Introduction
Every person has unique needs affecting his/her life and well-being. The ability to satisfy the current demands is essential for individuals as it helps them to become happy and move forward towards the achievement of new goals. Unfortunately, some groups can be limited in their opportunities because of disabilities affecting their lifestyles and preconditioning the emergence of unique demands. Today, there are multiple attempts to assist such people in their everyday tasks and create an environment vital for their improved well-being. People with disabilities are part of every community, meaning that providing help to them is one of the necessary directions of social work. The existing agencies and organizations are focused on an improved understanding of existing needs with the primary goal to create the framework for their satisfaction and these people’s inclusion in the lives of communities.
Social issue
Throughout the history of humanity, the attitude towards people with disabilities has been changing. The existence of specific needs that can be satisfied with the help of other community members preconditioned the difference in perspectives on how to treat this group. However, the dominance of humanistic values and tolerance today, along with the recognition of the critical importance of every life, resulted in the radical shift in people’s mentalities and visions. People with disabilities are determined as persons who have physical or mental impairment limiting one or several major life activities (Dobransky & Hargittai, 2020). They are considered significant members of society who should be assisted to improve the functioning of a community. For this reason, there is an attempt to create a supportive environment favorable for providing help to such people. Multiple agencies and organizations function in the given field to enhance the situation.
The importance of considering this population group’s needs is explained by the growing topicality of the problem. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2020) states that 61 million adults live with disabilities in the USA. In general, 26% of the population, or one in four adults, have some type of this problem (CDC, 2020). Moreover, there is a tendency towards the rise in the number of such people because of the deterioration of the situation and the growing number of environmental concerns (Dobransky & Hargittai, 2020). Disability also impacts the communities’ health, status, and a financial burden (Dobransky & Hargittai, 2020). Adults with such problems have a higher risk of becoming obese, developing smoking or drinking patterns, or heart disease (CDC, 2020). The question is complicated because there are barriers limiting access to health care for such people. CDC (2020) also states that 1 in 3 adults with such concerns do not have a health care provider, or their current disease is not treated because of the high cost (CDC, 2020). Furthermore, 1 in 4 adults does not have routine assessments of their states (CDC, 2020). All these factors prove the existence of a serious problem and the need for its addressing.
Under these conditions, the role of social workers acquires the top priority. Public health is a common concern that can be promoted by using local resources and governmental support. The statistic shows that social workers’ interference reduces the number of adverse effects among people with disabilities associated with their health issues (Smith et al., 2020). Additionally, the in-time provision of help can help to avoid psychological problems, alcohol, tobacco, and substance abuse and reduce the overall number of problems linked to disability (Smith et al., 2020). Moreover, the National Survey shows that people with disabilities appreciate the contribution of social agencies and value the social workers’ assistance as it helps them to avoid barriers to happy living and enjoy life (NCHS, 2015). In accordance with the recent reports, 13.7% of people with disabilities have issues with walking and climbing stairs, 10.8% have a cognition disability, 6,8% cannot live independently, 5.9% have damaged hearing, 4,6% have a vision disability, and 3.6% have difficulties with dressing and bathing (CDC, 2020). It means that all these groups should be provided with the appropriate care to guarantee no deterioration in their states.
Texas Health and Human Services. An Agency Perspective
The agency called Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) is focused on helping people to live their best and enjoy all benefits available for them at the moment. The organization cares for people in local communities to meet their diversified needs and ensure they do not have a deficit of care (HHS, n.d.a). The agency has multiple programs designed for various population groups regarding their current health status and demands linked to it. It also emphasizes that people who are limited in one or more life activities should count for specific services, and the HHS’ main function is to guarantee that they will be provided to this cohort (HHS, n.d.a). The agency offers data from the American Community Survey, showing that 3,4 million Texans have different types of disabilities (HHS, n.d.a). For this reason, it is vital to help them to acquire federal assistance such as rehabilitation, medical equipment, medical care, and personal attendants (HHS, n.d.a). The organization’s workers help Texans to receive such services and improve their wellbeing.
