“There is no greater disability in society, than the inability to see a person as more” –Robert M. Hensel
Today, due to unawareness, the developmentally disabled population continues to be faced with barriers in society by being categorized and seen as “not normal.” One resulting effect of that cause is the disproportionate number of developmentally disabled adults who are unemployed.
After graduating in the spring of 2008 with a B.S in Human Services. I was faced with the struggles of finding employment within my field of study. It is challenging to graduate and not have job security; it’s a fearful and anxious experience. But I persevered; I volunteered to gain experience and continued to seek employment in social services.
Almost nine months after graduation, I began working at a small non-profit organization called Job Path. I started out at Job Path with a part-time entry-level position as a Community Support Worker for individuals with developmental disabilities. The position consisted of working one-on-one with developmentally disabled adults (participants). I was responsible for taking the participant out into their community to participate in entertaining activities and voluntary jobs of their interest. Additionally, I would train the participant on traveling, assisting with overcoming barriers, and just being a friend and a confidant.
The first participant that I worked with was a young Chinese-American woman named Yang. When I first met Yang she was a bit quiet and shy. Although Yang was in her late twenties, her mental age was that of an eight year old. I provided support to Yang twice a week. I would meet her at her apartment and we would plan the activities that she wanted to do for the day. As I continued...
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... of a leadership or managerial role within the non-profit sector. For this reason I am applying for the Masters in Public Administration at Baruch College.
I am excited about continuing my academic career at Baruch. But, I am especially excited about working with educators like Peter Hall, Stan Altman, James Krauskopt, and Michael Seltzer. Their knowledge and experience in non-profit will prepare me for furthering my career. In addition, I am truly inspired by the mission statement of Baruch College. There is a sentence that reads, “The College’s graduate programs focus on professional preparation that enables students to become leaders and innovators in their fields.” This sentence defines the reason for the pursuit of my MPA and my career goal in the non-profit sector. For that reason, I know that Baruch College is where I will be able accomplish this goal.
The movement continues to make great strides towards the empowerment and self determination ("Disability rights movement," 2005, p. 3). On the other hand, it has not completely broken down barriers that continue to create the dynamics of oppression among such individuals. For instance, WIOA can be harmful to individuals with disabilities because there are still societal prejudices and biases associated with the stereotypical portrayal of people with disabilities and WIOA has played a role in it. For example, WIOA networks with employers to hire individual’s with disabilities and place them in conventional settings, where they work with others who have disabilities, for example, Walgreen’s and in fact, these participating organizations have also increased their pay. In my opinion, individual’s with disabilities should be able to work with individuals who are not disabled, as well. Furthermore, pay for those individuals who are still considered to be in “sheltered” work programs have not received an increase in pay. Additionally, according to my studies, in 2012, less than 30 percent of Florida’s civilians with disabilities between age 18-64 living in the community were employed. There is a greater priority focused on young people who are disabled. This is an additional issue in my opinion which can be considered discrimination, because, the focus leaves out middle aged individuals as well as,
I knew I loved to help others but it was not until I was an emerging adult that I knew what my calling was. My devotion to improve the quality of life for those who are disadvantaged is one of the reasons I have chosen to pursue a Master’s in Social Work. After obtaining my masters, I plan on diversifying my masters by getting licensed and becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I would like to study social work because I feel it will lead me directly to one of the most emotionally fulfilling careers available, as well as giving me the chance to combine helping people 's mental well being with their physical
Comprehensive solutions or political satisfication? Disability and the Society of the People. 11, 3. Gilmore, D. & Butterworth, J. 9 (2001). Research in Practice: Vocational Rehabilitation Outcomes and General Economic Trends, 2.
I first became interested in social work when I took a human rights course as part of my political science major requirements. Throughout the course, I was fascinated and disturbed by the historic oppression of many large groups in society, and I realized my interests lie outside of the political arena; thus, I double-majored in social policy & practice because of my desire to learn more about how to enhance human well-being, fight social injustice, and pursue social change. I soon realized I wanted to pursue graduate social work education in order to gain a more holistic understanding of social problems and human ailments and, in turn, better understand the best ways to fix them. My background in political science and social policy gives me a unique perspective on the field of social work, as I have gained immense knowledge on social issues, the law, and public policy that will be useful in my graduate school and professional endeavors to fight for social justice and human rights.
Radley, M. (2009). Understanding the social exclusion and stalled welfare of citizens with learning disabilities. Disability and Society, 23(4): 489-501.
