to participate in typical
  activities with appropriate accommodations
• Person with disability is decision-maker and
  change agent with support from advocates and
  professionals

Response inclusion, universal access for
everyone, ADA, curb cuts, full participation,
functional vs. diagnostic assessment,
youth-directed, pride
9
Understand the Barriers
Restricted access, misunderstanding, and negative
assumptions and attitudes
Lack of accommodations
Limitations associated with the disability itself
10
Challenge Misconceptions

• Wheelchair bound, mentally ill, mentally
  retarded, handicapped is appropriate language.
• Person with disability, cognitive disability,
  wheelchair user, customer
• Okay to treat individuals with disabilities as
  younger than their real age
• Even if a person acts younger, talk to and
  involve in activities consistent with real age

11
Challenge Misconceptions

• Need to protect and take care of individuals
• Help youth learn how to protect and care for
  themselves
• Avoid creating special or different services
• A youth with a disability automatically knows
  what accommodations are needed
• It takes trying activities and learning what works

12
Strategies to Support Young People with
Disabilities

• Encourage/expect youth to reach their potential
• Dont assume youth has to get a modified diploma,
  cant live independently, wont work or go to
  college
• Encourage parents, other professionals to think
  this way

13
Strategies to Support Young People with
Disabilities

• Allow them to participate in typical activities
  for youth their age
• For example, refer them for ILP services, support
  them to attend planning or treatment meetings,
  court hearings
• Provide Accommodations
• Help youth learn what accommodations s/he needs
• Advocate with youth for accommodations (for
  example, extended test taking time, tutoring,
  transportation, personal assistance)

14
In a Nutshell

• Support youth with disabilities to strive for
  typical lives and learn about their options
• Give them opportunities to try activities, take
  risks, assume responsibilities, learn
• Help them build relationships with others
• Teach them skills for self-direction, learning
  about accommodations, and managing help from
  other people