Module 3: What gets in the way? Barriers to social inclusion
Let’s refresh our memory!
In Module 1 we discussed the limited social inclusion of people with disability.
In module 2 we already started thinking of ways you and other disability support workers could help amend this situation, for example by identifying ‘meeting places’ where service users can encounter other members of their community.
Before we move on to think of other ways you can support the people you work with to be more socially included, it is also important to step back and think why it is that people with intellectual disability experience such limited forms of social inclusion.
Let’s refresh our memory!
In Module 1 we discussed the limited social inclusion of people with disability.
In module 2 we already started thinking of ways you and other disability support workers could help amend this situation, for example by identifying ‘meeting places’ where service users can encounter other members of their community.
Before we move on to think of other ways you can support the people you work with to be more socially included, it is also important to step back and think why it is that people with intellectual disability experience such limited forms of social inclusion.
Barriers to social
inclusion
The reasons for the social exclusion of people with intellectual disability are many and complex, including community attitudes, communication barriers and also the design of disability services and accommodation and some of the practices of disability support workers. These issues are discussed in the video below.
The reasons for the social exclusion of people with intellectual disability are many and complex, including community attitudes, communication barriers and also the design of disability services and accommodation and some of the practices of disability support workers. These issues are discussed in the video below.
Common staff
practices which limit opportunities for encounter and social inclusion
One of the primary roles of disability support workers is to support people with intellectual disability to be more socially included. And while there are many examples of best practice with positive outcomes (which we discuss in more detail in the following modules), there are also many examples of support workers acting in ways that prevent, rather than enable, encounters and social inclusion for the people they support. Some of these problematic practices are discussed and illustrated in the video below:
One of the primary roles of disability support workers is to support people with intellectual disability to be more socially included. And while there are many examples of best practice with positive outcomes (which we discuss in more detail in the following modules), there are also many examples of support workers acting in ways that prevent, rather than enable, encounters and social inclusion for the people they support. Some of these problematic practices are discussed and illustrated in the video below:
Activity 3
In your experience as a disability support worker, what community attitudes have you faced that prevented opportunities for encounters and social inclusion?
In your experience as a disability support worker, what community attitudes have you faced that prevented opportunities for encounters and social inclusion?
Conclusion
There are many barriers to the social inclusion of people with intellectual disability, and an important part of your role as a disability support worker is to help the people you support overcome such barriers. This includes ensuring your own practices as a support worker assist rather than prevent social inclusion. An even more challenging role for you is to support a person with intellectual disability to overcome other barriers such as stigmatising community attitudes towards people with intellectual disability, and in some cases cognitive and communication differences which make meaningful social inclusion more challenging. In the following modules we will cover in some detail some of the things that you can do to achieve this.
There are many barriers to the social inclusion of people with intellectual disability, and an important part of your role as a disability support worker is to help the people you support overcome such barriers. This includes ensuring your own practices as a support worker assist rather than prevent social inclusion. An even more challenging role for you is to support a person with intellectual disability to overcome other barriers such as stigmatising community attitudes towards people with intellectual disability, and in some cases cognitive and communication differences which make meaningful social inclusion more challenging. In the following modules we will cover in some detail some of the things that you can do to achieve this.