1
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Tompkins J, Connors H, Robinson D. Seize the Data: An Analysis of Guardianship Annual Reports. J Aging Soc Policy 2024:1-18. [PMID: 38704667 DOI: 10.1080/08959420.2024.2349494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Courts have a legal and ethical duty to monitor adult guardianship cases to protect the rights of individuals with guardians. Aging and disability advocates have been recommending improvements to adult guardianship monitoring for decades. The aim of this study is to examine annual guardianship reporting procedures in each state. Using the National Guardianship Association's (NGA) Standards of Practice as a guide, we summarize what is missing from adult guardianship annual report forms in each state. Since 2000, the NGA Standards have been the benchmark for guiding guardianship best practices, making it a valuable tool for guardianship reporting and monitoring. Results show that most states are not collecting thorough data on adults with guardians, their guardians, or the guardian-client relationship. Additionally, many existing annual report forms may be difficult to complete due to confusing question structure and reading levels that are above the national average, especially since most adult guardians are nonprofessional guardians. Improved reporting procedures would help courts monitor guardianships more effectively, ensure that the rights of individuals with guardians are being protected, and provide meaningful data on the overall state of guardianship. Limitations and plans for future research are also discussed.
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2
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Shikako K, Lai J, Yoo PY, Teachman G, Majnemer A. Evidence-informed stakeholder consultations to promote rights-based approaches for children with disabilities. Front Rehabil Sci 2024; 5:1322191. [PMID: 38742042 PMCID: PMC11089101 DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2024.1322191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Purpose To strengthen the translation of evidence to actionable policy, stakeholder engagement is necessary to synthesize, prioritize and contextualize the academic research content into accessible language. In this manuscript we describe a multi-level evidence-based stakeholder consultation process and related outcomes proposed to promote awareness of and foster cross-sectorial collaborations towards human rights-based approaches for children with disabilities. Methods Mixed-methods participatory action research done in three steps: (1) A literature review of peer-reviewed evidence on rights-based approaches in childhood disabilities; (2) Consultation with researchers in diverse fields, grassroot organizations, caregivers, and youth with disabilities; (3) A constructive dialogue with decision makers at federal and provincial levels in Canada to discuss consultations results. Results Stakeholders value human rights approaches that can have a direct impact on practical aspects of their daily living. Organizations give high importance to adopting rights-based approaches to measure policy outcomes, while parents value service provision and youth emphasize accessibility. Conclusion The implementation of rights-based approaches in childhood disabilities can support policy, services, and daily lives of children with disabilities and the ecosystems around them. It can also guide research priorities, and create a common language to foster collaborations across sectors and interested parties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Shikako
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jonathan Lai
- Autism Alliance of Canada and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME), Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Paul Y. Yoo
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gail Teachman
- School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Annette Majnemer
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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3
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Abstract
Patient narratives from two investigational deep brain stimulation trials for traumatic brain injury and obsessive-compulsive disorder reveal that injury and illness rob individuals of personal identity and that neuromodulation can restore it. The early success of these interventions makes a compelling case for continued post-trial access to these technologies. Given the centrality of personal identity to respect for persons, a failure to provide continued access can be understood to represent a metaphorical identity theft. Such a loss recapitulates the pain of an individual's initial injury or illness and becomes especially tragic because it could be prevented by robust policy. A failure to fulfill this normative obligation constitutes a breach of disability law, which would view post-trial access as a means to achieve social reintegration through this neurotechnological accommodation.
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4
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Whaley BA, Martinis JG, Pagano GF, Barthol S, Senzer J, Williamson PR, Blanck PD. The Americans with Disabilities Act and Equal Access to Public Spaces. Laws 2024; 13:5. [PMID: 38529328 PMCID: PMC10961913 DOI: 10.3390/laws13010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Since the passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the United States federal government, states, and localities have passed laws and created policies intended to ensure that people with disabilities had full and equal access to public spaces. Nevertheless, more than three decades after the ADA, people with disabilities continue to face architectural and other barriers to community inclusion and participation. This article describes laws, policies, and initiatives that are implemented in the United States at the federal, state, and local levels to address these barriers, examines their effectiveness, and describes the views of advocates working in furtherance of the rights of people with disabilities and the inclusiveness of public spaces. We conclude by providing brief recommendations for ways federal, state, and local governments may ensure people with disabilities have full and equal access to public spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry A Whaley
- Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-2130, USA
| | | | - Giuseppe F Pagano
- Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-2130, USA
| | - Sara Barthol
- Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-2130, USA
| | - Jessica Senzer
- Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-2130, USA
| | | | - Peter D Blanck
- Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-2130, USA
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5
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McDonald KE, Schwartz AE, Feldman MF, Nelis T, Raymaker DM. A Call-In for Allyship and Anti-Ableism in Intellectual Disability Research. Am J Intellect Dev Disabil 2023; 128:398-410. [PMID: 37875271 DOI: 10.1352/1944-7558-128.6.398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Provoked by decades of grassroots activism, anti-ableist work is underway to advance disability rights. Intellectual disability (ID) researchers can integrate these social changes into their work by interrogating and transforming the beliefs and practices that underpin ID research. We share actionable ideas to foster anti-ableism and allyship in ID research. These include: (1) Learn from and nurture long-term, mutual relationships with people with ID; (2) Amplify the voices of people with ID in institutional structures that influence research; (3) Infuse anti-ableist frameworks into our own research; and (4) Embody a career-long commitment to disability rights, reflexive practice, and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ariel E Schwartz
