A STUDY ON BARRIERS OF SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AMONG DISABLED YOUTH AND SOCIAL WORKER INTERVENTION

Disability is the consequence of an impairment that may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental, or some combination of these. A disability may be present from birth, or occur during a person's lifetime. There is an evidence of a consistent negative representation of impairment and disability, prior to the emergence of modern capitalism. These earlier representations run in three main themes: Cultural Understanding, Religious Belief and Myth. The Social Representations of disability were negative `It is a common myth that impairment is a punishment for sin. Killing of babies with impairments was common practice in societies. The disabled had difficulty in asserting their rights and dignity as an individual. They lack physical and intellectual fitness which in turn hurdle their participation in this world. They were physically, psychologically and verbally abused because of their impairments. For people with hidden impairments, life was harsh and unrelenting one. It is also recorded that people of small stature or ‘dwarves’ were treated as the objects of amusement by the crowd. Despite the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act and evolving of humanity, there are still many strong discriminatory barriers facing disabled people in society. Disabled people continue to be more likely to live in poverty and lie outside the usual economic framework of everyday employment. The fundamental assumption that disabled people need to live on benefit and are in need of care distorts their real value. The marginalization of people with disabilities has often been addressed in terms of sociological processes or legislative needs, but very rarely in psychological terms within society. It is also intriguing that children with born impairments were systematically removed from society. This reflects some present-day law about termination of impaired fetuses. This is not to undermine a woman’s right to choose, which is essential. However, it is worthy of note that impairment is singled out as a special case. It is often the case that potential parents of disabled children are given the most negative prognosis and life scenario.