eth125_r8_disability_diversity

Associate Program Material                              

 

Aging and Disability Worksheet

 

Part I

 

Identify 2 or 3 issues faced by the aging population.

 

1.      Physical hardships

2.      Unequal treatment

3.      Married to other elderly

 

 

Answer the following questions in 100 to 200 words each. Provide citations for all the sources you use.

 

·         What is ageism? How does ageism influence the presence of diversity in society?

 

Ageism is discrimination against people who are older. This can happen in a number of different ways. This can happen in the workplace, thinking that they are too old to do the job or that they are do old be qualified for the job. They can also be discriminated against in different ways that other people don't even notice. Ageism hinders diversity when people of a certain age aren't accepted into a certain group of people. When somebody is "too old" to be accepted they might not get the respect or equal opportunities that they deserve in a certain situation.

 

 

·         What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? How does the ADA address issues for the aging population?

 

The Americans with Disabilities Act was an act that was brought into play in 1990. It prohibited discrimination based on disability and other things such as religion, sex, and race. This means that for people who are older, it is illegal for them to be denied a job simply because of their age. This means the it makes them more able to get a job and contribute, not only to society, but to their own life by working and moving up in their jobs because they have more experience and are more qualified for the job, whereas before they might have been help back simply because of their age.

 

 

·         What is being done to address the issues you identified?

 

There have been many laws implemented and policies implemented to deal with different types of discrimination against age. Before these policies were in play it was much harder for a person of old age to get a job and their old age may have been a major factor that held them back in a certain job placement. Today there has been les discrimination and more understanding that age is just a number and that just because somebody is older doesn't mean that they might not do the job as well, but they might actually do better at the job because they have more experience.

 

 

·         Is the number of aging population expected to rise in numbers or decrease?

 

The number of ageing people in the world is expected to increase; this is for a different number of reasons. One of the main and most obvious reasons is that people are living longer. This deals with better types of medical treatment, different types of technology, and better understanding of what is going on in people's lives. Many people years back would get an illness and not survive because society didn't have the technology or the resources to deal with it. In today's technology-ruled society we have much better medical care and abilities that allow us to make people live longer, and not only live longer but healthier and more responsive in old age.

 

 

·         What types of legislation may or may not be affected by the aging population?

 

Legislation as been greatly affected by ageism and older people in our society. Since we have been living longer, age discrimination as been forced to change its views on what is "old" and what isn't. The ADA has been a huge help to those who are older in promoting equal rights and equal opportunities to people who are of older age, and it helps them with not only legally getting jobs and promotions in the workplace, but being accepted socially within society. Businesses can't refuse work to somebody simply because of their age and because of this there are many people who are getting not only employment, but better employment through companies who respect this legislation.

 

 

·         How does poverty affect the aging population?

 

Poverty affects the aging population because there are many different factors that contribute to a person being in poverty. One of the biggest things is once a person retires; they aren't working anymore and therefore have no source of income. Coupled with this is the rising inflation of prices and expenses that it takes to live. The same person who retired 20 years ago will not have the same expenses of a person who retired 40 or 5 years ago because prices of different things go up so much, in general. Inflation must be taken into account when a person retires because prices don't remain the same for many things and they more often than not get higher.

 

 

 

 

Part II

 

Answer the following questions in 100 to 200 words each. Provide citations for all the sources you use.

 

·         What does the ADA provide for people with disabilities?

 

The ADA provides people with disabilities more equal rights in a variety of different settings. For example, if somebody needs a service animal to get around and help them with their daily lives, the might get denied access and help in stores. The APA protects them and makes it possible for people with not only service animals, but other disabilities that require different attention to be able to utilize different stores and services that people with disabilities use every day. In the past many people with disabilities have been treated differently and have even been denied service because of their disability and the ADA protects them from this type of discrimination and makes it easier for them to do everyday things.

 

 

·         How have people with disabilities been treated in the past?

 

People with disabilities have been treated differently for many years. They have been looked down upon, thought as lesser or challenged, and have even been denied service and help at many places where people without disabilities go every day. Since the implementation of laws that require everybody to get equal rights, they have been treated much better and much more equal. Although, there is still prejudice in modern society against those who have disabilities, it has gotten much better, legally, over the past 30 years. Society will continue to be more accepting and willing to help those with disabilities and stop thinking of them as so different in years to come and awareness helps with issues like this.

 

 

·         How has the attitude toward people with disabilities changed over time?

The attitude towards those with disabilities has changed over time and in today's society we are much more accepting of those with disabilities than in the years before. Every major building that you go into has handicapped buttons that those with disabilities can press to open the door for them, and not only that but there are many wheelchair accessible buildings as well. It is not lawful for a building to not be open to those with wheelchairs and other disabilities and the ADA has had a big impact on those with disabilities and helping them get equal rights. As the years go by society will become even easier for those with disabilities.  

 

 

 

 

·         What are some unique circumstances or issues encountered by people with disabilities?

 

There are many unique circumstances that people with disabilities encounter and just one of them is service animals. I lived with a disabled woman for a few months and she had a service dog. Normally businesses do not allow animals into the stores that we would go into, for example grocery stores, but since she had a certificate and the dog was licensed as a service dog, she was allowed to bring her into different businesses. This is not the only type of issue or circumstance with disabled people. There are also buttons for people to press to open doors, ramps for those in wheelchairs, and other types of help at businesses to make it easier for those with disabilities to access their services.

 

 

·         What is being done to address those issues?

 

There are many different things that are being done to address issues that have to do with those with disabilities. Accepting those with disabilities may be accepting those with service animals and allowing them into different stores, it may be inst5alling a wheelchair ramp at the front a building to help those with a wheelchair into the building, it may also be installing buttons for disabled people to open the door for them. I see these implementations all over and in all major buildings to help those with disabilities get around and use everyday things easier. The ADA is also a big player in helping people with disabilities. 

 

 

·         What types of legislation have been introduced to address issues faced by people with disabilities?

 

The ADA was signed which put in place different anti-discrimination laws for those with disabilities. I got help from the 1960's civil rights movement in getting power and getting signed because it demanded equal rights for people with disabilities. It allows people to not be discriminated against simply because of their disability, which means it is easier for them to get jobs, access buildings by use of ramps or buttons for example, and take advantage of funded programs which also help them. There have also been different types of assistance programs which help people with disabilities stay on their feet with employers and society.