- Ariel E. Schwartz, MGH Institute of Health Professions (now at University of New Hampshire)
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6
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Fins JJ, Wright MS, Shulman KS, Henderson JM, Schiff ND. Subject and Family Perspectives from the Central Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation Trial for Traumatic Brain Injury: Part II. Camb Q Healthc Ethics 2023:1-24. [PMID: 37850455 DOI: 10.1017/s0963180123000518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
This is the second paper in a two-part series describing subject and family perspectives from the CENTURY-S (CENtral Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation for the Treatment of Traumatic Brain InjURY-Safety) first-in-human invasive neurological device trial to achieve cognitive restoration in moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI). To participate, subjects were independently assessed to formally establish decision-making capacity to provide voluntary informed consent. Here, we report on post-operative interviews conducted after a successful trial of thalamic stimulation. All five msTBI subjects met a pre-selected primary endpoint of at least a 10% improvement in completion time on Trail-Making-Test Part B, a marker of executive function. We describe narrative responses of subjects and family members, refracted against that success. Interviews following surgery and the stimulation trial revealed the challenge of adaptation to improvements in cognitive function and emotional regulation as well as altered (and restored) relationships and family dynamics. These improvements exposed barriers to social reintegration made relevant by recoveries once thought inconceivable. The study's success sparked concerns about post-trial access to implanted devices, financing of device maintenance, battery replacement, and on-going care. Most subjects and families identified the need for supportive counseling to adapt to the new trajectory of their lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Fins
- Division of Medical Ethics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Solomon Center for Health Law & Policy, Yale Law School, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Megan S Wright
- Division of Medical Ethics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- School of Law, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - Kaiulani S Shulman
- Division of Medical Ethics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jaimie M Henderson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas D Schiff
- Division of Medical Ethics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
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7
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Shikako K, Lencucha R, Hunt M, Jodoin-Pilon S, Chandra A, Katalifos A, Gonzalez M, Yamaguchi S, Cardoso R, Elsabbagh M, Hudon A, Martens R, Cogburn D, Seth A, Currie G, Roth C, Finlay B, Zwicker J. Children with Disabilities in Canada during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of COVID-19 Policies through a Disability Rights Lens. Children (Basel) 2023; 10:942. [PMID: 37371173 DOI: 10.3390/children10060942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Children with disabilities were especially vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, and policies designed to mitigate its effects were limited in addressing their needs. We analyzed Canadian policies related to children with disabilities and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify the extent to which these policies aligned with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) and responded to their mental health needs by conducting a systematic collection of Canadian provincial/territorial policies produced during the pandemic, building a categorization dictionary based on the UN CRPD, using text mining, and thematic analysis to identify policies' alignment with the UN CRPD and mental health supports. Mental health was addressed as a factor of importance in many policy documents, but specific interventions to promote or treat mental health were scarce. Most public health policies and recommendations are related to educational settings, demonstrating how public health for children with disabilities relies on education and community that may be out of the healthcare system and unavailable during extended periods of the pandemic. Policies often acknowledged the challenges faced by children with disabilities and their families but offered few mitigation strategies with limited considerations for human rights protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Shikako
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Prom Sir-William-Osler, Montréal (D4), Quebec, QC H3G 1Y5, Canada
| | - Raphael Lencucha
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Prom Sir-William-Osler, Montréal (D4), Quebec, QC H3G 1Y5, Canada
| | - Matthew Hunt
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Prom Sir-William-Osler, Montréal (D4), Quebec, QC H3G 1Y5, Canada
| | | | - Ananya Chandra
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Prom Sir-William-Osler, Montréal (D4), Quebec, QC H3G 1Y5, Canada
| | - Anna Katalifos
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Quebec , QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Miriam Gonzalez
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Prom Sir-William-Osler, Montréal (D4), Quebec, QC H3G 1Y5, Canada
| | - Sakiko Yamaguchi
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Prom Sir-William-Osler, Montréal (D4), Quebec, QC H3G 1Y5, Canada
| | - Roberta Cardoso
- Health Center Research Institute, McGill University, Quebec, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Mayada Elsabbagh
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Quebec, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Anne Hudon
- School of Rehabilitation, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3N 1X7, Canada
| | | | - Derrick Cogburn
- School of International Service, Institute on Disability and Public Policy, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA
| | - Ash Seth
- School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2P 1H9, Canada
| | - Genevieve Currie
- School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2P 1H9, Canada
| | - Christiane Roth
- School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2P 1H9, Canada
| | - Brittany Finlay
- School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2P 1H9, Canada
| | - Jennifer Zwicker
- School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2P 1H9, Canada
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8
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McIntosh K. Schoolwide positive behavioural interventions and supports and human rights: transforming our educational systems into levers for social justice. Int J Dev Disabil 2023; 69:5-12. [PMID: 36743322 PMCID: PMC9897741 DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2022.2116223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Positive behaviour support and schoolwide positive behavioural interventions and supports (PBIS) emerged in response to the misuse of behavioural theory and ableism in educational systems. Yet even with these advances, inequitable outcomes based on ability and race persist. The purpose of this article is to describe an equity-centred schoolwide PBIS approach that harnesses behavioural theory and the PBIS framework to focus specifically on systems change to lead to equitable outcomes. There is emerging evidence of promise for increasing racial equity in student outcomes, and implications and suggestions are provided to increase equity by disability status. In providing practitioners with clear steps to reduce ableism and racism in educational systems, this line of research stands to benefit all students and families.
