THEORETICAL CONCEPTS/SOCIAL INTERPREATATIONS/IMPLICATIONS OF THIS
Understanding disability as part of a social construction allows for the application of theoretical concepts to aid a deeper understanding of disability. A significant development in critical theory of disability emerged when applying the perspectives of post-colonial theory (Meekosha & Shuttleworth 2009). This theory analyses the dehumanisation that occurred during colonialization and the emergence of internalising oppression. This can be linked to the disability experience in terms of internalised oppression, and maintaining the oppressed in marginalised roles by the dominant groups. These dominant ideologies are then transferred to the dominated, and experience alienation …show more content…
2017). In addition to cultural meanings and social constructions, policies and practices remain in place to marginalise people with disabilities. Different interpretations and understandings of disability have an impact on policy and policy implementation and on practice in Australia (Fawcett & Plath 2014). Disability-based exclusion is often a lack of awareness from policymakers (Krcek 2013). Disability services are intended to provide people with assistance they need to fully participate in daily life, findings shoe that more than half said that services and programs act as a barrier to, rather that facilitate participation (Australian Government: Department of Social Services 2012). In many areas of policy and practice settings, the term disability is often thought to be unproblematic and straightforward, but disability literature highlights that this is incorrect (Fawcett & Plath 2014). The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) fits within a social model to a certain extent, but still contains a clinical and individualised medical model focus (Fawcett & Plath 2014). The NDIS has proposed an individual view of disability offering consumer purchasing power and choice as a means of empowerment, but this also carries the risk that the market will not deliver the required services (Fawcett & Plath 2014). Individual funding policies are a key aspect of the NDIS, and may have implications when conceptualising choice in the implementation of individual funding. It is found that choice is constrained not only by the individual funding policies themselves but also the wider social service system. Restricted program capacities and shortage of service options are prevalent especially in regional areas. If these contextual policy constraints are not addressed then the limitations on choice will remain. The findings also have
Understanding disability as part of a social construction allows for the application of theoretical concepts to aid a deeper understanding of disability. A significant development in critical theory of disability emerged when applying the perspectives of post-colonial theory (Meekosha & Shuttleworth 2009). This theory analyses the dehumanisation that occurred during colonialization and the emergence of internalising oppression. This can be linked to the disability experience in terms of internalised oppression, and maintaining the oppressed in marginalised roles by the dominant groups. These dominant ideologies are then transferred to the dominated, and experience alienation …show more content…
2017). In addition to cultural meanings and social constructions, policies and practices remain in place to marginalise people with disabilities. Different interpretations and understandings of disability have an impact on policy and policy implementation and on practice in Australia (Fawcett & Plath 2014). Disability-based exclusion is often a lack of awareness from policymakers (Krcek 2013). Disability services are intended to provide people with assistance they need to fully participate in daily life, findings shoe that more than half said that services and programs act as a barrier to, rather that facilitate participation (Australian Government: Department of Social Services 2012). In many areas of policy and practice settings, the term disability is often thought to be unproblematic and straightforward, but disability literature highlights that this is incorrect (Fawcett & Plath 2014). The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) fits within a social model to a certain extent, but still contains a clinical and individualised medical model focus (Fawcett & Plath 2014). The NDIS has proposed an individual view of disability offering consumer purchasing power and choice as a means of empowerment, but this also carries the risk that the market will not deliver the required services (Fawcett & Plath 2014). Individual funding policies are a key aspect of the NDIS, and may have implications when conceptualising choice in the implementation of individual funding. It is found that choice is constrained not only by the individual funding policies themselves but also the wider social service system. Restricted program capacities and shortage of service options are prevalent especially in regional areas. If these contextual policy constraints are not addressed then the limitations on choice will remain. The findings also have