The Stigma of Mental Disabilities - 773 Words

The concept of desirability has divided society in two groups. One group has been categorized as the higher- achiever and the other group as the low-achievers. This comparison has been embedded into society for so many years. During the 50’s it was used to protect white middle-class students. Today is mostly used to described people who have mental or physical impairments. Sleeter and Longmore researched how the concept of disability has had a negative development through the US society. Sleeter tries to answer the question of why LD category was created? It was way to protect those white children who had low learning achievement during the 50’s and 60’s. Parents did not what their children to be classified as mental retarded, as many†¦show more content†¦All they want is to take part of society as a normal individual. The disability-movement has fought for the disabilities rights throughout the years and has achieved goals such as accommodation of architectural infrastructures to serve better people who are physical impairments. The public policies have been great accomplishments because it has helped people with disabilities to be part of society. The disability-movement points out the healthcare finance policies have taken freedom away from the disability community, â€Å" Health-care financing policies force disabled people into Institutions and nursing homes rather than funding independent living. Income-maintenance and public health-in surance policies include â€Å"disincentives† that penalize disabled individuals for trying to work productively.†(p.4). The government has done a great job on protecting disabled individuals’ rights. However, the health-care system has isolated this group even more by restricting the level of productivity that they have within the system, as a result this medical model marginalizes this group of people and this program available for this community does not fully address their issues. Society does not understand the proper way to treat the disability community. What I understood from Longmore writing is our society has come a long way to include people with disabilities into our society. Public policies have been successful and has been a big stepShow MoreRelatedThe Social Impact Of Stigma Surrounding Physical And Mental Disability1828 Words   |  8 PagesThe Social Impact of Stigma Surrounding Physical and Mental Disability Of those who know me well, a small number eventually find out that I am bipolar. It s not something I advertise to the public, and it has, at times, been an enormously debilitating force in my life. Even though I am educated about my problems and know better, many times I have berated myself harshly for my weakness or even found fault in my very existence. Early on, I doubted my right to live based upon the difficulties inherentRead MoreThe Stigma Of Invisible Disabilities. Invisible Disabilities1650 Words   |  7 PagesThe Stigma of Invisible Disabilities Invisible disabilities are exactly what they seem to be: hidden from view. Invisible disabilities come in almost endless varieties, including mental illnesses, HIV, AIDS, diabetes, learning disabilities, epilepsy, and more. While there may be visible components to these disabilities, all of them can be virtually invisible and â€Å"hidden† from view. People often make assumptions based on what is visibly seen, so when someone is suffering from something invisibleRead MoreMental Illnesses And Mental Health1165 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction World Health Organization (WHO, 2014) defines Mental health as a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. Whereas Mental illnesses (MI) are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood or behavior associated with significant distress and impaired functioning (Health Canada, 2012). MI affects people of all agesRead MoreChildren With Disabilities And Disabilities Essay1276 Words   |  6 PagesDisability is not inability is a common phrase many people understand today. 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There will be a focus on some of the experiences a person suffering from mental illness might have in society, theRead MoreThe Stigma Of Children With Mental Illness1608 Words   |  7 Pagesnegative association with mental illness. This stigma creates a negative feedback loop in how society views people with psychiatric disabilities. Media portrays people with mental illness as scary, bad, dangerous, unpredictable, and un-educated. Th ese views cause people to shy away and fear the mentally ill. This stigma also affects a person’s willingness to seek help when they are experiencing a mental illness. Some cultures, such as Hispanic Catholics, may not recognize mental illness as a healthRead MoreDisability Impact Essay876 Words   |  4 PagesImpact of organizations on people with disability In 1972 Coordinating Councils for the Disabled were set up in the four fundamental focuses, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington. 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The process of recognizingRead MoreThe Stigma Of Mental Health Care Essay1711 Words   |  7 PagesMental health issues have been an ongoing hot topic in this country for over a century. Though many strides have been made to increase awareness and lessen the stigma, there continues to be a barrier to mental health care, especially for our nations’ youth and young adults. I will be discussing the history behind mental health care, current policies regarding it, how the presence of stigma reduces the likelihood that youth and young adults are receiving the adequate mental health care they requireRead MoreAttitudes Towards Disabled People Are Not Exactly Ideal.1521 Words   |  7 PagesSome people might argue that society has changed so much that disability awareness is no longer a big issue. I understand that society has become more accepting overtime but disability awareness is still a big issue. 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