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9
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Weir S, Arstein-Kerslake A, Eadie T, McVilly K. Realising economic and social rights for children with communication and swallowing disability: Sustainable Development Goals 1, 8 and 10. Int J Speech Lang Pathol 2023; 25:37-41. [PMID: 36562595 DOI: 10.1080/17549507.2022.2153166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This commentary describes the economic disempowerment of children with communication and/or swallowing disability and outlines why attending to their economic and social needs is essential for the realisation of the United Nations' Agenda 2030. RESULT Children with communication and/or swallowing disability encounter intersectional disempowerment on account of both their disability, and their status as children. In particular, they experience unique barriers to the realisation of their economic and social rights. This presents a number of challenges to the realisation of Agenda 2030, and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Drawing on the broader disability rights and child rights literature, we outline these issues, and describe four empowering solutions, within the scope of this special issue commentary. CONCLUSION We describe that speech-language pathologists must interpret the discussion of these issues as a call to action for our profession. This commentary focusses on the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals of, No Poverty (SDG 1), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), and also addresses the goals of Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), Quality Education (SDG 4), Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Weir
- Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia and
| | - Anna Arstein-Kerslake
- Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia and
- The National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Tricia Eadie
- Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia and
| | - Keith McVilly
- Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia and
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10
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Breffka E, Jagoe C, Murphy SP, Tsegaw BB. Restricted participation: Drivers, experiences and implications of disability stigma in Ethiopia. Afr J Disabil 2023; 12:1085. [PMID: 36756458 PMCID: PMC9900290 DOI: 10.4102/ajod.v12i0.1085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Community-based inclusive development (CBID) acknowledges society's critical role in supporting the active participation of persons with disabilities. However, research on how this approach relates to the context-sensitive socially situated barriers of disability stigma is underexplored. Objectives This study aimed to understand the drivers and experiences of disability stigma in Ethiopia, from the perspective of persons with disabilities engaged in CBID programmes, and to establish how disability stigma acts as a barrier to participation. Methods An inductive methodological approach guided the research design. Mixed methods were used including a narrative review of disabilities studies literature, 16 semi-structured interviews with persons with disabilities, and a quantitative survey of 970 persons with disabilities across three communities in Ethiopia. Results Informed by theories of epistemic justice, this study identified specific indicators of meaningful participation and examined how these relate to experiences of disability stigma. The study found that the participation of adults with disabilities in society is restricted across different areas of life. Misconceptions about the causes of disability and social perceptions regarding the capacities of persons with disabilities are found to exacerbate stigma and act as a barrier to participation. Conclusion Targeted efforts to challenge internalised norms and harmful beliefs within CBID approaches are required to address disadvantages arising from embedded disability stigma. Contribution This study makes conceptual, empirical and practical contributions that advance insights into the relationship between disability stigma and participation in Ethiopia and the dimensions of epistemic justice relevant to understanding the nature and drivers of disability stigma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Breffka
- Department of Clinical Speech and Language Studies, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland,Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, Technology, Maths and Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Caroline Jagoe
- Department of Clinical Speech and Language Studies, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Susan P. Murphy
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, Technology, Maths and Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Belestie B. Tsegaw
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, Health Care, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioral Science, Social Studies and Humanities, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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11
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Kirichenko KA, Król A. Intersectionality and the CRPD: an analysis of the CRPD committee's discourse and civil society advocacy at the intersections of disability and LGBTI. Glob Public Health 2022; 17:3224-3242. [PMID: 35220883 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2022.2040565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The United Nation ('UN') Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ('CRPD' or 'Convention'), while addressing some intersectionalities, does not explicitly mention sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). However, the practice of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ('CteeRPD' or 'Committee') has developed significantly over the past years to include the intersections of disability and SOGIESC into the discourse. This paper examines these developments from a queer intersectional perspective based on the document analysis. We analysed a range of documents adopted by the Committee itself, as well as shadow reports submitted to the CteeRPD by civil society, to map the challenges existing at the intersections of disability and SOGIESC. The results of the analysis demonstrate a quantitative shift in the CRPD intersectional discourse, but also qualitative changes in the positioning of the subject - the one living on the intersections of disability and SOGIESC, related structural powers and hierarchies. Based on the analysis, we use a quadruple framework to show how this subject is defined, described, protected and embraced by the CteeRPD, what concrete features of this positioning has been developed already, what gaps still exist and how they can be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Agnieszka Król
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sociology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.,Disability and Sexuality Program, CREA, Poland
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12
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Kwok K, Kwok Lai Yuk Ching S. Navigating Stigma and Discrimination: Experiences of Migrant Children with Special Needs and Their Families in Accessing Education and Healthcare in Hong Kong. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:5929. [PMID: 35627466 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19105929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This paper explores the barriers to supporting South Asian (Pakistani, Nepalese and Indian) migrant children with special needs and their families encountered navigating Hong Kong's special needs system and accessing education and healthcare services. It adopts concepts of stigma and disability rights. It draws on semi-structured interviews with fifteen South Asian children and young people with special needs (age 5-21; M = 10; F = 5) and their families, and seven professional practitioners based on the qualitative descriptive method. Informants experienced intersecting stigmatization that included (1) institutional exclusion, (2) daily life microaggressions, and (3) misunderstandings and a lack of awareness education. Simultaneously, some were empowered through (4) support and accommodation, and (5) spiritual support from religion. This paper reveals a paradox embodied by Hong Kong; it is an Asian multicultural city committed to embracing the vision of disability inclusion while failing to ensure necessary support to reduce the stigma experienced by culturally diverse children with a disability. It makes recommendations based on a socioecological framework and concludes that concerted efforts by relevant authorities and organizations should be made to reduce stigma by taking into consideration the intersecting stigmas, specific resources unique to migrant communities, disability rights and cultural sensitivity.
