Introduction

January 18, 2014 by Kristin

The United States has been considered the land of freedom and opportunity—a place where all have the chance to pursue their dreams and live happily. Well, this American Dream has certainly not been attainable to all. Throughout America’s history, equal rights have been advocated for various groups: racial minorities, women, LGBT individuals, and persons with disabilities. While rights have been enacted to help each of these groups (on state and federal levels), there are still persistent issues that arise, particularly for persons with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted in 1990 to prohibit any discrimination against persons with disabilities. The act is to ensure equal opportunities in employment, public accommodations, transportation, and government services.¹

But all too often, individuals with disabilities are not given employment opportunities and equal government services. My current job is with a non-profit agency offering services to people with disabilities in order for them to gain their highest level of independence. I serve as an employment specialist, assisting people in finding, applying, and maintaining a job that is right for them. While the job description sounds simple, the truth is, several of candidates with disabilities are overlooked in the work field or are given minimum wage jobs (cart pusher, grocery bagger, etc.). Unemployment and underemployment remain issues for people with disabilities.

Additionally, health services given to people with disabilities is substandard; folks with disabilities are more likely to have delays in receiving health care, not have annual dental visits, pap smears or mammograms, be overweight, receive less emotional support, and not engage in physical activity, as opposed to individuals without disabilities.² More alarming is the number of health promotion programs for people with disabilities in the United States from 1999 to 2009 only increased from 14 to 16.³  There is a great need to include this population in health promotion services, social interactions, employment opportunities, and emergency preparedness.

This blog is designed to bring awareness to American health professionals and to others who have an interest in health equity about the short-comings of health services to persons with disabilities, Healthy People 2020’s objectives to combat these issues, and individual ways to meet these goals. Partnership with an organization will also be essential in meeting the Healthy People 2020’s objectives. The Arc is a non-profit agency established in 1950 whose mission is to “promote and protect the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively support their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.”⁴ Currently, the Arc is present in all 50 states and provides services to children and adults with disabilities through housing services, government assistance, health education and assessment services.⁴ Partnering with the Arc’s mission to provide health education and services to persons with disabilities will be a useful asset to promote health equity.

People with disabilities are people; they are not “the disabled/handicapped” or less than anyone else. I hope this blog will bring about awareness and change.

 

References

1. ADA. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and revised ADA regulations implementing Title II and Title III. ADA. http://www.ada.gov/2010_regs.htm. Accessed January 18, 2014.
2. Healthy People 2020. Disability and health. Healthy People 2020. http://healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicId=9. Updated November 13, 2013. Accessed January 18, 2014.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). DATA 2010. http://wonder.cdc.gov/data2010/focus.htm. Accessed January 18, 2014.
4. The Arc. Who we are. The Arc.  http://www.thearc.org/page.aspx?pid=2530. Accessed January 18, 2014.
5. Malamantra. Handicapped. http://www.everystockphoto.com/photo.php?imageId=6758712&searchId=28ba1672245d7ddc101ce99594ba35bf&npos=78. Accessed January 18, 2014.