[BOOK] Better Together: A Joined-Up Psychological Approach to Health, Well-Being, and Rehabilitation

Health and well-being is best understood in terms of a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. But how ‘social’ is the biopsychosocial model when applied to mental health and rehabilitation? Psychology has traditionally viewed health as being determined by individual behavior. An integrative psychological approach is required to draw understanding from sociology, social psychology, and politics to consider how wider systemic, structural, and contextual factors impact on health behavior and outcomes. This e-book is dedicated to examining collective and community approaches to well-being and rehabilitation. In particular, the articles contained within this e-book are seeking to understand how social integration, social groups, social identity, and social capital influence health, well-being, and rehabilitation outcomes.

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Source: Frontiers | Better Together: A Joined-Up Psychological Approach to Health, Well-Being, and Rehabilitation

[ARTICLE] Social Integration of Disabled People in Russia Using Virtual Computer Technologies – Full Text PDF

Abstract

The article is devoted to the topical problem of persons with disabilities integration into society. Intensions and realities of social policy for disabled people in Russia are introduced. social and psychological barriers, obstructive to this process are described. The results of the survey in a sample of 268 disabled individuals are presented. It is concluded that the low level of community literacy, the lack of communication skills, social stereotypes concerning disabled people and “rental income attitude” of persons with disabilities are the most severe social and psychological barriers. Virtual computer technologies are offered as one of the modern tools, aimed at overcoming the barriers. Global and domestic experience of using virtual technologies for rehabilitation of disabled people are discussed. Technology of improving the life quality of persons with disabilities by means of virtualistics is proposed.

1. Introduction

In most countries there are articles in constitutions and other legislative documents on granting equal civil rights to all citizens, often the principle of social justice is also proclaimed. However, in any country of the world, there are categories of citizens, that require special conditions for life activity that, in practice, are not always provided. This is especially true for people with disabilities. In modern Russia, stereotype of perception of disability is partly preserved mainly as a restriction of human capabilities for health reasons, by virtue of which such persons are separated from the rest of society. In accordance with applicable law, disability in the Russian Federation is understood as a violation of human health with a persistent disorder of body functions, leading to a total or substantial loss of employability and to other significant difficulties in life.

Differences in the content, embedded in concepts of “disablement”, “disability” in the English language, and “disability” in the Russian language characterize the difference in the attitude of society towards this category of people. Russian term “disabled person” (“invalid”) looks rather offensive as it focuses on “incomplete capacity” of a person because of his physical problems and partly on his “inequality”. In the west, the state policy of disability is mainly focused not on restricting the employment of such people, but on providing them with specific jobs and most favorable conditions for full inclusion in society.

To date, there has been a positive change in the social policy of the Russian Federation. There is a number of social programs aimed at the integration of citizens with disabilities into society, since the aim of social integration is to create a “society for all”, in which everyone have social subjectivity, rights and obligations, regardless of their health status. (Petrosyan, 2011).

It should be noted that rehabilitation of disabled people is necessary for society not only for moral, but also for economic reasons. According to calculations made by the Office of Rehabilitation Services of USA, for every $ 1000 invested in such activities, $ 35000 is returned to society due to subsequent work of a disabled person. According to forecasts, by 2015 the number of people with disabilities will increase to 21.1 million people in Russia. (Gosbook.ru, 2006). To make full use of their labor potential it is necessary to optimize rehabilitation measures aimed at improving their quality of life

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