Social Work with Persons with Disabilities

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• 13.
• Social Work with Persons with Disabilities

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The World of One in Eight

• Twelve percent or 3.6 million Canadians
• 53 of those over 75 have a disability

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Defining Disability

• The Participation and Activity Limitation Survey
  (PALS) used the World Health Organizations
  framework of disability provided by the
  International Classification of Functioning
  (ICF). This framework defines disability as the
  relationship between body structures and
  functions, daily activities and social
  participation, while recognizing the role of
  environmental factors.

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Types of Disabilities PALS 2001
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History of Services

• Out-of-door relief and institutionalization
• Scientific charity
• Change from a social category to medical category
• Disability rights movement

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Disability Theories

• Personal tragedy theory or medical model
• Social oppression theory or political rights model

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Income Security

• Many people with disabilities rely on income
  security programs to survive
• Publicly funded disability programs
• Privately funded disability programs

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Equalizing Opportunities

• Awareness
• Medical care
• Rehabilitation
• Support services
• Education
• Accessibility
• Employment
• Income security
• Family life
• Culture

• Recreation
• Religion
• Information
• Legislation
• Economic policy
• Coordination of work
• Organizations
• International cooperation

See www.un.org
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Citizenship

• Citizenship is the inclusion of persons with
  disabilities in all aspects of Canadian society

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Independent Living Movement

• Promoted disability rights legislation
• Provided legitimacy to the social oppression model

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Social Work Practice

• Traditional rehabilitation or medical services
  such as hospitals, rehab centers, chronic care,
  sheltered workshops
• New independent living services such as
  accommodations and accessibility advocacy and
  community organization