Approximately twenty years ago there weren’t many improvements made to assist disabled people in the workforce. Ableism was recognized but not much was done. But that has changed significantly. People are much more aware of it and are trying to fix the mistakes of the past to create a better future. One major effect ableism has is that Canadians with disabilities are very likely to live in poverty.
...ersons with disabilities to function as a productive member of society. Or what is thought to be a productive member, in that this person can be completely independent both in the home and in the workplace.
As a student who began her college career without specific objectives, I never thought I would be writing a personal statement for an application to receive a Master’s Degree in the social work profession. However, I feel now that there is no other future for me than that of offering my education and personal commitment to vulnerable individuals in order to stabilize their lives. After careful consideration of all areas of social work, I have found that my main area of interest is in providing resources and encouragement for individuals with disabilities to gain the freedom to live independent lifestyles without discrimination. My personal goal in this profession is to make every possible effort in assisting these individuals with finding the means to satisfy their needs.
Since the last fifteen years of my life, I have been interested in social work involving families with children. I have always had an interest in helping, supporting and working with children and adults. These practical experiences social work will continue to lead me to learned, applied, and prepared to become a social worker. I will continue to work with developmental disabilities and other diverse groups of the population.
... Release statistics show, 66.2 percent of 2012 high school graduates were enrolled in colleges or universities, but only 54 percent graduate from college. Continuing my education is important to me and will open many doors for me. Obtaining my degree will help me be a better person and also help others be better. A direct-service social worker helps people cope with challenges they are facing in their lives. Clinical social workers are therapists who diagnose and then treat individuals who have mental, behavioral and emotional disorders. With that being said, I will have to have full knowledge and an ample amount of education to help my clients. I will have enough education to help a child that just lost both of their parents, help guide that child, and show them there is someone to help them. Just like Anne Franks stated; “No one has ever become poor by giving.”
Volunteering made me find my career plan in sociology / Social Worker. With a college degree in one of these areas, I hope to impact my community in ways. First, with the knowledge from college, I hope to counsel with young people& adults. In today's society, there are so many negative things that influence adults & young people. I want to help them understand the importance of setting goals and striving to become great citizens. I also want to give them a sense of hope that with perseverance, they can become great role models for other adults &young people by
Kaye, H., Jans, L., & Jones, E. (2011). Why don't employers hire and retain workers with disabilities? Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 21(4), 526-536. doi:10.1007/s10926-011-9302-8
The need for vocational rehabilitation as it pertains to individuals with disabilities is growing rapidly. It is imperative that the tools are given for success. There are many obstacles that people face when attempting to secure proper employment and housing. The type of disability plays a significant role. There are many factors that affect an individual's ability to obtain adequate employment and housing. Factors such as gender, age and socio-economic background are key. Employment and housing are the most important elements when transitioning from school to work or childhood to adulthood.
Every day in America, a woman loses a job to a man, a homosexual high school student suffers from harassment, and someone with a physical or mental disability is looked down upon. People with disabilities make up the world’s largest and most disadvantaged minority, with about 56.7 million people living with disabilities in the United States today (Barlow). In every region of the country, people with disabilities often live on the margins of society, deprived from some of life’s fundamental experiences. They have little hope of inclusion within education, getting a job, or having their own home (Cox). Everyone deserves a fair chance to succeed in life, but discrimination is limiting opportunities and treating people badly because of their disability. Whether born from ignorance, fear, misunderstanding, or hate, society’s attitudes limit people from experiencing and appreciating the full potential a person with a disability can achieve. This treatment is unfair, unnecessary, and against the law (Purdie). Discrimination against people with disabilities is one of the greatest social injustices in the country today. Essential changes are needed in society’s basic outlook in order for people with disabilities to have an equal opportunity to succeed in life.
Two years ago, I was writing my letter of intent for my application to the Master of Public Administration (MPA) with a concentration in Healthcare Administration revealing my failures, and most significantly, that I lost my passion and didn’t know where to start. I also conceded that I was relatively unaware of the field of Public Administration (PA). Little did I know, examining PA theories would enable me to connect the final dots in the big picture of my life, where I came from, who I’d come to be, what choices I’d made, the relationships I nurtured, and my dreams and desires for the future. Although confidence came slowly and awkwardly, I discovered my desire to contribute to the advancement of public health policies. I am writing to express my interest in continuing to the Doctoral program in the School of Public Administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). I am absolutely interested in the commitment to the advancement of knowledge, and confident my experience in higher education and academic research will contribute to my successful completion of the Ph.D. program, in the specialization area of public policy.