Stigmatization of people with physical disabilities

Kroz ovaj diplomski rad ću izložiti najvažnije informacije o osobama s tjelesnim invaliditetom te o njihovoj stigmatizaciji u različitim sustavima. Kako se društvo razvijalo tijekom povijesti, mijenjali su se stavovi prema ovoj skupini ljudi. Pojedine zajednice, premda su vrlo često bile sasvim netolerantne, uvidjele su važnost izjednačavanja životnih uvjeta osoba s tjelesnim invaliditetom s uvjetima ostatka okoline. Ipak, u mnogima od njih je još uvijek prisutan fenomen stigmatizacije osoba s tjelesnim invaliditetom. Vidljive su i naznake stigmatizacije njihovih obitelji (brojni su primjeri stigmatizacije roditelja, braće, sestara i drugih članova) što dovodi do psihosocijalnih poteškoća u svakodnevnom funkcioniranju. Stigmatizacija je vidljiva na svakoj razini obrazovanja što se posebno odražava kroz neprilagođenost obrazovnih ustanova. Iako nezaposlenost osoba s invaliditetom neizbježno dovodi do nepovoljnih financijskih, psiholoških i socijalnih posljedica, poslodavci na različite načine izbjegavaju zapošljavanje istih. Mogu se pronaći naznake pozitivnih promjena pri smanjivanju i ublažavanju stigme, ali je iznimno teško ukloniti sklonosti okoline prema promatranju osoba isključivo kroz prizmu invaliditeta. Da bi ih se percipiralo kao osobe s jednakim mogućnostima, potencijalima i sposobnostima, ključno je posredovanje socijalnih radnika. Informiranje okoline, zagovaranje prava, osnaživanje osoba s invaliditetom i obitelji pružanjem različitih oblika podrške, neizostavni su i neizmjerno važni segmenti socijalnog rada kao profesije.This graduation thesis wants to expose the main information’s regarding physical disabled people and stigmatization of persons with physical disabilities throughout different systems. As the society has been developing trough history, the attitude outward this group of people has been changing as well. Particular communities, although they were often completely intolerant, managed to realize the importance of leveling the persons with physical disabilities with the rest of the community. However, inside of many, the phenomenon of stigmatization of people with physical disabilities is still present. The indications of stigmatization in their families can also be seen (there are numerous stigmatization examples of parents, brothers, sisters and other members), that lead to psychosocial difficulties in every day behavior. Stigmatization can be visible on every single level of education system, especially reflected trough inappropriate educational institutions. Although unemployment of people with disability without doubt leads to unwanted financial, psychological and social consequences, employers constantly avoid employing them. The positive changes in reducing and easing the stigma can be found, but it is extremely hard to completely clear the tendencies of looking people through the eyes of their disability. For those people to be recognized as people with equal possibilities and abilities, the social workers assistance is an essential need. Informing the environment, advocating for rights, strengthening the people with disabilities and their families by providing different forms of support, are indispensable and essential segments of social labor as a profession