The debate about the oppression of people with disabilities in institutions has been ongoing for many years. Northway (2017) defines disability as a physical condition that makes it difficult for an individual to perform certain activities and limits them from interacting with the general population around them. The legacy of oppression for the disabled still exists in many institutions despite the anti-discrimination legislation supporting their participation in the community’s social and economic life. This discussion elaborates on the legacy of oppression and the challenges the disabled people face.
Society does not usually value the disabled as they are mostly oppressed and discriminated against. People living with disabilities survive under demanding living conditions, a challenge that has remained unsolved for many decades (Northway, 2017). Over the years, some strategies have been developed to ensure the inclusion of disability in the economic and social mainstreams, but their success has been minimal. Some of the notable institutional problems include the inaccessibility of various buildings for physically disabled persons. Most facilities do not have ramps for entrance from one floor to the other. Also, a majority of people with disabilities live in low standards; they experience extreme poverty. Therefore, this shows that the society at large discriminates against the disabled.
Secondly, there is discrimination from jobs; there is a high unemployment rate among people living with disabilities. This is because many disabled people lack the opportunities to gain an education in various learning centers (Vernon, 2016). These poverty levels are alarming; they have made the disabled have poor access to health facilities. It has also turned a number of them into beggars in the streets to earn a living.
In conclusion, the disabled face severe stigmatization and agony in society and particularly in institutions. This leads to increased disability oppression due to a lack of opportunities for this group of people. In some parts of the country, people with disabilities experience discrimination; some are usually locked up indoors while others are confined to objects. Therefore, the history of disability has always been intertwined with a legacy of oppression in many aspects of society.
Reference List
Northway, R. (2017) ‘Disability and oppression: some implications for nurses and Nursing’, Journal of Advanced Nursing, 26(4), pp.736-743.
Vernon, A. (2016) ‘Multiple oppression and the disabled people’s movement’. Understanding care, welfare and community, a reader, 14(6), pp.64-68.