The Famous Social Security Blue Book Through Which You Have

The Famous Social Securityblue Bookthrough Which You Have Been Browsin

The famous Social Security Blue Book through which you have been browsing is an important tool in the disability determination process. Make sure to pick a specific disability and refer to it by name. Read through the information about some of the impairments that interest you. Then go to the library's website and begin doing some preliminary research. Locate and skim through some articles on various topics related to the impairments you have chosen. When you have found a topic that interests you AND located some research topics on the subject, you are ready for this week's assignment, which is in two parts: Define disability Discuss in words your current understanding of disability based on the Social Security definition and the other definitions you found online.

Paper For Above instruction

Disability is a complex and multifaceted concept defined differently across various organizations, legal frameworks, and cultural contexts. The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides a specific definition that is primarily functional and medical in nature, which states that a disability is an inability to engage in substantial gainful activity due to medically determinable physical or mental impairments that are expected to last or have lasted for at least 12 months or result in death. This definition emphasizes the impact of an impairment on an individual's capacity to work and perform daily activities, making it distinct from purely medical diagnoses or labels. Instead, it focuses on the functional limitations caused by health conditions and their consequences on economic productivity.

Understanding disability from the Social Security perspective involves recognizing that it is not solely a health condition but also pertains to how significantly that condition impairs an individual’s ability to sustain employment or participate in societal roles. For example, even a medically diagnosed condition like arthritis may be considered a disability if it severely limits mobility and the ability to perform work-related tasks. The emphasis on functional limitations aligns with the SSA’s goal of providing financial assistance to those who are unable to work due to longstanding impairments.

In contrast, many online definitions of disability tend to be broader and more inclusive, reflecting social and cultural viewpoints. The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) defines disability as an umbrella term that encompasses impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. This viewpoint extends beyond healthcare and employment to include social inclusion and societal barriers. According to ICF, a person may have an impairment (a problem with body functions or structures), but disability arises when that impairment leads to difficulty in performing activities and participating fully in life situations, especially when societal barriers or stereotypes exacerbate those difficulties.

Furthermore, societal perceptions of disability often emphasize social justice and inclusivity, framing disability as a matter of rights and equal participation. This conception advocates for removing environmental and societal barriers and providing accommodations to enable full societal participation. Hence, disability may be viewed not just as a consequence of individual health conditions but also as a product of societal structures that hinder or facilitate engagement in everyday life.

From my current understanding, based on these definitions, disability is a dynamic interaction between an individual's health condition and their environment. While the SSA's definition centers on functional limitations impacting employment, broader perspectives recognize the importance of social inclusion, environmental factors, and personal identity. The social model of disability, for example, argues that disability is primarily caused by societal barriers rather than individual impairments, advocating for societal change to promote inclusivity. Therefore, understanding disability requires a holistic view that considers medical, functional, social, and cultural dimensions, acknowledging that different contexts may emphasize various aspects of this complex concept.

References

• World Health Organization. (2001). International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). WHO Press.
• Social Security Administration. (2022). The Blue Book: Listing of Impairments. SSA.gov.
• Oliver, M. (1990). The Politics of Disablement. Macmillan.
• Shakespeare, T. (2013). Disability Rights and Wrongs Revisited. Routledge.
• Finkelstein, V. (2007). The Common Sense of Disability Policy: Some Critical Comments. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 17(2), 94-97.
• Barnes, C., & Mercer, G. (2010). Exploring the 'new' disability politics. In The Sociology of Disability (pp. 159-173). Routledge.
• Snowden, L. R. (2012). Health and mental health policies' role in better understanding and closing racial disparities in treatment access and quality. American Psychologist, 67(7), 524–531.
• Albiston, C., & Thommessen, J. (2012). Disability: Definitions and Administrative Perspectives. Journal of Social Policy & Disability.
• DePoy, E., & Gitlin, L. N. (2016). Introduction to Research: Understanding and Applying Multiple Strategies. Elsevier.
• Harrison, J. (2013). Disability, Society and the World of Work. Routledge.