Please answer each of topic on the list below and post a substantive discussion regarding the topics. Then reply to two different peers.
1. What are examples of discrimination concerning persons with disabilities?
2. Research and describe laws (at least 2) enacted to protect vulnerable populations.
3. What are the steps the nurse can take to ensure the protection of people with disabilities?
Vulnerable Populations
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliations
Vulnerable Populations
People with disabilities are categorized as vulnerable persons because they are exposed to a number of risk factors that pose a big threat to their health. According to the World Health Organization (2022), the United States is experiencing a dramatic increase in the number of people with disabilities. The organization further asserts that stigma and discrimination are some of the factors that are preventing people with disabilities from accessing quality healthcare services. In a position statement published in 2019, the American Nurses Association (ANA) recognizes the key role that nurses play in removing barriers and in providing ethically appropriate care for people with disabilities (American Nurses Association, 2019). The purpose of this assignment is to discuss examples of discrimination faced by people with disabilities, describe laws that protect people with disabilities, and highlight the steps that nurses can take to ensure the protection of people with disabilities.
Examples of Discrimination Concerning Persons with Disabilities
People with disability may face discrimination due to their statuses. An example of discrimination that a person with a disability can face is not being hired for a job position that even people with disabilities can comfortably perform. People with disability often face discrimination during hiring because people like their disability statuses with incompetence and inability to perform (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2022). Another example of discrimination commonly faced by people with disabilities is harassment. One can make offensive remarks targeting people with disability. These can range from simple teasing remarks to heartbreaking comments that cause distress. People with disability can also face discrimination during promotions, job assignments, and training. One may fail to promote them, assign them some tasks, or consider them for training due to their statuses. In health care, people with disability may face discrimination when it comes to accessing healthcare services, enrolment in insurance programs, or involvement in decision-making concerning issues that are affecting employees and patients (World Health Organization, 2022). Generally, discrimination causes social and health-related disadvantages for people with disabilities.
Laws Enacted to Protect Vulnerable Populations
Numerous laws exist to protect vulnerable populations. The laws that will form the focus of this assignment will be those enacted to protect people with disabilities. The three federal laws in the United States that offer protection for people with disabilities include; section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits organizations and employers from denying people with disabilities equal employment opportunities and program benefits. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 directs organizations and individuals to remove barriers and eliminate discrimination for people with disabilities. The ACA of 2010 advocates for increased healthcare access for people with disabilities (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Employers, organizations, and individuals should adhere to the requirements of these laws to avoid facing legal liabilities.
The Steps the Nurse Can Take to Ensure the Protection of People with Disabilities
Part of the nurse’s role is to ensure that people with disabilities receive adequate protection. The steps that nurses can take to ensure the protection of people with disabilities include; providing care to persons with disability without discrimination, providing them with the information that they need to make decisions regarding treatment, communicating clearly to them, and listening to people with disabilities and addressing their concerns (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020; World Health Organization, 2022). According to the American Nurses Association (2019), nurses should advocate for the implementation of laws and legislation that protect the rights of people with disabilities.
Conclusion
People with disability are among the vulnerable populations that need protection from all forms of discrimination. Organizations, employers, and individuals should comply with the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 to promote inclusion, remove barriers, and eliminate discrimination for people with disabilities. Nurses play a key role in ensuring the protection of people with disabilities.
References
American Nurses Association. (2019). Nurse’s role in providing ethically and developmentally appropriate care to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. https://www.nursingworld.org/~4ab16d/globalassets/practiceandpolicy/nursing-excellence/ana-position-statements/social-causes-and-health-care/nurses-role-in-providing-ethically-and-developmentally-appropriate-care-to-people-with-intellectual-and-developmental-disabilities.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Disability and health promotion. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/disability-strategies.html
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2022). Disability discrimination. https://www.eeoc.gov/disability-discrimination
World Health Organization. (2022). Disability and health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health