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Mladenov T, Dimitrova I. Epistemic injustice as a bridge between medical sociology and disability studies. Sociol Health Illn 2022. [PMID: 35543112 DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.13479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This paper explores the potential of the perspective of epistemic injustice to reconcile medical sociology's attention to the micro level of experience and interpersonal exchange, and disability studies' focus on the macro level of oppressive structures. The first part of the paper provides an overview of the concept of epistemic injustice and its key instances-testimonial, hermeneutical, and contributory injustice. We also consider previous applications of the concept in the fields of health care and disability, and we contextualise our investigation by discussing key features of postsocialism from the perspective of epistemic injustice. In the second part, we explore specific epistemic injustices experienced by people who use disability support by drawing on interviews and focus groups conducted with parents of disabled children in present-day Bulgaria. In our conclusion, we revisit our methodological and theoretical points about the potential of epistemic injustice to facilitate mutually beneficial exchanges between medical sociology and disability studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teodor Mladenov
- School of Education and Social Work, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Ina Dimitrova
- Faculty of Philosophy and History, University of Plovdiv "Paisii Hilendarski", Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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14
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Lenagh-Glue J, Dawson J, Potiki J, O'Brien AJ, Thom K, Casey H, Glue P. Use of advance directives to promote supported decision-making in mental health care: Implications of international trends for reform in New Zealand. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2022; 57:636-641. [PMID: 35164527 DOI: 10.1177/00048674221079225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Advance directives are advocated, in many jurisdictions, as a way to promote supported decision-making for people who use mental health services and to promote countries' compliance with their obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities promotes the use of tools to further personal autonomy which would include integrating the use of advance directives into mental health law, to clarify the effect (or force) an advance directive carries when its maker comes under the relevant mental health legislation. In addition, securing the active use of advance directives requires adoption of certain supportive practices and policies within health services. Here, we discuss a number of approaches taken to advance directives in revised mental health legislation, and the associated practices we think are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie Lenagh-Glue
- Faculty of Law, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - John Dawson
- Faculty of Law, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Katey Thom
- Law School, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Heather Casey
- Southern District Health Board, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Paul Glue
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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15
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Hui K, Law S, Braswell H. Removing a Disabled Person from Her Treasured Independent Living. Hastings Cent Rep 2021; 51:13-16. [PMID: 34904735 DOI: 10.1002/hast.1304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Ms. X is a person with cerebral palsy and schizophrenia. She has intractable bedsores that are a result of her immobility and to poor wound care related to her delusional thinking. Despite intensive community support, the wounds have worsened to the point that she has needed multiple hospitalizations to prevent systemic sepsis, a life-threatening condition. She is capable of placement decisions and wishes for independence at home but is incapable of making wound care decisions and does not appreciate that immediately returning home from the hospital, instead of going into a special care facility, would likely result in sepsis. The resulting dilemma about discharge planning highlights the complexity involved in weighing concerns around mental illness and capacity for treatment and placement of care. The extent of the care that is required and available in a community or health care system and the slow but relatively certain progression of the symptoms also make the decision challenging. Two commentaries take very different approaches in exploring the question whether Ms. X should be supported to go home or to a special care facility.
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16
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El Morr C, Maret P, Muhlenbach F, Dharmalingam D, Tadesse R, Creighton A, Kundi B, Buettgen A, Mgwigwi T, Dinca-Panaitescu S, Dua E, Gorman R. A Virtual Community for Disability Advocacy: Development of a Searchable Artificial Intelligence-Supported Platform. JMIR Form Res 2021; 5:e33335. [PMID: 34738910 PMCID: PMC8663581 DOI: 10.2196/33335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The lack of availability of disability data has been identified as a major challenge hindering continuous disability equity monitoring. It is important to develop a platform that enables searching for disability data to expose systemic discrimination and social exclusion, which increase vulnerability to inequitable social conditions. OBJECTIVE Our project aims to create an accessible and multilingual pilot disability website that structures and integrates data about people with disabilities and provides data for national and international disability advocacy communities. The platform will be endowed with a document upload function with hybrid (automated and manual) paragraph tagging, while the querying function will involve an intelligent natural language search in the supported languages. METHODS We have designed and implemented a virtual community platform using Wikibase, Semantic Web, machine learning, and web programming tools to enable disability communities to upload and search for disability documents. The platform data model is based on an ontology we have designed following the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The virtual community facilitates the uploading and sharing of validated information, and supports disability rights advocacy by enabling dissemination of knowledge. RESULTS Using health informatics and artificial intelligence techniques (namely Semantic Web, machine learning, and natural language processing techniques), we were able to develop a pilot virtual community that supports disability rights advocacy by facilitating uploading, sharing, and accessing disability data. The system consists of a website on top of a Wikibase (a Semantic Web-based datastore). The virtual community accepts 4 types of users: information producers, information consumers, validators, and administrators. The virtual community enables the uploading of documents, semiautomatic tagging of their paragraphs with meaningful keywords, and validation of the process before uploading the data to the disability Wikibase. Once uploaded, public users (information consumers) can perform a semantic search using an intelligent and multilingual search engine (QAnswer). Further enhancements of the platform are planned. CONCLUSIONS The platform ontology is flexible and can accommodate advocacy reports and disability policy and legislation from specific jurisdictions, which can be accessed in relation to the CRPD articles. The platform ontology can be expanded to fit international contexts. The virtual community supports information upload and search. Semiautomatic tagging and intelligent multilingual semantic search using natural language are enabled using artificial intelligence techniques, namely Semantic Web, machine learning, and natural language processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christo El Morr
