Disability Studies: Review of Articles on Employment and Bullying

This report provides a comprehensive review of two articles related to disability studies. The first article, "An ecological approach to understand barriers to employment for youth with disabilities compared to their typically developing peers: views of youth, employers and job counsellors," examines t...Read More

ARTICLE REVIEW

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
ARTICLE 1......................................................................................................................................1
Summary of article.......................................................................................................................1
Critique of the article...................................................................................................................2
Contribution to the field of disability studies..............................................................................2
ARTICLE 2......................................................................................................................................3
Summary of article.......................................................................................................................3
Critique of the article...................................................................................................................3
Contribution to the field of disability studies..............................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Disability is the physical, mental and intellectual impairment that affect the person’s life
activities (Problem Faced by Physically Challenged Persons and their Awareness towards
Welfare Measures, 2013). Present study is based on two articles i.e. “Bullying among youth with
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD” and “An ecological approach to understand barriers to
employment for youth with disabilities compared to their typically developing peers: views of
youth, employers and job counsellors”. Current report will systematically review these articles
and will explain their contribution in the field of disability.
ARTICLE 1
Summary of article
The article “An ecological approach to understand barriers to employment for youth with
disabilities compared to their typically developing peers: views of youth, employers and job
counsellors” explores issues faced by disabled persons in finding employment opportunities as
compared to typically developing peer group members (Lindsay and et.al, 2015). Disability may
be physical or mental that makes the person incapable to do some activities that are performed by
normal people in the society easily. Common physical disabilities are like blindness, paralysis,
etc. It is very difficult for the physically challenged individuals to use vehicles and perform their
work independently. Many employers think that such persons are unable to work better in offices
as compared to other developed team members. Thus, they don’t hire such candidates in their
firm.
This article describes employment issues and negative attitude of other peers faced by
disabled person. Sometimes, they do not find correct job and many a times, such candidates are
bullying by other team members. They are discriminated by other groups which make them
unable to perform their work effectively. The study has shed light on implications for
rehabilitation. It has been identified that youth should develop their self-confidence and
communication skill so that they can give proper response to others if they are discriminating
them. It is very important to be aware with their rights. Government has to make effective
policies and should give volunteer opportunities to such individuals so that they can show their
skills. This can build their confidence and will support them to grow in life (Lindsay and et.al,
2015).
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The study has been done by using qualitative methods and has used interview technique
in order to gather information about issues faced by disabled individuals. Researcher has
involved 31 youth respondents (16 developing and 15 disable answerers). It has been identified
that disabled youth has to face negative attitude. Many a times, their family and social networks
act as barrier to get suitable job. System level barriers are the major issues for such persons. Poor
support from government and ineffective policies also create issues for them in order to live their
life easily as per own choice.
Critique of the article
As per the view of Heller, (2017) disabled persons have to face socio / psychological
challenges. Society members pass unnecessary comments on their disability which hurt them a
lot. Many times, people use derogatory words that emotionally hurt their feelings. .Lindsay and
et.al, (2015) argued that discrimination is the major issue for disabled persons. Such persons
cannot use vehicles and it is problematic for them to travel in public transports. Using modern or
rural toilets is another physical challenge for such people. One of the major issues faced by these
individuals is that they cannot participate in social activities successfully.
According to Fine and Asch, (2018) employment opportunities are secondary challenges
for them but the primary issue faced by these people is related with social aspects and beliefs.
Such people do not get equal chance to complete their education in normal schools. Culture and
traditions make their life as a nightmare. It is very important to make effective policies in the
favour of these persons so that they can get equal chances in society (Problem Faced by
Physically Challenged Persons and their Awareness towards Welfare Measures, 2013).
As the present article has involved 31 youth only, if scholar had involved more
respondents then, this would support in getting in-depth information about subject matter.
Lindsay and et.al., (2015) has stated that use of Bronfrebrenner’s ecological framework is a
suitable technique that can help in getting positive outcomes.
Contribution to the field of disability studies
This research paper has contributed well in the field of disability. It has clearly described
the economic challenges faced by disabled persons in society (Lindsay and et.al, 2015). The
