Disability Wellness

Despite the advances of humankind, responses to meet the needs and interest of persons with circumstances of disability, continue  to be modelled on historical and traditional social models and approaches to addressing disability issues.  There are many aspects of those models, but they are usually premised upon notions of either a medical interpretation or a social obligation.

Within the confines of these models, persons with disabilities, and persons affected by disability issues can find themselves relegated to a life of submission to funding programs, underscored by charity and social services, and infiltrated and tempered with political correctness, sometimes even to the point of smacking of corruption.  Consequently,  in many cases persons with disabilities are increasingly  finding themselves reduced to being an exploitable economic or political commodity, often grouped under the guise of a non government agency.   Even more disconcerting is that these traditional medical and social models and approaches to addressing disability needs can become so entrenched and powerful that the very people who are intended to benefit from them submit to live by their rules  without questioning  their integrity for fear of losing whatever accommodations or advocacy services they might be receiving. It is indeed hard-pressed to argue that there is a reasonable state of wellness in disability in such circumstances.

Clearly, circumstances of  disability are inherent in our human evolution and social structure. To put this into modern context and demographics,  it is estimated that  500 million people on earth  today are seen to be disabled.   By 2024 it is estimated  that 40% of North Americans will be seen as disabled.  In Canada,  that amounts to close to 5 million persons, with the likelihood of that number naturally increasing amongst our aging  population.  Another way of looking at it is to expect that 1 in 2 people will be affected by disability in the course of their life.   We therefore, cannot continue to afford relying upon traditional models and approaches to addressing the presence, needs, interests and abilities of persons affected by circumstances of disability.  Nor can we afford to ignore the current state of affairs and trends regarding the  increasing population of persons with disabilities in society. 

Still not convinced? See: http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/statistics/

                                         http://www.oecd.org/document/36/