People with physical and/or mental disabilities face unfair treatment and obstacles that hinder opportunities in their daily lives. To cross the bridge from negligence to assistance, we must educate ourselves and raise awareness about these issues and implement solutions so they can live their lives to the fullest.
In recent years, millions of disabled people in California have faced high poverty rates, a lack of accommodations, and low employment rates, which prevent them from having equal access to certain opportunities in society. Many actions have been taken to address this, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which protects any physically or mentally impaired person from discrimination. Furthermore, California state laws, such as the California Fair employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and the Disabled Persons Act, aim to fully prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in public life.
However, this has unfortunately not been the case. Over 54% of discrimination protests in California alone were related to the unfair treatment of those with disabilities, revealing systemic inequities. It is imperative to recognize the challenges that those with physical or mental disabilities face and work toward preventing any further accounts of discrimination in the future. Today, everyone must stand with the disabled around the globe—if nobody stands for them now, who will?
Unwarranted treatment of people with physical disabilities is still blatantly occurring across a spectrum of professions, such as in assisted living facilities and dental services for children. One instance of discrimination against individuals who are hard of hearing in living facilities took place at Oakland Management Group, where numerous staff members were found to have illegally rejected requests to accommodate those who needed American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. Complaints have also been issued against thirty other assisted living communities operated by the group.
This is only one example of the unfair treatment that those hard of hearing face. Deaf people often have limited access to information about current events, such as political affairs, leaving them at a disadvantage when making informed decisions like voting. In general, deaf people lack sufficient means for effective communication in public, such as subtitles or language interpreters, which leads to constant marginalization and prejudice.
Furthermore, children with disabilities, such as Down syndrome and autism, often do not have access to adequate dental care services that fulfill their individual needs the same way neurotypical children do. During dental procedures, they may sometimes experience heightened sensitivity to their environment, which requires more attention and care than they currently receive as patients. Children with disabilities often struggle with communication during these situations and face a higher risk of oral hygiene complications, which is detrimental later on in their lives.
Not only do people with disabilities face discrimination in the healthcare field, but also in schools. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the number of disability discrimination complaints has reached a six year peak, amassing over 6,000 complaints. Students with disabilities often experience exclusion and have been unable to attain a free, appropriate public education. This education is expected to offer disabled students the same learning opportunities as other children by tailoring to the disabled child’s specific needs. However, an appropriate public education is unachievable for many individuals with disabilities due to disability discrimination, which prevents their unique needs from being accommodated.
One example is the story of a young boy named Sam, who struggles with several disabilities, including partial hearing loss and cri du chat syndrome. He also has to use a wheelchair. Sam didn’t have a special education teacher to direct him during his prekindergarten class, so he often struggled to communicate with his instructors, leading to his exclusion from classroom activities his peers got to participate in.
Even though there were a few reforms to improve the lives of those with disabilities, such as adding a wheelchair-accessible bus for the school, Sam still didn’t have access to an ASL instructor because he didn’t meet the law’s requirement for being hard of hearing. Tabitha, Sam’s mother, has heard many theories from others that Sam can physically hear, which justifies the lack of an ASL instructor.
This understandably frustrates Tabitha, as Sam can hear some sounds but not all essential information from class. Sam is one of many children who face discrimination for having disabilities, which hinders not only his social development but also his academic progression.
Thousands of disabled people are struggling to live their lives as respected human beings, as they are constantly being confronted with discrimination, a lack of communication, and negative stereotypes. However, we are disregarding the challenges these people face beyond their disabilities. To take a stand for those with disabilities, it is crucial to become educated on these topics, spread awareness, and support policy change. Stereotypes and stigma stem from misinformation and ignorance.
By interacting with those who are disabled and earnestly researching the different types of disabilities, you can uncover the truth, shove aside assumptions and misconceptions, and teach others. Learning about disability rights both on the federal and state levels can help our voices to be heard to advocate and vote for inclusive policies. These policies may include the construction of elevators and smooth pathways for the physically weakened, better accessibility of FM systems, which provide aid for those with hearing loss, and other adaptive devices.
By contributing to and partnering with nonprofits and advocacy groups working on disability issues, you can make an impact. The Arc and The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) are among some of the most notable organizations that have been advocating for policy changes to accommodate people with disabilities. The Arc has been promoting fair housing, education, Medicaid, and more while the AAPD has been supporting community integration and transportation for those with disabilities in addition to spreading the Movement for Disability Rights and Justice. You can make yourself and the community around you a safe space free of discrimination. Foster inclusion, promote representation and empower those with disabilities by championing products and services that are accessible to everyone.