A visit to a center for Independent Living in Montgomery, AL was a valuable experience that contributed to my professional competence and my knowledge about the life of people with disabilities. I took a tour around the facilities, observed the rooms for residents’ gatherings, and spoke to several people who received support from the center. Before the event, I anticipated this experience to be challenging in terms of the emotional burden when communicating with people with disabilities who, as I had thought, were in desperate need of outside help. However, the conversations with the center residents showed that the primary challenge is that the disabled encounter more difficulties in society while they can take care of themselves.
Indeed, the disability experience adversely influences a person’s life in all its manifestations. According to Falvo and Holland (2017), a disabled person’s family life and sexuality are endangered because he or she fails to act “normally” again becoming a burden for family members (p. 25). As the interviewed individuals admit, their special needs become a barrier for them to be employed, enjoy recreational activities, and be a part of a community. Moreover, cultural particularities of perception of disabled people impose even more emotional discomfort leading to depressions and detachment. For example, a man in a wheelchair is refused to be employed because of the difficulties the presence of such a person might cause for an organization.
The center for independent living educates, provides competent support, and facilitates the inclusion of a person with a disability in the life of a community. A system of specially developed programs that address such issues as family life, work, or education difficulties is aimed at improving the quality of life of people with chronic illness or disability. For example, the center’s department provides Braille courses for blind people, thus increasing their chances for more qualitative life and more opportunities in both, professional and personal life spheres. Having a center’s support people can live independently and lead a comfortable family life. Such assistance enables people with special needs to live better lives, find a job, be involved in different activities, and perform as decent members of society.
Reference
Falvo, D., & Holland, B.E. (2017). Medical and psychosocial aspects of chronic illness and disability (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Jones & Bartlett.