how are social policies affected by the way disability is socially constructed ?

Answer 1

The social constructs of disability determine a great deal of social policy. As society changes its ideas, ideals and expectations of disabilty and the people affected by it, policies have to change to keep up with that. However it is also true that when political decisions about social policies are made public along with the findings that swayed the decisions it can affect society and alter the way society consructs disability.

There have been many awareness campaigns over the years to inform, educate, and assist society in understanding disability and more recently to encourage people with disability to work and employers to consider them as suitable applicants.

Huge advances in medical science have increased the percentage of people in society with severe to profound disability over the last forty or so years. Many conditions, injuries and diseases that once would have meant certain or in particular very early death are now being treated in new ways and so people who would have died 40 years ago are being saved and survive for far greater periods of time.

People who have mild to moderate disabilities are beng 'main-streamed' into society with fewer insititutions being created for them and many of the old insititutions beng closed down.

Once upon a time the burden of care for a person with disability fell directly on the immediate family. Then governments in their wisdom created institutions to 'properly' care for people with disability. Now governments have decided that the financial burden of managing these institutions is too great and are now placing the burden of care back onto the immediate family by withdrawing the facilities it once prized as societies answer to disability.

Education or lack of it affects societies' attitude to disability. Attitude determines policy. Change of policy must come with a change of attitude.

Answer 2

Disabilities has become an industry. It is one of the minority groups promoted by this government to intimidate the majority population. Racism, sexism and the gay lobby are other examples of minority groups used as social engineering vehicles, to attack free speech and generally promote a left wing agenda. There has been far too much pandering to disabilities when there are far more important problems to deal with.

I am not hard hearted and I like 'jax's attitude above. I am sure that the majority of disabled people have the same attitude; they don't expect the whole world to adjust itself to deal with their problem. That's why I call it an industry, because 'lefties' are promoting it for their own purposes. They are hypocrits and not truly caring people.

Answer 3

As a Social Science ex student and one with a number of various 'dis-abilities,' varying in 'grades' and gradations, I find myself really curious about the > 'the way disability is socially constructed' <.

It's either a term or theory or some form of model that I've not encountered ~ and has me sorely !!..puzzled..!!

Regards.
Sash.

Answer 4

I wish they'd ask me!!!! I'm in a wheelchair and the world has become so politically correct, people are afraid to tell a "Spas" joke in front of me in case I'm offended! I want to be treated as a person, not a disabled person. Thankfully, my family and friends take no notice of my disability and treat me normally. If I can't get into a shop, I'm not going to chain myself to the railings and cause a riot, I'm going to take my custom elsewhere. Not all of us are militant psycho's who draw attention to our differences!