Analyzing Disability's Impact on Reproductive and Social Well-being

This essay provides an overview of how disability impacts reproductive and social health, discussing both the medical and social models of disability. It highlights the attitudinal and environmental barriers faced by individuals with disabilities and their families, leading to discrimination in housing, healthcare, education, and employment. The essay emphasizes the importance of addressing misconceptions and ensuring equal access to sexual and reproductive health services, as well as the need for policy changes to protect the rights and well-being of disabled individuals. It also touches on the social isolation, risk of sexual abuse, and poorer health outcomes experienced by this population compared to the general population. Desklib provides a platform for students to access this essay and many other solved assignments for their academic needs.

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REPRODUCTIVE AND SOCIAL HEALTH
by Student’s Name
Class/Course/Code
Professor’s Name
University/School
City, State
Date

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Disability
Disability is defined as the limitation of an individual’s cognitive, physical, developmental, and
sensory processing, which does not allow an individual to perform his daily task effectively
(National Disability Strategy Consultation Report, 2009).
1- In medical model, the fundamental focus on biological basis of disability i.e., the
disability is due to body malfunctioning or impairment. Whereas, social model states
that the root of disability is in the social environment in which the individual lives
(Marks, 1997).
2- Standardized medical definitions are used to examine the prevalence of diagnosis and
impart services, facilities, and treatment to the individual. Social model of disability
helps to eradicate discrimination based on functional differences and highlights the
importance of providing equity.
3- The medical model is being criticized because of its failure in explaining social
context i.e., the social hierarchy, legislation, nature of the environment.
4- The social model of disability is lacking in providing the reason behind the
oppressive acts and practices. Moreover, environmental adaptation may be useful for
one kind of disabled individuals and not for other disabled people.
5- As the Social model of disability argued that the cause of most of the limitations and
oppression acts faced by disabled individuals are due to the social environment.
Hence, this model of disability struggled to eliminate sexual discrimination and to
revive equity. However, this model fosters aid in providing health care and education
without discrimination for disabled people.
A- Impact of attitudinal and environmental barriers on:

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1- The attitudinal and environmental barriers have a strong impact on people with
disabilities, now these people have acknowledged them; they are asking for their
rights like everyone else in society.
2- Due to attitudinal and environmental barriers, their family members and carers are
facing a lot of trouble in the form of financial problems and lack of facilities. They
are also being discriminated in all areas involving housing, health care, education,
and job.
3- Services for disabled individuals and their families and friends are usually very
limited but, now the consultants are providing these people with a large amount of
funding so they can enjoy better support and services.
B- Social attitudinal and environmental barrier. Societal attitudes added up to problems
for them to acquire proper sexual expressions (National Disability Strategy, 2010–2020).
A community does not allow disabled people to have the same reproductive and sexual
rights.
1- Misconceptions of the health professionals about disability, lack of resources,
discrimination and the lack of availability of early interventions are the reasons that
contribute to poorer access to health services by people with disabilities in
comparison with the general population.
2- Social isolation, poor education, high risk of sexual abuse, abortion, sterilization,
sexual health screening, , and sexually transmitted infections are common in disabled
people as compare to the general population which reduces the life span of disabled
people.

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3- The policy area is covering all the rights of disabled people. It is also providing the
right for health and wellbeing which means it is providing sexual and reproductive
health care as well which is being discussed as an issue (Estagate, 2008).

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References
Estagate, G. (2008). Sexual health for people with intellectual Disability. Salud Publica Max,
50(2), 255-259.
Marks, D. (1997). Models of disability. Disability and Rehabilitation, 19(3), 85-91. DOI:
10.3109/09638289709166831.
National Disability Strategy Consultation Report (2009) Shut out: The Experience of People with
Disabilities and their Families in Australia [Online]. Available from
https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/disability-and-carers/program-services/government-
international/national-disability-strategy-shut-out-report
National Disability Strategy (2010–2020) Disability and career [Online]. Available from
https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/disability-and-carers/publications-articles/policy-
research/national-disability-strategy-2010-2020