Impact of Disability on Family

1
Impact of Disability on Family Legal Rights of
Disables

• By Dr David Lee
• VUT
• 2001

2
Impact of Disability on Family

• Redefine roles and functions of family members
• Husband Independent
• Wife Dependent
• Father
• Mother

3
Group work

• 1. Form into groups of 3
• 2. Play a role as sister, mother, father,
  boyfriend, husband brother etc
• 3. One person dressing up as a disable person
  e.g. blind, amputee, deaf and difficulty with
  speaking etc.

4
Group Work

• 4. Family members assist a disable person to
  perform a task in public e.g buying a chocolate
  bar or going to toilet
• 5. Spend at least 30 to 45 minutes in public
• 6. Reflect on your feelings as a member of family
  with a disable person,
• 7. Make a list of difficulties (both physical and
  emotional) you have encountered

5
Group Work

• 8. Write your summary in a piece of paper
• 7. Present and discuss your summary at the group

6
Legal Rights of a Person

• Right to
• 1. Receive and live in a normalized conditions
• 2. Have dignity and respect

7
Legal Rights of Disables

• 3. Freedom from discomfort
• 4. Appropriate medical and therapeutic services
• 5. Clean, appropriate clothing
• 6. Personal belongings

8
Legal Rights of Disables

• 7. Meaningful activities and exercises
• 8. Marriage, personal finances
• 9. Adequate nutrition
• 10. Access to spiritual worship if required
• 11. Freedom from unnecessary mechanical, chemical
  or physical restraint

9
Commonwealth Disabilities Services Act (1986)

• 1. End of Medical model
• 2. Holistic approach -
• Physical wellbeing
• Promotion of personal development
• Self-determination
• Independence
• Quality of life

10
Disability Discrimination Act (1992)

• Makes it illegal to discriminate because of
  disability. This means that the person with a
  disability, or his/her associate
• 1. May not be treated less favourably than others

11
Legal Rights of Disables

• 2. May not be excluded unfairly
• 3. May not be asked discriminatory questions
• 4. May not be the subject of harassment in
  employment, education and provision of goods and
  services - this includes behaviour that
  humiliates, intimidates, offends or creates a
  hostile environment

12
Disability Service Standards 1993

• In an effort to improve quality of services
  provided, the Disability Service Standards 1993
  were endorsed by the Commonwealth Parliament.
• The standards were devised as a guide to the
  level of good practice required for service
  providers

13
Disability Service Standards 1993

• The standards include requirements for
• 1. Service access
• 2. Catering for individual needs
• 3. Allow to make own decisions and choice

14
Disability Service Standards 1993

• 4. To have privacy, dignity and confidentiality
• 5. To participation and integration
• 6. To make complaints and settle disputes
• 7. To employment conditions

15
Disability Service Standards 1993

• 8. Employment support
• 9. Employment skills development