Values
Working with disabled people, HHS emphasizes that it adheres to tolerant and democratic values and view them as the basis for aligning the meaningful interaction with individuals. The central ideas include social justice, integrity, and quality (HHS, n.d.b). HHS (n.d.a) states that its major goal is to ensure that all disabled persons, regardless of their status, are can acquire services that are needed for them. Under these conditions, all social workers try to cooperate with representatives of this group in ways that meet their current demands (HHS, n.d.b). Moreover, the quality of provided assistance is another pillar of the HHS’s functioning. The agency cultivates the ability to offer in-time and comprehensive service to all individuals, which results in improved outcomes. Correctly realizing the existence of multiple barriers that might decrease the quality of people’s lives, HHS tries to follow these values to create a favorable framework for improved cooperation.
Social Workers Knowledge and Skills
Social workers who provide care to people with disabilities have to possess specific knowledge and experiences. The recent research shows that this cohort has specific needs impacting cooperation with them (Dobransky & Hargittai, 2020). It might demand unusual strategies and approaches to align collaboration with these individuals and provide the requested services effectively. Under these conditions, social workers have to possess enhanced communication skills and empathy to realize the current moods and manage them (HHS, n.d.a). Additionally, they should be good listeners and demonstrate basic psychological experiences to understand the nature of problems people face at the moment and help in eliminating them (Dobransky & Hargittai, 2020). The high level of responsibility peculiar to the sphere demands reliability and flexibility from social workers to adapt to new clients’ demands and guarantee their diversified needs are considered.
Evaluation
In general, the HHS can be viewed as an effective organization aimed at providing help to minorities or vulnerable groups. Results of its functioning are reflected in the current reports and statements. At the same time, the agency’s top managers conduct a regular assessment of its work to outline the guidelines for further improvement and ensure there are no unresolved issues (HHS, n.d.a). The contribution of social workers and their ability to work with different groups is also assessed to ensure that the agency is capable of providing care to the most vulnerable groups. This approach helps to remain effective and promote the community’s health.
Personal Reflection
Cogitating about the HHS, I believe that its work is a necessary component to help people with disabilities. First of all, they try to eliminate social injustice cases and ensure that all individuals with specific needs are provided with the care and assistance they require at the moment. Moreover, the work of such agencies is fundamental for the gradual improvement of local communities and their becoming better. Finally, the correct management of the problem of disability demands the utilization of local resources to achieve existing goals, and HHS can be viewed as an important actor helping to attain this goal. I am sure that the work of the organization will help to improve the well-being of people with disabilities and ensure they will not feel lonely, isolated, or abandoned.
Evidence
The critical importance of agencies such as HHS and their contribution to the improvement of the problem is evidenced by multiple research papers involving social workers. For instance, results of interviews conducted among experienced specialists working with disable people show that in most cases, further deterioration of the situation and the emergence of new health issues among this cohort can be prevented if timely interference is provided (Fisher et al., 2020). Moreover, the communities’ health depends on the status of this group, meaning that the use of local resources to resolve the problem is one of the most effective ways to attain better outcomes (Smith et al., 2020). Under these conditions, the positive effect of agencies, such as the HHS, is evidenced by experienced social workers and recent research as they are viewed as vital elements of the existing system (Fisher et al., 2020). It also means that the work of such organizations should be supported by the government and local actors.
Conclusion
Disability is one of the central concerns of contemporary society. It affects the well-being of people, the community’s health, access to care, and the quality of life. People with different disabilities might suffer from various barriers and challenges, such as problems with self-care, movement, hearing, vision, and exclusion from social life. Under these conditions, social workers and existing agencies’ work towards improving this group’s life cannot be overestimated. Agencies such as Texas Health and Human Services promote better access to services guaranteed to such people and ensure that they will not suffer from the deficit of attention or care. Disability will always remain a nagging problem; however, social workers’ contribution and engagement can help to resolve tension and attain better outcomes.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020). Disability impacts all of us. CDC. Web.
Dobransky, K., & Hargittai, E. (2020). People with disabilities during COVID-19. Contexts, 19(4), 46–49. Web.
Fisher, K. R., Robinson, S., Neale, K., Graham, A., Johnson, K., Davy, L., & Hall, E. C. (2020). Impact of organisational practices on the relationships between young people with disabilities and paid social support workers. Journal of Social Work. Web.
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). (2015). National Health Interview Survey on Disability. CDC. Web.
Smith, S. D., Hall, J. P., & Kurth, N. K. (2020). Perspectives on health policy from people with disabilities. Journal of Disability Policy Studies. Web.
Texas Health and Human Services (HHS). (n.d.a). Disability. HHS. Web.
Texas Health and Human Services (HHS). (n.d.b). Value-based care. HHS. Web.