- School of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pierre Maret
- CNRS, UMR 5516, Laboratoire Hubert Curien, Université Jean Monnet Saint Etienne, Saint Etienne, France
| | - Fabrice Muhlenbach
- CNRS, UMR 5516, Laboratoire Hubert Curien, Université Jean Monnet Saint Etienne, Saint Etienne, France
| | - Dhayananth Dharmalingam
- CNRS, UMR 5516, Laboratoire Hubert Curien, Université Jean Monnet Saint Etienne, Saint Etienne, France
| | - Rediet Tadesse
- CNRS, UMR 5516, Laboratoire Hubert Curien, Université Jean Monnet Saint Etienne, Saint Etienne, France
| | - Alexandra Creighton
- School of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bushra Kundi
- School of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alexis Buettgen
- School of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Thumeka Mgwigwi
- Student Learning and Academic Success Department, York University Libraries, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Serban Dinca-Panaitescu
- School of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Enakshi Dua
- School of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rachel Gorman
- School of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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17
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Ne'eman A, Stein MA, Berger ZD, Dorfman D. The Treatment of Disability under Crisis Standards of Care: An Empirical and Normative Analysis of Change over Time during COVID-19. J Health Polit Policy Law 2021; 46:831-860. [PMID: 33769474 PMCID: PMC8957387 DOI: 10.1215/03616878-9156005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT COVID-19 has prompted debates between bioethicists and disability activists about Crisis Standards of Care plans (CSCs), triage protocols determining the allocation of scarce lifesaving care. METHODS We examine CSCs in 35 states and code how they approach disability, comparing states that have revised their plans over time to those that have not. We offer ethical and legal analyses evaluating to what extent changes to state policy aligned with disability rights law and ethics during the early pandemic and subsequently as stakeholder engagement grew. FINDINGS While disability rights views were not well represented in CSCs that were not updated or updated early in the pandemic, states that revised their plans later in the pandemic were more aligned with advocate priorities. However, many CSCs continue to include concerning provisions, especially the reliance on long-term survival, which implicates considerations of both disability rights and racial justice. CONCLUSIONS The disability rights movement's successes in influencing state triage policy should inform future CSCs and set the stage for further work on how stakeholders influence bioethics policy debates. We offer thoughts for examining bioethics policy making reflecting the processes by which activists seek policy change and the tension policy makers face between expert delegation and mediating values conflicts.
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18
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Bigby C, Douglas J, Smith E, Carney T, Then SN, Wiesel I. "I used to call him a non-decision-maker - I never do that anymore": parental reflections about training to support decision-making of their adult offspring with intellectual disabilities. Disabil Rehabil 2021; 44:6356-6364. [PMID: 34477481 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1964623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE A rights perspective proposes supported decision-making as an alternative to substitute decision-making. However, evidence about supported decision-making practice is limited. Our aim was to build evidence about building the capacity of decision supporters. METHODS Eighteen parents of people with intellectual disabilities were trained in decision support using the La Trobe Support for Decision-making Practice Framework. Data from repeated semi-structured interviews and mentoring sessions were used to capture parental reflections on the value of training. RESULTS The training acted as a catalyst for parent self-reflection and the Framework prompted them to adopt a more deliberative approach to supporting decision-making. Some parents perceived increased confidence of their adult offspring in expressing preferences resulting from their own changed approach. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the efficacy of this Framework and evidence-based training in building the capacity of parental decision supporters to be consistent with the rights paradigm. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe La Trobe Support for Decision-making Practice Framework is an evidence-based approach to decision support practice with an accompanying set of free online resources which can be used by individual practitioners or programs to inform their practice and build the capacity of supporters.Parents of adults with intellectual disabilities value training in the La Trobe Support for Decision-making Practice Framework, which they consider helps to develop their decision support skills and self-reflection.Parents also value individual mentoring following training to assist them to apply the principles of the practice framework to the everyday support for decision-making they provide to their adult son or daughter.Training in support practice should be accompanied by individual mentoring or other strategies to assist parents of adults with intellectual disabilities to discuss and solve the difficult issues they confront in providing decision support more aligned to the rights paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Bigby
- Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Jacinta Douglas
- Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia.,Summer Foundation, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Smith
- Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Terry Carney
- School of Law, University of Sydney, Sydney,Australia
| | - Shih-Ning Then
- Australian Centre for Health Law Research, School of Law, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ilan Wiesel
- School of Geography, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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19
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Ravitsky V, Roy MC, Haidar H, Henneman L, Marshall J, Newson AJ, Ngan OMY, Nov-Klaiman T. The Emergence and Global Spread of Noninvasive Prenatal Testing. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2021. [PMID: 33848430 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-083118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Since its introduction in 2011, noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has spread rapidly around the world. It carries numerous benefits but also raises challenges, often related to sociocultural, legal, and economic contexts. This article describes the implementation of NIPT in nine countries, each with its own unique characteristics: Australia, Canada, China and Hong Kong, India, Israel, Lebanon, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Themes covered for each country include the structure of the healthcare system, how NIPT is offered, counseling needs and resources, and cultural and legal context regarding disability and pregnancytermination. Some common issues emerge, including cost as a barrier to equitable access, the complexity of decision-making about public funding, and a shortage of appropriate resources that promote informed choice. Conversely, sociocultural values that underlie the use of NIPT vary greatly among countries. The issues described will become even more challenging as NIPT evolves from a second-tier to a first-tier screening test with expanded use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vardit Ravitsky
