Here at Jeevam Therapy, disability is not a word in our dictionary as we believe that every person has their own special abilities.
This week, we are celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The United Nations made its responsibility to recognize people with disabilities on December 3rd.
What is Americans with Disabilities Act?
The ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act which was signed on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush. The ADA is America’s legislation that prohibits discrimination and ensures that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else. It was put in place to guarantee that people with disabilities have access to employment opportunities, purchase goods and services, and participate in State/Government programs and services.
After the ADA was passed in the United States, it inspired others throughout the globe to push for their own rights. Since 2000, 181 countries have passed their own disability civil rights laws inspired by the ADA. Due to this, there has been access to motorized lifts for buses, ramps for buildings, and curb cuts for wheelchairs. It also allowed them to have access to live as they wanted and where they wanted without any implications or discrimination. Throughout this process, people with disabilities also gained access to health care, social welfare programs, and sports programs. This inspired change throughout the world to have inclusion for those with disability.
World-Wide Impact
Throughout the globe, over 1 billion people live with some form of disability. In our own lifetime, we all will face disability as we begin to age. The number of individuals with disabilities is increasing over time due to chronic health conditions and the population aging.
Disabled people are the most excluded in our society and they are often the ones to face the most hardships. One of the major obstacles they face is in the sector of healthcare. People with disabilities are often less able to access health care, education, and actively participate in the community. Throughout the globe, it is evident that disability is extremely diverse, and all people with disabilities have the same needs as others. Due to this, the United Nations made its goal to leave no individual behind.
What’s up with healthcare nowadays?
People with disabilities face inequality in healthcare which makes it difficult for them to access healthcare. According to World Health Organization (WHO), people with disabilities face stigma and prejudice from society, healthcare workers, and healthcare facilities. In addition to that, service providers have limited understanding and knowledge about the rights of people with disabilities.
Many healthcare facilities also do not have policies that allow for a longer and flexible appointment time which can further limit the time and attention needed for individual cases. People with disabilities often receive poor quality service in the healthcare system, due to the lack of attention and one on one time. Another issue they encounter is that they are rarely involved in decision-making about their health services with the healthcare providers involved.
How can Physical Therapy help me?
A Physical Therapy clinic like us can turn your disability into ability to achieve your personal goals. At Jeevam Therapy we strive to empower our patients by providing them the care they need. We provide our patients with adaptive strategies to go about any daily activities that they find difficult or unable to do. Our thorough evaluation consists of finding the root of the problem and to find ways to work through them. The clinical care we provide consists of individualized hands on work with one on one attention that is flexible to the patient’s needs. In addition to that, we make it easy for our patients to access and learn their home exercise program by making it a part of their daily routine. Throughout this process, our approach is to encourage everybody with positive feedback and reward reinforcement that can make this journey smoother. The resources you need, we will help you find and guide you through every step of it. At the end of the day, we put you on a pedastal to empower you to take care of your own healthcare.
Tags: Disability, Healthcare, Internationaldayofpersonswithdisability
