Definition of Disability
Generally, disabled people face more severe consequences in context of the domestic violence as compared to normal people, and also face more difficulty in getting the support (Reducing the risk, 2018). Domestic violence and abuse with the disabled people is the topic which mainly focuses on the domestic abuse experience by the disability people. The main purpose of the Public Health England (PHE) is to defend and recover the health of the population and reduce the health disparities. As part of the wider work program which aims to preventing the domestic abuse. PHE highlights the experience of those peoples who are often affected by the domestic abuse and ignored, and this includes peoples with disability, lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people, etc. This topic mainly improves the understanding of readers in context of the complexities of the disabled people’s and experience related to the domestic violence and abuse in the system of the public health.
Structure of this report includes brief introduction of the domestic violence and abuse, health status of the community, current provisions, sociograms, views of community related to the health needs and services, stakeholders, and action plan. Lastly, this paper is summarized with the brief conclusion.
The sense of the word disability has been disputed and it has different types of interpretations. Meaning of this term also differs in terms of law or administration process. In context of the Equality Act, disability means physical or mental damage that mainly has considerable and long term contrary effect on the personal’s ability (Department for Work and Pensions, 2011; Office for Disability Issues: HM Government, 2011). Disability is also defined by the UN and as per this definition, a long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which in contact with the different fences may delay their complete and real participation in the society (United nations, 2006)
The manner in which community is organized, not the damage itself, rejects the people with disability to completely participate in the society. Society excludes the disabled people by different barriers such as discrimination, attitudes which reflects negativity, lack of support, etc. The number of adults accompanied with the damage increase with the age. Almost 6% children’s in UK have impairment as compared to 16% of working age adults and 45% of adults over state pension age (Hague, Thiara & Mullender, 2010).
The point at which impairment is acquired by the people is at the time of their birth or during the life course, as these influences the manner in which their impairment and its disabled factors affect their lives. This community framed and shaped the discourse related to the disability. This community seeks to access the living in independent manner, equality, education, employment, etc. and it also resist the incapacitated people from being pitied, which means, over medicalised.
Barriers Faced by Disabled people
People with disability experience inequalities in the health and major conditions of health, and also die in younger age as compared to non-disabled people. The extent of these health inequalities are difficult to assess because of the limitation on the outcomes related to the data in context of the disabled people and this data is collected by the NHS providers and commissioners (EHRC, 2017).
It must be noted that disabled people face more domestic abuse as compared to the non-disabled people, and abuse experienced by them is more severe in nature and more frequent. The consequences of the disability increases the risk related to the abuse. There are number of international studies which reflect that disabled people have a additional Spartan effect and they need extra support and if condition of the person is worsen or person required more support than the risk related to the sexual assault, physical assault and domestic abuse also increased. As per the collected data in context of the UK, consequences of the impairment increase the risk related to the domestic violence (Flatley, et al. 2010).
It can be said that, peoples with disability bear more risk of physical assault because they are not sufficiently able to defend themselves. Following are the figures related to the people with disability in context of the domestic violence and abuse:
- Peoples with disability experience 1.6 times more violence as compared to people with non-disability.
- In the last year, people with incapacity are 1.77 times more probably experience the domestic abuse (Smith, Colemand, Eder & Hall, 2011).
Disabled people also deals with the domestic violence in the broader context and generally from the others which include their partners, members of family, personal care assistants and also the health care professionals. Disabled people encounters the different dynamics related to the domestic abuse and this includes the severe coercion, control or abuse from the carers. Domestic abuse can also happen in the situation when any other person withholds, destroys or manipulates the equipment related to the medical, access related to the communication, medication, personal care, meals and transportation.
Public Health England published report related to the disability and domestic violence in 2015, and this report reflects the evidence and statistical information related to domestic violence which affects the disabled people. This report highlighted those higher rates of the domestic abuse that is experienced by the domestic abuse.
The differences between the genders while experiencing the domestic abuse are similar to the disabled people also. It can be said that disabled women generally experience more domestic abuse in comparison of the disabled men, and their experience are more frequent and more severe in comparison of the disabled men. However, disability carries more risk related to the domestic abuse, and number of times it is proved that disabled men suffer more domestic abuse as compared to women. Therefore, it can be said that, disabled men experience a similar rate of domestic abuse as disabled women.
Health Inequalities Experienced by Disabled People
In UK, number of barriers is faced by the people with disability in context of seeking the healthcare facilities, which means people with disability are disadvantaged. As per the findings, 1 in 5 people in the UK suffers impairment that is 19% of the people in UK lives with the disability and these people are disadvantaged in lieu of the health care services (Sakellariou & Rotarou, 2017).
There are number of high-income countries in which research is undertaken and in context of this research, people stated that individuals with disabilities have poorer health as compared to those people who does not have disability. It is clearly visible that poorer health of people with the disability is avoided by the authorities and society. It can be said that these differences with the health status of the person reflects inequality in health (The Marmot Review, 2010).
