Disability Studies Overview

An umbrella term encompassing impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions.

Interdisciplinary program supporting all aspects of a person's life (physical, emotional, social).

Early treatment often involved isolation and institutionalization, sometimes with negative beliefs (sins or eugenics).

Led to the rise of asylums, based on the idea that disabled people couldn't contribute or fit into society.

Idea from the mid-1800s suggesting that certain disabilities were hereditary. It was eventually rejected.

Segregation and residential institutions (mental hospitals, schools for the blind) were common in Canada.

Institutionalization was shown to be ineffective and unethical in disability treatment.

Christian ethics supported charitable programs, which saw disabled people as dependent.

Disability is caused by societal barriers, not medical issues. This model focuses on changing environments to support disabled people.

Disabled people making their own decisions about their lives, with support services. It emphasizes control and self-determination.

Parents and families actively seeking support and understanding for their disabled children, often facing resistance from professionals.

Federal legislation to improve early diagnosis, access to support services, and financial aid for autistic individuals and their families.

Legislation intended to remove barriers for disabled people in Ontario and prevent new ones.

Act aimed at creating a barrier-free public environment in Ontario by 2025 through legislation.

Despite laws, many disabled people still face poverty, unemployment, isolation, and abuse.

Educational approaches that make learning accessible to a wider range of students with diverse needs.

The practice of supporting individuals with disabilities to navigate barriers, access support, and exercise self-determination. It involves addressing stigma and promoting inclusivity.

Spirituality is a personal search for meaning and connection, while religion is a shared set of beliefs, practices, and traditions.

A holistic approach to understanding a client's well-being by considering their biological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects.

Acknowledging the importance of spirituality and religious beliefs in a client's life when providing social work services.

Social work initially had religious roots, then distanced itself towards scientific practices, but now recognizes the value of integrating spirituality.

An organization promoting the understanding of spiritual and religious factors in social work practice, emphasizing diversity and holistic care.

Giving platform and authority to individuals from underrepresented groups, especially those with disabilities, to share their lived experiences.

Individuals with disabilities taking control of their needs and advocating for themselves, shaping their own choices and decisions.

Spirituality and social justice are not opposing forces; they can be intertwined. Social workers can incorporate a spiritual lens into their anti-oppressive practices.

Spirituality and religion can be important coping mechanisms in many cultures. Social workers should understand how these beliefs affect their clients and refer them to appropriate resources.

Religion and spirituality can help clients make sense of life events, even traumatic ones. Social workers should respect these beliefs even if they don't share them.

Spirituality can aid clients in healing from trauma and potentially growing stronger through their experiences. It can offer support and hope for the future.

This theory emphasizes the connection between human consciousness and something greater than oneself. It focuses on values, spiritual experiences, and personal growth.

Mindfulness is a practice where individuals pay attention to their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment.

Mindfulness-based programs, popularized by Jon Kabat-Zinn, are used to cultivate self-awareness, reduce stress, and improve well-being.

Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) are two popular mindfulness techniques used to improve mental well-being. They are both backed by research and show promise in treating conditions like substance abuse, anxiety, depression, and stress.

Canada's immigration policies have evolved over time, shaped by economic needs, political climate, and social attitudes. Early immigration was driven by industries like fur trade, farming, and lumber. Periods of fear during WWI and the Great Depression significantly impacted immigration. Racial discrimination and exploitation also played a role, leading to restrictions and deportations. The 1967 point system, developed to select immigrants based on skills and qualifications, marked a shift towards merit-based immigration.

Canada's immigration system uses a comprehensive ranking system (CRS) to assess and rank skilled immigrants who wish to live and work in the country. The CRS evaluates factors like education, work experience, language proficiency, and age to determine an applicant's score.

The dominant or host culture in a society is influenced by its attitudes towards immigration and diversity, and how these factors impact its own culture.

Immigrant or heritage cultures focus on preserving their ethnic traditions while navigating interactions with the larger society. This process of acculturation involves balancing the value of maintaining one's heritage culture with building relationships in the new environment.

Acculturation refers to the process of cultural change that happens when two or more cultural groups interact. It involves the exchange of cultural knowledge, leading to adjustments in expectations, attitudes, identity, perception, values, and behaviors within each group.

Acculturation is driven by the interaction between different cultural groups. It's a process of learning and adapting as individuals and groups from different cultures interact with each other.

Acculturation leads to changes in both groups involved. People adopt new customs, beliefs, and behaviors, and their own cultures evolve over time through this process.

Three perspectives on how people adapt to a new culture: Assimilation (adopting the host culture), Integration (blending both cultures), and Rejection (maintaining the original culture).

Acculturation can affect individuals and families in various ways, including changes in self-esteem, cultural identities, and family structure.

The difference in acculturation rates between parents and children, where children tend to adapt faster to the dominant culture.

Factors that help immigrants cope with acculturation, including hope, religion, community, family, education, and a sense of safety.

Four common ways immigrant parents approach acculturation: Unified-Restorative (balancing both cultures), Abandoned-Providential (prioritizing dominant culture), Partitioned-Austere (maintaining home culture), Deprecated-Detached (uninvolved).

The Intercultural Parenting Evaluation (IPE) can be used to assess immigrant families' stability, acculturation, parenting styles, and coping skills.

Challenges faced by immigrant families due to differences in values (collective vs individualistic), concerns about family separation, and potential for intergenerational conflict.

Social workers can use the IPE to understand and support immigrant families by addressing acculturation challenges, promoting adaptation, and building resilience.