Background
Human health is more important than all other aspects of life. Nations and individuals have different ways of preventing the spread of diseases and managing them to ensure they do not have serious effects on them (Gaad 57). This essay presents a report of the research conducted in Abu Dhabi to evaluate the changes, challenges, and opportunities regarding access to quality health care services by people with disabilities.
Definitions
A disability is a problem or situation that interferes with the normal life of an individual and hinders the person from doing what other people do. The problem may be mental, physical, or emotional, depending on the nature of the situation and how it affects an individual. This report will focus on the physical disabilities of patients seeking medical services in private hospitals.
Social Construct of Disability
The Abu Dhabi society has changed its perceptions and attitudes towards people with disabilities. These people were marginalised and discriminated against a decade ago because society believed that they were a burden that wastes public resources (Gaad 59). Society believes that people who have disabilities cannot do any constructive work; instead, they rely on others for social and economic support. However, public awareness campaigns have intensified and transformed the public’s opinion regarding these people. The people interviewed agreed that a lot has been done to improve the lives of these victims.
Problems with Inadequate Representation of Identity and Disability
The National Disability Report Centre recorded a poor representation and reporting of people with disabilities. The study revealed that disabled people do not dare to visit public offices and report their cases. The stigma associated with their disabilities instilled fear and lowered their self-esteem. Therefore, they still believe that society has not accepted them. The national census conducted in 2011 estimated that 12% of the population of Abu Dhabi had physical disabilities. The centre has pushed the government to establish policies that ensure disabled people access public services without restrictions.
Cultural Perceptions of Disability
The culture of Abu Dhabi did not recognise people with disabilities because they were treated as burdens. People discriminated against them in places of work and public facilities. The fact that an individual had a disability made him a burden to society. Family members had poor attitudes towards those with disabilities and this explains the low reporting and inadequate representation in various issues. A good example is Hassan Ghazi, who did not access public services due to his disability. Thousands of other people like him continue to suffer in silence because their cultures do not recognise them.
Services Available
The last decade has witnessed and ushered tremendous changes that made life easier for people with disabilities. Disabled people in Seha get their full rights and access to high-quality health care services. Racism and other forms of discrimination in public –places have reduced significantly. The movement of disabled people has been eased by the introduction of wheelchairs in public places, special parking for their vehicles, and contractors are supposed to pay attention to the needs of these people and ensure their buildings meet the prescribed standards (Anati and Ain 76). The survey revealed that people with disabilities are now living and enjoying life just like their counterparts.
Models, Decisions, and Policies
The Abu Dhabi government has managed to improve the lives of people with disabilities through different approaches. First, a robust campaign was launched to educate the public on the need to respect, love, and help people with disabilities to ensure they live happily. These people are allowed to apply for jobs and work in the public sector without discrimination. Wheelchairs and other technology-based assistive services are available in public places to enable these people to access the services they require from different institutions (Gaad 61). The government established funds and insurance covers for disabled people. Disabled people have the right and freedom of communicating to the public and express their opinions regarding various issues that affect their lives. There is a financial punishment for those who violate these policies or use disabled people’s cards to access public services.
The Experience of Disability
Disabled people have for a long time suffered due to negligence by society and government. Those who live in the rural areas suffer more than their colleagues in urban centres because of the poor infrastructure and limited public awareness regarding their conditions (Anati and Ain 81). However, being disabled does not mean that the victim cannot perform ordinary jobs. Disabled individuals are usually discriminated against in public places because most people do not value them. However, it is wrong to assume that a person with physical disabilities cannot become a service public. These individuals are normal people just like others except for their physical disabilities. They can perform even better than normal ones if they are given equal opportunities to showcase their skills.
Facts and Phenomenology
The facts of the disabled population in Abu Dhabi reveal that this country needs to do a lot more to combat the problems facing people with disabilities. The education enrolment rate for people with disabilities is 23%, 14%, and 8% for primary, secondary and college, or university levels. An improvement of public expenditure by 13% means that disabled people will access more high-quality services (Anati and Ain 85). Women and people living in rural areas constitute a significant percentage of people living with disabilities, yet they cannot access high-quality services due to cultural and economic barriers.
Works Cited
Anati, Nisreen M. and Al Ain. “Including Students with Disabilities in UAE Schools: A Descriptive Study.” International Journal of Special Education 27.2 (2012): 75-85. Print.
Gaad, Eman. “The Teacher Assistant Programme across the UAE: Empower to Include.” Journal of International Education Research 11.1 (2015): 57-62. Print.