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada;
| | - Marie-Christine Roy
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada;
| | - Hazar Haidar
- Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A3, Canada;
| | - Lidewij Henneman
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - John Marshall
- United Kingdom National Screening Committee, London SE1 8UG, United Kingdom;
| | - Ainsley J Newson
- Sydney Health Ethics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia;
| | - Olivia M Y Ngan
- Centre for Bioethics, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China;
| | - Tamar Nov-Klaiman
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel;
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20
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Ravitsky V, Roy MC, Haidar H, Henneman L, Marshall J, Newson AJ, Ngan OMY, Nov-Klaiman T. The Emergence and Global Spread of Noninvasive Prenatal Testing. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2021; 22:309-338. [PMID: 33848430 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-083118-015053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Since its introduction in 2011, noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has spread rapidly around the world. It carries numerous benefits but also raises challenges, often related to sociocultural, legal, and economic contexts. This article describes the implementation of NIPT in nine countries, each with its own unique characteristics: Australia, Canada, China and Hong Kong, India, Israel, Lebanon, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Themes covered for each country include the structure of the healthcare system, how NIPT is offered, counseling needs and resources, and cultural and legal context regarding disability and pregnancytermination. Some common issues emerge, including cost as a barrier to equitable access, the complexity of decision-making about public funding, and a shortage of appropriate resources that promote informed choice. Conversely, sociocultural values that underlie the use of NIPT vary greatly among countries. The issues described will become even more challenging as NIPT evolves from a second-tier to a first-tier screening test with expanded use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vardit Ravitsky
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada;
| | - Marie-Christine Roy
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada;
| | - Hazar Haidar
- Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A3, Canada;
| | - Lidewij Henneman
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - John Marshall
- United Kingdom National Screening Committee, London SE1 8UG, United Kingdom;
| | - Ainsley J Newson
- Sydney Health Ethics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia;
| | - Olivia M Y Ngan
- Centre for Bioethics, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China;
| | - Tamar Nov-Klaiman
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel;
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21
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Vera San Juan N, Gronholm PC, Heslin M, Lawrence V, Bain M, Okuma A, Evans-Lacko S. Recovery From Severe Mental Health Problems: A Systematic Review of Service User and Informal Caregiver Perspectives. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:712026. [PMID: 34539464 PMCID: PMC8440827 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.712026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The recovery approach aims to have users' perspectives at the heart of service development and research; it is a holistic perspective that considers social needs, personal growth and inclusion. In the last decade recovery-oriented research and practice has increased greatly, however, a comprehensive model of recovery considering exclusively the perspectives of people with lived experience has not been devised. Aims: This review aimed to develop a framework and contextualize service users' and informal caregivers' understanding of recovery from severe mental health problems. Methods: We systematically searched 6 databases including key terms related to knowledge, experience and narratives AND mental health AND personal recovery. The search was supplemented with reference sourcing through gray literature, reference tracking and expert consultation. Data analysis consisted of a qualitative meta-synthesis using constant comparative methods. Results: Sixty-two studies were analyzed. A pattern emerged regarding the recovery paradigms that the studies used to frame their findings. The resulting recovery framework included the domains Social recovery; Prosperity (Legal, political, and economic recovery); Individual Recovery; and Clinical Recovery Experience (SPICE). Service users' definitions of recovery tended to prioritize social aspects, particularly being accepted and connecting with others, while caregivers focused instead on clinical definitions of recovery such as symptom remission. Both groups emphasized individual aspects such as becoming self-sufficient and achieving personal goals, which was strongly linked with having economic means for independence. Conclusions: The recovery model provided by this review offers a template for further research in the field and a guide for policy and practice. Predominant definitions of recovery currently reflect understandings of mental health which focus on an individual perspective, while this review found an important emphasis on socio-political aspects. At the same time, only a small number of studies took place in low-income countries, focused on minoritized populations, or included caregivers' perspectives. These are important gaps in the literature that require further attention. Systematic Review Registration: The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42017076450); https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=76450.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norha Vera San Juan
- Health Service & Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Petra C Gronholm
- Health Service & Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Margaret Heslin
- Health Service & Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vanessa Lawrence
- Health Service & Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Bain
- Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Ayako Okuma
- Health Service & Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Evans-Lacko
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
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22
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Abstract
Disabled people may be disproportionately impacted by the response to the COVID-19 outbreak because of the kinds of countermeasures needed to tackle it, and serious disruptions to the services on which they rely. There are reports from the disability community in England and elsewhere that measures taken to contain the spread of COVID-19 impact negatively on their human rights and experiences. This commentary focuses on the healthcare and social care systems in England and describes how laws and practices have changed under the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these changes affect the rights of disabled people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivanka Antova
- School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast, University Square, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
- . The author would like to acknowledge and thank the Health Governance After Brexit team for all their help with commentary: Dr Mark Flear, Professor Tamara Hervey, and Dr Matthew Wood. Health Governance After Brexit: Law, Language and Legitimacy: funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) (Reference: ES/S00730X/1). The author declares no conflict of interest and no ethical approvals to report
