Erenlai - Items filtered by date: Wednesday, 14 March 2007

Wednesday, 14 March 2007 19:05

Handicaps and Rehabilitation

"Handicaps" are generally considered conditions that prevent a person from performing some normal activity in the normal way. Sometimes handicaps have the added disadvantage of separating “handicapped” people from “normal” people. Sometimes they are like stigmas that mark the handicapped persons and label them as different, unacceptable, persons to be avoided or isolated.

“Rehabilitation” is a term associated with “handicapped” persons. It is the process that seeks to repair or remove the conditions that cause the handicaps or at least to eliminate or compensate for the handicaps. “Rehabilitation” helps a “disabled” person to live with the disability by heightening his/her positive qualities and eliminating or minimizing his/her limitations.

Given the prevalence of “impairments”, “disabilities” and “handicaps” at every level of society, provisions for “rehabilitation” are very important and necessary.

Usually when we think of “handicapped” persons we are thinking of persons with “physical or mental disabilities”.

The truth is that in every society there are great numbers of “handicapped” people, not necessarily those afflicted with “physical or mental disabilities”, but also all those who are the victims of “financial, educational, environmental or cultural impairments” which prevent them from entering into the mainstreams of society and separate them from admission to the ranks of those entitled to enjoy the full benefits of belonging to “proper” society.

Therefore this article explores both kinds of “handicaps” with a section on “physical and mental impairments, disabilities and handicaps” and their “rehabilitation” and another section on “cultural and social impairments, disabilities and handicaps” and their “rehabilitation”.

“Rehabilitation” also has two focuses. One is on the person, the other is on the impairments, disabilities and handicaps themselves. With regard to the “impaired, disabled or handicapped person”, the providers of “rehabilitation” ask:

1. What is the nature of this individual’s impairments? Can they be cured or treated?

2. What disabilities does this individual have? Can they be eliminated or compensated for?

3. What handicaps does this individual face in society because of thedisabilities? What can be done about them?

In response the providers of “rehabilitation” look for and provide whatever services are required.

With regard to the “impairments, disabilities and handicaps” the providers of “rehabilitation” ask

1. What impairments are prevalent in society? Can they be eliminated or prevented?

2. What disabilities are experienced in society” What can be done to compensate for them?

3. What conditions in society make life difficult for those with disabilities? How can we remedy these conditions?

In response the providers of “rehabilitation” engage in research and then initiate legislation or establish facilities or agencies to make the services available, provide the funds, resources and personnel necessary for the operation of these services and take steps to assure that all those who can benefit from these services actually receive them.

In this article we also look at “rehabilitation” from both these perspectives.

Read the entire article

Discover another Bob’s book about his "Lessons for living" on eRenlai Store

Drawing by Bendu

Published in Focus: Challenged but not disabled