Search results for ‘Subject term:"physical disabilities"’ Sort:
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Unwanted sex among young adults in the United States: the role of physical disability and cognitive performance
- Authors:
- HAYDON Abigail A., MCREE Annie-Laurie, HALPERN Carolyn Tucker
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26(17), November 2011, pp.3476-3493.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities are at least as likely to experience interpersonal violence and abuse as individuals without disabilities. This study examined associations between unwanted sexual experiences (physically forced and nonphysically coerced sex) and physical disability and cognitive performance. It used data about 11,878 participants from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative survey of the young people in the United States. Survey questions about unwanted sexual experiences were designed to reflect only experiences occurring outside of parent or caregiver relationships and to exclude instances of childhood or adolescent sexual abuse. Approximately 24% of females and 4% of males reported unwanted sexual experiences. Compared to respondents without disabilities, females with a physical disability had greater odds of experiencing forced sex whereas males with a physical disability had greater odds of coerced sex. Men and women with poor cognitive performance were at least as likely to experience unwanted sexual contact as those with average cognitive ability. The authors discuss the findings and suggest that further research is required about the association between disability and unwanted sexual experiences.
Exploratory study on challenges faced by ageing persons with physical disabilities
- Author:
- CHUNG Angela
- Journal article citation:
- Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development, 21(1), June 2011, pp.89-96.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
As the population enjoys a longer life expectancy, persons with disabilities are also living longer. There is growing evidence that persons with physical disabilities may age in an accelerated way from their able-bodied counterparts, due to over-use of particular muscle groups to compensate for a lost function or to long-term complications resulting from the original impairments. This exploratory study sought to investigate whether older adults with lifelong physical disabilities are buffered with sufficient financial, familial, social, and spiritual resources to deal with this challenge. A total of 28 beneficiaries aged 50 years and above from a voluntary welfare organisation that supports persons with disabilities took part in an interviewer-administered survey. In addition, 6 respondents also took part in individual face-to-face interviews. The findings showed some level of perceived lack of financial and social resources, and a general sentiment of apprehension over financial needs and future care. The article concludes that more preparation should be done to educate and prepare ageing persons with disabilities to better plan for their old age.
Losing out on both counts: disabled women and domestic violence
- Authors:
- THIARA Ravi K., HAGUE Gill, MULLENDER Audrey
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 26(6), 2011, pp.757-771.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This national study was the first in the UK to explore the experiences of disabled women with physical and sensory impairment affected by domestic violence. The aim was to further understanding of the needs of abused disabled women, to investigate the scope of existing provision, and identify gaps within both domestic violence and disability services. The study, conducted from 2005 to 2008, utilised a multi-method strategy, including: an initial focus group with disabled women to inform the research; interviews with key professionals and activists in women’s and disability organisations; consultation with disabled abused women; a national survey of domestic violence organisations; a national survey of disabled people’s organisations; and in-depth interviews with 30 abused disabled women. Utilising the concept of intersectionality to locate abused disabled women along axes of oppression/domination, the paper highlights the complex nature of women’s abuse experiences as well as the inadequacy of professional responses. It argues that a lack of resources and training is widespread among both disability and domestic violence services, which largely continue to work in ‘siloed’ ways. This exacerbates the situation for disabled women who are likely to experience greater and prolonged abuse, thus losing out on both counts.
Avoiding institutional outcomes for older adults living with disability: the use of community-based aged care supports
- Authors:
- ELLISON Caroline, WHITE Amy, CHAPMAN Libby
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 36(3), September 2011, pp.175-183.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Most people, regardless of ability or impairment, want to remain independent and living in their own home as they age. This study aimed to establish if accessing community-based aged care supports was perceived as assisting individuals ageing with a disability to remain living in their own homes and to avoid more institutional models of service. Sixty individuals aged 50 years and over with an intellectual, physical or neurological disability were interviewed to determine their perceptions in relation to ageing and the supports needed to remain living in the community. In addition, 26 staff and 6 family members were interviewed. The findings indicated that the participants receiving community-based aged care supports reported benefits including opportunities to develop relationships, maintain daily living skills, and participate in community activities. However, due to a lack of confidence in the availability of access to mainstream community-based aged care services, many participants felt vulnerable or unsure about their future and ability to remain living in their own home. Several participants commented that this meant that an undesired early relocation into residential aged care or congregate disability services appeared inevitable.
Role of voluntary groups in disability service provision
- Author:
- BAXTER Kate
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 27.10.11, 2011, pp.34-35.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
A research study by the Institute of Public Care, 'Gain without Pain', is reviewed. The study shows how the voluntary sector can offer innovative ways of meeting three challenges facing social care: increasing demand; decreasing funds; and changing expectations. It uses ten case studies, each one showing a different way of offering innovative delivery of services, to promote the benefits of commissioning the voluntary sector to provide services. Practice implications for commissioners, support planners and brokers, and voluntary organisations are provided.