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Watson J, Anderson J, Wilson E, Anderson KL. The impact of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on Victorian guardianship practice. Disabil Rehabil 2020; 44:2806-2814. [PMID: 33096002 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1836680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) emphasises full and equal legal capacity of all citizens to participate in decisions. This paper examines whether the principles of Article 12, also reflected in other reform documents, were evident within 12 guardianship hearings conducted in Victoria, Australia from 2001 to 2016 involving adults with cognitive disability. The issues this study raises resonate loudly across the globe as multiple signatory nations to the CRPD grapple with the complexities of implementing Article 12. METHODS Reports of VCAT decisions with written reasons of Guardianship List hearings from 2001 to 2016 were selected from the Australasian Legal Information Institute site and analysed thematically. RESULTS Thematic analysis of proceedings revealed three consistent trends. Firstly, a presumption of incapacity based on disability excluded Proposed Represented Persons (PRP) from involvement in decision-making. Secondly, external perceptions of PRPs best interest were dominated by safeguarding concerns and conflict between supporters. Finally, in multiple cases, although a PRP's preference had been established, it was considered immaterial to the final decision. CONCLUSIONS The paper concludes with a promising discussion of the new Guardianship and Administration Act 2019 (Vic), which came into force on 1 March 2020, and recommendations for guardianship practice both locally and internationally.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONLegal capacity should be recognised as inherent in all people, and therefore decision making incapacity should not be assumed based on a person's cognitive and/or communication disability;The supported decision making mechanisms, born from Article 12 of the CRPD, that facilitate acknowledgment, interpretation and acting upon a person's expression of will and preference need to be recognised and promoted within the context of Guardianship proceedings and by health professionals when assessing decision making capacity of people with cognitive disability;Significant knowledge and attitudinal changes are required within the Tribunal and incorporated into the practice of health professionals informing the Tribunal, in order to counter many conceptual underpinnings embedded within current guardianship legislation across the globe;Ascertaining the will and preference of the proposed represented person should be prioritised by Guardianship tribunal members' rather than the management of conflict between interested parties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne Watson
- School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
| | - Julie Anderson
- School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
| | - Erin Wilson
- Faculty of Business and Law, Swinburne University, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
| | - Kate L Anderson
- School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
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Rubeis G, Steger F. A burden from birth? Non-invasive prenatal testing and the stigmatization of people with disabilities. Bioethics 2019; 33:91-97. [PMID: 30461042 DOI: 10.1111/bioe.12518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The notion of being a burden to others is mostly discussed in the context of care-intensive diseases or end-of-life decisions. But the notion is also crucial in decision-making at the beginning of life, namely regarding prenatal testing. Ever more sophisticated testing methods, especially non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), allow the detection of genetic traits in the unborn child that may cause disabilities. A positive result often influences the decision of the pregnant women towards a termination of the pregnancy. Thus, critics claim that these testing methods send a negative message to people with disabilities. At the core of this is what we call the burden assumption. This assumption claims that children with disabilities are necessarily a burden to others, especially to their parents and other family members. In this paper, we discuss what being a burden to others means in this context and how such an attitude can be avoided without restraining reproductive autonomy. A closer examination shows that the burden assumption is mostly based on misinformation and a false model of disability. Empirical studies as well as narrative evidence from parents who raise a child with disabilities show that the burden assumption is wrong. Raising a child with disabilities does not necessarily mean a decrease in the quality of life. We show how the burden assumption can be challenged through an advanced genetic counselling that combines empirical evidence with narratives from a first-person perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Rubeis
- Ulm University, Institute of History, Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Florian Steger
- Ulm University, Institute of History, Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
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Fletcher-Watson S, Adams J, Brook K, Charman T, Crane L, Cusack J, Leekam S, Milton D, Parr JR, Pellicano E. Making the future together: Shaping autism research through meaningful participation. Autism 2018; 23:943-953. [PMID: 30095277 PMCID: PMC6512245 DOI: 10.1177/1362361318786721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Participatory research methods connect researchers with relevant communities to
achieve shared goals. These methods can deliver results that are relevant to
people’s lives and thus likely to have a positive impact. In the context of a
large and growing body of autism research, with continued poor implementation,
and some evidence of community dissatisfaction, there is a powerful case for
participatory autism research. In order to develop a framework for such
collaborative working, a UK seminar series was organised and co-produced by
autistic and non-autistic people with academic, practitioner and lived
expertise. This article reports on the outcomes from the series, identifying
five topics relevant to building a community of practice in participatory
research: Respect, Authenticity, Assumptions, Infrastructure and Empathy. Each
topic is connected to a specific example from within and beyond research, to
inspire new practices in the field. We call for the development of participatory
research skills among the autism research community and the facilitation of
greater autistic leadership of, and partnership in, research. Such work, if
delivered to a high standard, is likely to lead to better translation into
practice and improved outcomes for autistic people and those who support
them.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Damian Milton
- 8 Participatory Autism Research Collective, UK.,9 University of Kent, UK
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Abstract
In the 2015 David Kopf Lecture on Neuroethics of the Society for Neuroscience, Dr. Joseph Fins presents his work on neuroethics and disorders of consciousness through the experience of Maggie and Nancy Worthen, a young woman who sustained a severe brain injury and her mother who cared for her. The central protagonists in his book, Rights Come to Mind: Brain Injury, Ethics and the Struggle for Consciousness (Cambridge University Press, 2015), their experience is emblematic of the challenges faced by families touched by severe brain injury and the possibility for improved diagnosis and treatment offered by progress in neuroscience. By telling their story, and those of other families interviewed as part of the research for Rights Come to Mind, Fins calls for improved care for this population arguing that this is both an access to care issue and a civil and disability rights issue worthy of greater societal attention.