In 2002, comprehensive review was conducted in context of the UK research literature on the health requirements of the disabled people, and it also assess the response given to the disabled people for health services (Elliott et al, 2003). This review was updated in 2010, and as per this updated review researcher focus on the health requirements of the disabled people in UK.
Mortality rates in lieu of the disabled peoples are high as compared to non-disabled people, which mean people with disability expect shorter life and they always suffer with the big risk of the early death. Expectation related to the life is increasing especially for the people suffering from down syndrome, and some evidences are also present which suggest that people with the disabilities approach more difficultly for health services. All the barriers in accessing the health services also contributes in the increasing mortality rate, and as per the data mortality rates are 3 times higher in disabled people as compared to non-disability people. In lieu of young adults mortality rates are particularly high.
Risk related to the children’s are reported by their main carer (generally by their mothers) in context of the poor health, and as per the reports in case of disabled children’s this risk is 2.5-4.5 times more as compared to the other children’s. Almost 1 in every 7 adults stated that their general health is not good (Emerson & Hatton, 2008).
Numbers of evidences are present which states that having a disability prevent some healthcare services, and this happens because of the physical barriers such as ability of the person to access the health care services, misconceptions on the part of the health care staffs, and communication held between the medical professions and individuals are ineffective in nature.
Domestic Violence and Abuse among Disabled People
Poor lifestyle behaviors can result in the long term situations such as disability related to the mental health, and also the issues associated with the physical and learning disabilities.
In 2014, England introduced the care Act, and this Act was introduced for the first time as a clear legal framework and this framework required the local authorities to provide protection through vulnerable adults. In case adults with care and support is suspected with the risk related to the abuse or neglect, then local authority is under obligation to conduct investigation and also take steps to protect them. This also ensures the involvement of the other agencies such as health and the police, and also provides independent support whenever required by the disabled person. In 2015-16, almost 925 complaints in context of the disabled victims were reported to the domestic abuse services in context of adult safeguarding (Safe Lives, 2017).
In 2015, response given by the police and criminal justice system in lieu of domestic abuse, strengthen by the new criminal offence of ‘controlling or coercive behavior in intimate or familial relationships. This new offense is considered as particularly important for the disabled victims because it might be possible that abuser is the only carer of the disabled person who means that abuser gets more opportunity to use the coercion or control.
It might be possible that individual suffer with the mental disability make certain decisions that will prevent the protection from the criminal justice system, and this means that they are not safe. In this context, perpetrator presents the argument that control of the disabled person was in the best interest of the Victim.
Generally, carers reflects themselves as caring heroes in front of the outsiders but in actual they use this tactic to get more control over the disabled person, and this increase difficulty for the victim to expose the abuser and seeks any help in this context. It must be noted that, number of times abusive action of the perpetrators are disregarded by the agencies and professionals by confusing the controlling behavior with the caring behavior.
Equality Act 2010 also provides protection to the disabled people against the abusers in context of the domestic violence and abuse. This also ensures the support provided to the individual with the help of the Independent Domestic Violence Advisor, and access to these advisors is equally available to the disabled people. It is considered as legal requirement of the Act that equality analysis is carried on by the public bodies for the purpose of taken into the account the needs of the disabled people while planning, delivering and commissioning services. Instead of this requirement, services provided by the authorities in context of the domestic abuse are not accessible to the peoples with disability. As per the research, there can be inconsistency among the local authorities handling the matters related to the domestic abuse, and services provided by them to the disabled peoples for this purpose (Department for Work & Pensions, Office for Disabilities, 2014). Inconsistency is also present in the engagement from the primary care services when the domestic abuse help is seek by the disabled people. Further, the absence related to the disability training in context of domestic abuse support services and lack of awareness related to disability abuse in the organizations results in lack of support and help.
Access to Healthcare Services for Disabled People
Views of community related to the health needs and services:
Disabled peoples are considered as the most marginalized and discriminated people as compared to others in the society. Generally, they live in the poverty and poor housing, as they are not able to work and access higher education, and they get very few opportunities to get participate in the social and cultural activities. Systematic reviews across the globe have highlighted the greater risk of violence especially in case of disabled people, by showing that they are substantially more likely to experience the threat related to the violence, physical abuse, and sexual assault.
It must be noted that, there is no exception in domestic abuse also and as per the facts, there are more chances that disabled people will experience physical, sexual, emotional and financial domestic abuse in comparison of the non-disabled people. The abuse suffered by them is generally more frequent in nature and lasts for longer period of time in comparison of the abuse suffered by the non-disabled people. The view point of community in this context is variable in nature as there are number of people who consider the disabled peoples as burden on society and wants to neglect or isolate them. On the other hand,, there are number of people who believes that disabled people are normal human beings and they also possess the right to live their life with complete dignity. These peoples not only provide their immense support in favor of the disabled people but also ensure that they get equal rights in the society (Bashall, 2016).