Students’ behavioural intentions towards peers with disability
- Authors:
- BROWN Hilary K., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 24(4), July 2011, pp.322-332.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Inclusive education is an important element of the current focus on social inclusion for individuals with disabilities. A barrier to the social inclusion of students with disabilities is the attitude of their non-disabled peers towards them. The aim of this study was to compare the behavioural intentions of high school students towards individuals with intellectual disabilities and individuals with physical disabilities, and to explore reasons for these behavioural intentions. A sample of 319 Grade 9 and Grade 12 students in Ontario, Canada completed a questionnaire regarding their behavioural intentions towards peers with intellectual or physical disabilities. They also responded to open-ended questions concerning their feelings about participating in a class task or social activity with these individuals. The findings showed that behavioural intentions towards students with intellectual disabilities were significantly more negative than were those towards students with physical disabilities. This difference was also reflected in responses to the open-ended questions. Common reasons for discomfort were perceived dissimilarities in interests or abilities. The findings demonstrate a need to provide interventions to support students with and without disabilities to find commonalities and to encourage reciprocity in their interactions.
Parents' definition of effective child disability support services: implications for implementing family-centered practice
- Authors:
- HIEBERT-MURPHY Diane, TRUTE Barry, WRIGHT Alexandra
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Family Social Work, 14(2), March 2011, pp.144-158.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Family-centred approaches to service delivery are widely advocated in child disability services. This enables interventions to operate within the context of the family, and helps with the assessment of family needs and priorities. This study aimed to further understanding of the factors that facilitate or hinder the process of implementing a family-centred service by examining parents’ experiences within a government programme aiming to advance family-centred principles in its delivery of community-based childhood disability services. Participants were from two health regions within the Province of Manitoba, Canada. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 39 mothers and 22 fathers approximately 18 months after entering the service delivery system. Parents reported that effective service delivery requires service coordinators with interpersonal and practice skills working within an adequately resourced service system that has policies and procedures that are responsive to family needs. Parent feedback was consistent with the principles of family-centred practice and has important implications for the implementation of family-centred services.
Comparing service use of Early Head Start families of children with and without disabilities
- Authors:
- ZAJICEK-FARBER Michaela L., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Family Social Work, 14(2), March 2011, pp.159-178.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In the United States, the Early Head Start (EHS) aims to ensure that children from low-income families have good health, strong families and positive early learning experiences. It helps promote positive child development for the very young. This research compared patterns of service utilisation reported by EHS families of children with and without disabilities by secondary analysis of data from the longitudinal investigation of the effectiveness of EHS. Two hundred and eleven families who had data on their disability and services at 7, 16 and 28 months participated. Results indicated comparable positive trends for both groups of families for receipt of services corresponding to EHS performance standards promoting child and family development, family support, and health care. Service challenges remain in the low use of dental services overall and the higher use of acute health care services for children with disabilities. The authors conclude that further research is required to investigate causes and outcomes of service uptake.
En/countering disablement in school life in Australia: children talk about peer relations and living with illness and disability
- Author:
- MCMAUGH Anne
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 26(7), 2011, pp.853-866.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper reports the experiential accounts of young people with physical disability or chronic illness as they made the transition to junior high school, with a particular focus on their social experiences with peers and friends. The participants were 24 young people, with a mean age of 12.4 years, with visible and physically limiting disabilities and health conditions including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and cystic fibrosis. Their personal accounts were gathered in 3 interviews during the course of a year from late Year 6 to late Year 7. A total of 72 recorded conversations, amounting to more than 100 hours of communication, documented the transitional experiences of the participants. Children’s reports were examined in a reflexive, disability studies framework, in which commonalities and difference in experience were examined. The findings highlight a common experience of disability-related harassment and differential experiences of friendship, peer rejection and school culture. While children encounter and actively counter disablement in a variety of ways, it is clear that they are also cognisant of the stigma, prejudices and disabling expectations that are at the core of these experiences.
A qualitative analysis of child protective services practice with children with developmental disabilities
- Authors:
- SHANNON Patrick, TAPPAN Christine
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 33(9), September 2011, pp.1469-1475.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
The purpose of this study was to examine Child Protection System (CPS) practice with children with developmental disabilities in the United States. This study used an emergent design, ethnographic interviews, purposive sampling, inductive data analysis, and grounded theory building. Ethnographic interviews were conducted with foster families, administrators, intake screeners, special investigators, and workers in one local CPS office. Participants expressed concern about the ability to identify disabilities, placement options, services to meet complex needs of children with disabilities, training and support for families, collaborative arrangements with other agencies, and disability training for CPS workers. Findings suggest strategies for improving CPS practice for children with developmental disabilities.