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Rothler R. Disability rights, reproductive technology, and parenthood: unrealised opportunities. Reprod Health Matters 2017; 25:104-113. [PMID: 28784069 DOI: 10.1080/09688080.2017.1330105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The common attitude towards parents with disabilities is suspicious. Whereas usually, people are expected to become parents as part of a natural-social life course, disability and parenthood are conceived as contradicting terms. This is due to negative perceptions regarding the parenting capacity of people with disabilities, and lack of adequate state support for children upbringing. Disability Rights theories portray different approaches, aiming to promote equality, considering the unique life experiences of parents with disabilities. They acknowledge the discrimination that takes place whenever accommodations are denied, and they bring a universal point of view to light. Through the case of Ora Mor-Yosef, a woman with a severe physical disability who initiated the birth of a baby girl, with no genetic connection to her, the article wishes to demonstrate the potential contribution of reproductive technology, combined with legal parenthood developments, and disability studies theories, to the advancement of parenting rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities. Regrettably, Ora's case did not serve as a platform for such promotion. "Social disability obstacles", suspicion, and negative attitudes that still prevail regarding parents with disabilities, have led both the government authorities and the courts to deny Ora's attempt to accommodate reproductive technological processes and become a mother.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roni Rothler
- a Director, Disability Rights Clinic, Faculty of Law , Bar Ilan University , Ramat Gan , Israel
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Abstract
Reproductive genetic technologies (RGTs), including gene-editing technology, are being discovered and refined at an exponential pace. One gene-editing innovation that demands our swift attention is CRISPR/Cas9, a system of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and a protein called Cas9. As CRISPR and other RGTs continue being developed, we must remain vigilant concerning the potential implications of genetic-engineering technology on our interpersonal and legal relationships. In the face of increasingly numerous and refined RGTs, we must maintain the rights of everyone: potential parents, prospective children, and individuals (both living and prospective) with disabilities. For those who wish to become parents, how should procreation be regulated in light of developing RGTs, especially gene-editing technology? What duties do parents owe their children, and when does such a duty attach? What role should RGTs play in parents' fulfillment of their duties to their children? This article will contextualize the right to health and what I will term the "right to disability" in the CRISPR/Cas9 landscape. The article will then explore these rights in reference to the "subjunctive-threshold" interpretation of harm. Finally, I will argue that RGTs must be thoughtfully regulated, with such regulations taking into account the opinions of geneticists, bioethicists, and lay people concerning both the right to health and the right to disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawna Benston
- Center for Research on Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Psychiatric, Neurologic & Behavioral Genetics, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA
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McDonald KE, Conroy NE, Kim CI, LoBraico EJ, Prather EM, Olick RS. Is Safety in the Eye of the Beholder? Safeguards in Research With Adults With Intellectual Disability. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 2016; 11:424-438. [PMID: 27307420 DOI: 10.1177/1556264616651182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Human subjects research has a core commitment to participant well-being. This obligation is accentuated for once exploited populations such as adults with intellectual disability. Yet we know little about the public's views on appropriate safeguards for this population. We surveyed adults with intellectual disability, family members and friends, disability service providers, researchers, and Institutional Review Board (IRB) members to compare views on safeguards. We found many points of convergence of views, particularly for decision-making and participation. One trend is that adults with intellectual disability perceive greater safety in being engaged directly in recruitment, and recruitment by specific individuals. Researchers and IRB members need to consider community views to facilitate the safe and respectful inclusion of adults with intellectual disability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Robert S Olick
- 2 SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York City, USA
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Steinbach RJ, Allyse M, Michie M, Liu EY, Cho MK. "This lifetime commitment": Public conceptions of disability and noninvasive prenatal genetic screening. Am J Med Genet A 2016; 170A:363-374. [PMID: 26566970 PMCID: PMC4948186 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.37459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Recently, new noninvasive prenatal genetic screening technologies for Down syndrome and other genetic conditions have become commercially available. Unique characteristics of these screening tests have reignited long-standing concerns about prenatal testing for intellectual and developmental disabilities. We conducted a web-based survey of a sample of the US public to examine how attitudes towards disability inform views of prenatal testing in the context of these rapidly advancing prenatal genetic screening technologies. Regardless of opinion toward disability, the majority of respondents supported both the availability of screening and the decision to continue a pregnancy positive for aneuploidy. Individuals rationalized their support with various conceptions of disability; complications of the expressivist argument and other concerns from the disability literature were manifested in many responses analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Megan Allyse
- Biomedical Ethics Research Program and Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905 U.S.A
| | - Marsha Michie
- Institute for Health and Aging, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94118 U.S.A
| | - Emily Y. Liu
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, Stanford, CA 94305 U.S.A
| | - Mildred K. Cho
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, Stanford, CA 94305 U.S.A
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McDonald KE, Schwartz NM, Gibbons CM, Olick RS. "You can't be cold and scientific": community views on ethical issues in intellectual disability research. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 2015; 10:196-208. [PMID: 25769310 PMCID: PMC4399491 DOI: 10.1177/1556264615575512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Perceptions, attitudes, and ethical concerns related to conducting research with adults with intellectual disability hinder scientific innovation to promote health. Yet we lack an understanding of community views on effective research policy and practice. To address this knowledge void, we qualitatively studied the views of adults with intellectual disability and those who provide them support regarding research participation of adults with intellectual disability. We found substantial support for their inclusion, particularly given the possibility of benefits to adults with intellectual disability, researchers, and society. We also found concerns for potential harm and differing ideas on how to promote safety. Our findings emphasize the importance of their inclusion in research, and the need for policies and practices that promote respect and safety.
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Abstract
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is legislation that might ultimately make health insurance coverage available to all Americans. The ACA is scheduled for full implementation in 2014. Many decisions are still being made concerning implementation. Provisions of the ACA are of paramount importance to persons with mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This is a brief overview of key elements of the ACA and potential effects on consumers of behavioral health services and their families. Behavioral health consumers and their families include persons with mental illnesses, as well as persons with substance use disorders, and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ted J Johnson
- a Allied Health , Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College , South Charleston , West Virginia , USA
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