Stakeholders:
There are number of stakeholders in this context such as community and society in which we survive and sustain. It is important to consider this stakeholder on the priority basis because this is the only place through which change begins.
Second important stakeholder is the organization, authorities, and bodies created by law to deal with these issues. It is also important stakeholder because they are the only one which ensure this goal by monitoring the activities of the community.
Action plan:
Following is the action plan which helps to community to deal with these issues and also improve the position of the disabled people in the society:
- Disabled peoples must get the equal opportunity to get the advantages from the programs initiated by the government, and must ensure that they treat the disabled people in equal manner. In other words, these peoples must not exclude the people with disability from the shelters just because of the reason that they have disability.
- Any shelters provided to the non-disabled people under any program or service must also be provided to the people with disability.
- Community must ensure that they do not put any hurdle in the way of disabled people in accessing their rights (NDV, n.d.).
Conclusion:
After considering the above facts, it can be said that domestic violence and abuse of people with disability is the topic which mainly focuses on people with disability experienced domestic abuse. Such people experience the abuse in wider form and by more number of peoples such as intimate partners, family members, personal care assistants and health care professionals. Peoples with disability experience inequalities in the health and major conditions of health, and also die in younger age as compared to non-disabled people. Domestic violence is considered as those topics in context of the disabled people which is not discussed by the society because society is shy from this topic. There are number of evidences and data which reflect the presence of the domestic violence with the disabled people and disproportionately higher in volume in context of the people with disability.
The Care Act
References:
Bashall, R. (2016). Recognising and supporting disabled victims of domestic abuse. Available at: https://safelives.org.uk/practice_blog/recognising-and-supporting-disabled-victims-domesticabuse. Accessed on 5th June 2018.
Department for Work & Pensions, Office for Disabilities, (2014). Statistics: Disability facts and figures. Department for Work & Pensions, Office for Disabilities. [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-facts-and-figures/disability-facts-and-figures]
Department for Work and Pensions, (2011). Family Resources Survey: United Kingdom 2009-2010. London : Department for Work and Pensions. [https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/family-resources-survey—2].
EHRC, (2017). Being disabled in Britain. Available at: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/being-disabled-in-britain.pdf. Accessed on 5th June 2018.
Elliott J, Hatton C & Emerson E (2003) The health of people with learning disabilities in the UK: evidence and implications for the NHS. Journal of Integrated Care 11 9–17.
Emerson E & Hatton C (2008) Socioeconomic disadvantage, social participation and networks and the self-rated health of English men and women with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities: cross sectional survey. European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 18, PP, 31–7.
Flatley, J., et al. (2010). Crime in England and Wales 2009/2010: Findings from the British Crime Survey and police recorded crime. London : Home Office.
Hague, G., Thiara, R. and Mullender, A., (2010). Disabled Women, Domestic Violence and Social Care: The risk of isolation, vulnerability and neglect. British Journal of Social Work.
Kim, D.H., Sagar, U.N., Adams, S., and Whellan, D.J., (2009). Lifestyle Risk Factors and Utilization of Preventive Services in Disabled Elderly Adults in the Community. Journal of Community Health 34.5: 440-8.
NDV. Domestic Violence & People with Disabilities. Available at: https://www.thehotline.org/is-this-abuse/domestic-violence-disabilities/. Accessed on 5th June 2018.
Office for Disability Issues: HM Government, (2011). Equality Act 2010: Guidance on matters to be taken into accound in determining questions relating to the definition of disability. London. [ https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/odi_definition_of_disability_equality_act_guidance_may.pdf].
Reducing the risk, (2018). Disability. Available at: https://www.reducingtherisk.org.uk/cms/content/disability. Accessed on 5th June 2018.
Safe lives, (2017). Disabled Survivors Too: Disabled people and domestic abuse. Available at: https://safelives.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Disabled%20Survivors%20Too%20CORRECTED.pdf. Accessed on 5th June 2018.
Sakellariou, D. & Rotarou, E. (2017). Access to healthcare for men and women with disabilities in the UK: secondary analysis of crosssectional data. Business Management of Journal, Volume 7(8).
Smith, K., Colemand, K., Eder, S. & Hall, P., (2011). Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2009/10: Supplementary Volume 2 to Crime in England and Wales. Home Office.
Marmot, MG. Allen, J. Goldblatt, P. Boyce, T. McNeish, D. Grady, M. Geddes, I. (2010). Fair society, healthy lives: Strategic review of health inequalities in England post-2010. The Marmot Review: London UK.
United Nations, (2006). UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Available at: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities.html. Accessed on 5th June 2018
Order an Essay Now & Get These Features For Free:
Turnitin Report
Formatting
Title Page
Citation
Outline
