Disability, Disadvantage, Vulnerability and Stigma

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Within Australia, a new scheme (National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)) was implemented in 2013 to provide individualised support to eligible people with permanent  and significant disabilities, extending to their family and carers. The scheme aims to administer funding for essential care, support, services, therapy, equipment and aids. It was suggested by Guzy & Petrie (2014), that the scheme will aid in creation of improved links between the community and the individual with disability, and ensuring quality and best practice from service providers which will focus on person centered approach, community engagement and independent living.

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While researching further, I discovered an article by Wylie, McAlister, Davidson & Marshall (2013) that discussed the issue of inequity in service provision for Indigenous Australians with communication disabilities.

The Department Of Health (DOH) (2011), defines disability as any restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in the manner considered to be normal. A disability can be described as being physical or mental disorder of the body, disorders of cognitive ability or malfunction/malformation or disfigurement of body part, and possibly disease causing organisms or illness (Heidke, 2015).

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My nursing journey so far, has incorporated contact and care with working with patients whom identify with a disability. As Guzy & Petrie (2014), suggest, people with disabilities experience poorer health, have unequal access to health care and often unmet health care needs.


Leanne Walsh provided feedback from the carer perspective, stating the there is a lack of communication around disabilities and always be respectful are the most important things to remember (Walsh, 2015).

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Furthermore, I have learned that people with disabilities are part of the world's diversity (Heidke, 2015). This includes disadvantaged and vulnerable groups which are at risk of something, ageism which is stereotyping and discrimination of a person based on age, stigmatised groups which are health and illness conditions associated with stigma usually negative characteristics, and sexualism and mental health.

As a student nurse entering into the health profession, it is importance to have understanding of difficulties that individuals with a disability encounter when accessing equitable health care. The journal article by Whiteley, Kurtz and Cash (2016), discusses inequalities of treatment for patients with disabilities and research suggests education for nurses about barriers, discrimination and experienced stigma associated with individuals with developmental disabilities.

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References

Guzys, D., & Petrie, E. (2013). An Introduction to Community and Primary Health Care in Australia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Heike, P. (2015). NURS12002-Inclusive Practice: Study guide. Rockhampton, Qld: CQUniversity Australia

Walsh, L. (2015). Interview with Leanne: child with cerebral palsy. Retrieved from http://moodle.cqu.edu.au