Aging and Disability

Answer the following questions in 100 to 200 words each. Provide citations for all the sources you use. What is ageism? How does ageism influence the presence of diversity in society? Ageism is prejudice and discrimination against the elderly. It affects the presence of diversity in society because when people become elderly, many companies no longer want to hire them. They think they are too old to be able to keep up with fast paced environments which the job may call for. Many companies pass up hiring experienced older people because the younger people will work for less money because they have less experience too.Also, being old is sometimes thought of as being slow or not being able to focus on the task at hand. Ageism seems to have people referring to elderly as being sickly whereas being young is thought of as being in good health. What is the Age Discriminitation in Employment Act (ADEA)? How does the ADEA address issues for the aging population? The Age Discrimination in Empl oyment Act (ADEA) stops any amployer from refusing to hire or fire individuals because of their age. This act pertains to persons over the age of 40.The Age Discrimination in Employment Act specifically deals with issue pertaining to compensation, employee benefit plans, health coverage, and pensions. Any action that could prohibit an individual from receiving gainful employment based on his age. For example, if an employer hires a younger person instead of an older person simply becauase they think the younger person can fulfill the job duties better, then they violation of the ADEA. What is being done to address the issues you identified? Congress has passed other laws to help lessen discrimination issues against the elderly.For example they have passed the â€Å"older workers benefit act†, as a way to further ensure the elderly will not be discriminated against. Also, every age discriminated case that is filed is required to have a 60 day investigation by the Equal Employm ent Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Most of these cases are closed for administrative reasons or no reasonable cause. Some cases are resolved before the EEOC gets involved. The ADEA was put into place so employers would hire according to ability and not according to age.Is the number of aging population expected to rise in numbers or decrease? The number of aging population is expected to increase in numbers. This means we will find new ways to deal with diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses that affect older individuals. The growing number of aging population means there will be a greater demand of insurance companies for health coverage, medical services, and social programs that assist the elderly. The increased number of fertility has an impact on the number of aging population also.With increased effectiveness of medical treatments, individuals will have a greater life expectancy which in turn leads to larger numbers of individuals living to older ages. W hat types of legislation may or may not be affected by the aging population? The government agencies that assist the elderly such as medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and even the Veterans Administration may be affected by the aging population. For example, the money that funds these programs could be reduced or increased by the federal government depending on which way they see they need to be.Also, money used to pay for the health care workers may be affected. For example, some of the elderly people may need long term care. They may have nurses, family, or friends that help care for them in their home and the program that funds the home health care may be reduced to where these individuals would have to pay out of pocket for these services. How does poverty affect the aging population? Poverty affects the aging population dramatically because most elderly people rely on social security benefits to survive on.Without these benefits many would not be able to get a job to pay thei r basic bills such as electric and rent. It is hard for the elderly to gain employment because of their age. The employer thinks they cannot perform as fast or accurate as someone who is young. So without being able to gain employment, the elderly rely on public progams such as food stamps and social security to keep them surviving with the basic necessities. Some elderly people live in nursing homes where their benefits are used to pay for these services, leaving them nothing to live on. Part IIAnswer the following questions in 100 to 200 words each. Provide citations for all the sources you use. What does the ADA provide for people with disabilities? First, the ADA makes it illegal for anyone with disabilities be discriminated against for employment in the case of hiring, firing, promotions, or retentions. If the individual can perform the job requirements with or without accomodations, then the employer cannot discriminate against him due to his disability. It requires public tra nsportation systems, government offices, and programs to be accessible by people with disabilities.For example, wheelchair lifts in public transit vehicles, means for the hearing impaired, and disabled individuals must have the chance to participate in all activities in the city recreation areas. Also, city administration buildings have to be accessible. Restaraunts, stores, theaters, or any other business that serves the public must be sure to accommodate the disabled also. For example, they must be wheelchair accessible by installing a ramp or removing steps that would prohibit entrance of a wheelchair.How have people with disabilities been treated in the past? In earlier years, people with disabilities were considered to be evil or cursed. Some were even tortured as a means to rid them of their evil spirits. However, not all people thought of the disabled as being evil. Some were treated like outcasts and some were kept alive by their families even though they didn’t want to have nothing to do with them. While in some areas the disabled individuals were treated the same as everyone else and allowed to participate in activities as much as they could.In the past, people with disabilities was not hired for jobs, got less education, and kept quiet because many considered a disabled individual a curse on that particular family. They feared what society would think of them. How has the attitude toward people with disabilities changed over time? People with disabilities have a chance at employment and education now that they did not have before. The ADA helps protect them from being discriminated at the work place due to their disability.There are more advanced medical treatments now than before to try to improve the disabled individuals condition and allow him to have a more â€Å"normal† life. Not only has educational information been provided to people with disabilities but also to society so they will know people with disabilities have the same e qual opportunities that non-disabled individuals have. People with disabilities have access to public busineses and transportation services which allows them to be more independent. What are some unique circumstances or issues encountered by people with disabilities?I believe one circumstance that would be unique for people with disabilities would be trying to explain to non disabled individuals that just because you are disabled doesn’t mean you are ignorant. I have seen people that encounter a disabled individual change their regular way of behaving. For example, I have a friend who is completely paralyzed from the waist down. He has been like this since birth, yet he has learned how to maneuver himself by using his arms as legs. However, you wouldn’t believe the way people act toward him when we are out.One incident that I will never forget was this lady held the door open for him at the store and looked at him right in his face and said in a loud voice, real slow, â€Å"let me get this door for you†. It was as if she automatically thought because he was in a wheelchair, that he couldn’t hear or was mentally challenged as well. I knew he encountered some crazy actions from people, but this incident really opened my eyes on how bad people need to be educated concerning people with disabiilites. What is being done to address those issues?I believe making information available to the public about disabilities is one of the best hings that can be done for people with disabilities. When non-disabled individuals assume what is going on with the disabled individuals, more problems could arise from this assumption. As far as the circumstances that disabled individuals face pertaining to access to public places such as stores, theaters, or even transportation, wheelchair lifts and ramps have been put into place. Also, some vehicle companies have made it possible to customize vehicles to where disabled individuals can actually drive.By put ting the control pedals, gas and brake, in the steering area, some disabled individuals no longer require the help of others to get around in the public. Also, wheelchair lifts have been made available to private vehicles as well as public vehicles. Another area which has addressed issues for the disabled is the employment and education areas. Disabled individuals now have the same opportunity to advance their career or educational privelages as they wish without being discriminated against.What types of legislation have been introduced to address issues faced by people with disabilities? The most significant types of legislation that have been introduced to assist people with disabilities are: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, (DD ACT), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Rehabilitation Act (Rehab Act), Social Security ACT (SSA), Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA), and the Wo rkforce Investment Act (WIA).These programs provide assistance to disabled individuals and their families within needs of daily life activities. These programs assist them so they can work and perform daily life with the same opportunities as non disabled individuals. These services can act as a guide for individuals that need to know where and how to get the support they need for things like housing, employment, education, transportation, and any other economic security they may need.