Health Care Inadequacies for Disabled Americans

In lieu of an abstract, below is the first paragraph of the paper. Many disabled individuals, including the mentally retarded, the physically disabled, and the elderly, face constant erasure in American society. Rarely, if ever, are people with disabilities portrayed in television commercials, and if they are ever present in a movie or television show, they commonly portray such disabled stereotypes as supercrips. They also must face many unnecessary difficulties, including discrimination in the workplace, various abuses, and a lack of handicap accessibility. One of the most difficult aspects of life for a disabled American, however, is the inability to receive adequate health care, which commonly causes physical, financial, and emotional distress. In comparison with such countries as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan, all of which have universal health care systems, the United States has a long way to go in terms of caring for some it its most vulnerable citizens. Americans with disabilities would benefit greatly from a universal health care system, such as the ones in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Whether an individual has a mental retardation, is growing older, or has a physical disability, a system such as this would provide equal care to all citizens and, further, would make America a better place for everyone overall