study has focused on only employment barriers. Other authors can use this study as baseline for
conducting research in the future on disability. It has sufficient information about bullying issues
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and challenges faced by such individuals. Hence, the study has contributed well in the field of
disability.
ARTICLE 2
Summary of article
The article “Bullying among youth with Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD)” is study in
field of disability. It is the development disorder that creates difficulty for person to
communication properly with others. In this disability, individuals get failed to get developed
normally. Symptoms of this illness generally appear in first two years in babies. The research
paper described that disable individuals are bullied by peer group. The study has shown that
ASD students are at high risk (Zweers, Scholte and Didden, 2017). They always receive negative
behaviour from their peer group members. Many times, they pass useless comments on their
health which impact on their mental status as well.
They are abnormal children and sometimes get failed to understand the behaviour of
others. Thus, it is very difficult to identify whether ASD people get affected by bully or not. The
article has clearly stated that there are various types of bulling: negative action by others, misuse
of power etc. There are many individuals those who physical bully disabled persons just to show
their power. They hit and kick them. Verbal bullying is another type of action in which they
make fun of them verbally in front of normal people (Zweers, Scholte and Didden, 2017).
The study has shown that due to ASD issue, these individuals are unable to communicate
well with others. Authorities are required to take proper action to stop this bullying so that
confidence of disable persons can build up. In such condition, many of the patients face stress
which impact on their mental status as well. Results have shown that there are 33% disabled
people who faced physical bullying in school. 50% of individuals have faced verbal and 31%
persons were analysed with relational school victimization. Maxim school students with ASD
face verbal bullying by their peers.
Critique of the article
As per the view of Mackelprang, Salsgiver and Salsgiver, (2016) people with learning
disability have to face worst physical health and sometimes, such individuals die in early age as
well. The study has shown that disabled people suffer from high rate of obesity, heart disease,
stroke, etc. They cannot understand the benefits of good health because of their disability.
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People with bipolar disorder majorly suffer from hypertension, breast cancer, etc. Fine and Asch,
(2018) argued that disabled people are excluded from society; they do not get equal rights. Such
persons have to depend upon family members for performing their daily routine work (Problem
Faced by Physically Challenged Persons and their Awareness towards Welfare Measures,
2013). Heller, (2017) argued that study has covered only one disease and only bullying aspects.
Quantitative analysis is effective tool to deal with this subject matter.
According to Lindsay and et.al., (2015) use of quantitative methods in order to find out
issues faced by disable persons is the best way to get optimistic results. Quantitative studies use
statistical calculation in order to identify the severity of risk. By this way, it can be identified that
major barriers create problem for such individuals. The present article is descriptive in nature
and it has only concentrated on ASD illness and bullying issues for such people. There are only
17 studies that have met the inclusion criteria. If more research papers have been included then it
would give more appropriate results.
Contribution to the field of disability studies
The “Bullying among youth with Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD)” has contributed well
in the field of disability. By this way, other scholars have got brief idea about ASD and its
symptoms. It has helped in identifying the barriers for disabled individuals to live a normal life
and gaining positive experience (Zweers, Scholte and Didden, 2017). This research paper has
contributed well in promoting the interest of disabled persons and identifying their needs. The
study has shed light on Autism spectrum disorder and on the reason that why disabled
individuals have to face negative attitude from society members. Student life of these persons
and their atmosphere has been described clearly in this article that has helped in addressing needs
of disable people with finding suitable solutions to improve their conditions.
CONCLUSION
From the above research, it can be concluded that there are many studies that have been
conducted on disabilities which clearly explore that disable people have to face many issues that
give them bad life experiences. Bullying and difficulties in finding correct jobs are the barriers in
development of individuals.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Davis, L. J., 2016. The disability studies reader. Routledge.
Fine, M. and Asch, A., 2018. Disabled women: Sexism without the pedestal. In Women and
Disability (pp. 6-22). Routledge.
Heller, 2017. Service and Support Needs of Adults Aging with Intellectual/Developmental
Disabilities.
Lindsay, S. and et.al., 2015. An ecological approach to understanding barriers to employment for
youth with disabilities compared to their typically developing peers: views of youth,
employers, and job counselors. Disability and rehabilitation. 37(8). pp.701-711.
Mackelprang, R. W., Salsgiver, R. O. and Salsgiver, R., 2016. Disability: A diversity model
approach in human service practice. Oxford University Press.
Zweers, I., Scholte, R. and Didden, R., 2017. Bullying Among Youth with Autism Spectrum
Disorders. In Handbook of Social Skills and Autism Spectrum Disorder (pp. 45-61).
Springer, Cham.
Online
Problem Faced By Physically Challenged Persons and Their Awareness towards Welfare
Measures. 2013. [Online]. Available through
<http://www.ijird.com/index.php/ijird/article/viewFile/35954/29136>.
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