Geographies of Disability or Disadvantage

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Geographies of disability or disadvantage? 1. What is disability? 2. Old age and disability 3. The relationship between disability and disadvantage? 4. Medical model v/s social model ABS definition of disability: Disability is a physical or mental impairment that restricts participation in everyday activities and lasts for six months or more. Can include physical and intellectual disabilities, mental illness and age related illness. Australia‘s population is aging (more older people) • There is link between old age and disability o Restricted movement, poor health, needing care, dependency o Low income, asset poor older Australians Sydney demographics: • affluent areas have less disability • Poorer areas have more disability /socioeconomically disadvantaged groups • Reasons? a) Disability can create disadvantage for example: unemployment or low-income due to lack of or unequal access to study, work, services, social isolation status, stereotyping b) Disadvantage can create disability due to: lack of access to health services, unhealthy food, unhealthy life style, lack of resources adding stress and anxiety low paid work, more risk factors for chronic disease and disability c) Some areas are attractive to individuals that have low income and to individuals that have a disability: e.g. areas with more health services available for example in Parramatta region, greater access to public transport , socially provided housing . This can result in a congregation of low socio-economic/disadvantaged groups as well as people with disability. Key definitions/ models of disability: (1) Medical model Physical & mental impairment: focus on individual for being disabled/ not a shared social or political problem/ medical care is the main issue (2) Social model Disability is part of /due to the environment /a socially created

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