Do you think a disabled person would be qualified to take care of others?
Posted: June 3rd, 2010 | Author: admin | Filed under: Camping | Tags: care, disabled, others, person, qualified, take, think, would | 11 Comments »I worked at two summer enrichment programs between 2005 and 2006, and one was exclusively for disabled children. And I got these jobs through (temporary summer jobs) a youth employment agency and the weird thing is, these camps were usually composed of disabled children between ages 0-15 and from low income families. But the really weird thing was a lot of the people who got these jobs at these sort of day care places were young, from poor families (14-22), and a few with special needs. A couple of them were severe to the point where they were given non-daycare jobs.
So may question is, what was the point of those summer work experiences of basically putting similar people together but one group was supposed to the caretakers of possibly some people their age? It was weird, I did quit that youth program due to my age and not being able to find suitable work for myself.
Thank you all for the answers so far. But I tend to disagree, working at the disabled camp in particular was very stressful for me and felt like a slap in the face because I grew up on the generation that still had issues with disabled people and viewed them in a bad light. One of the reasons I didn’t return and I went to the “normal” camp the next summer.
And on another note, I just find it odd for a 15-16 year old to be working at a camp where her peers go. To me, you’d think the students would need someone older and not exactly in the same situation, like someone to look up to or aspire to.
Depends on the nature of the individual.
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Yes they can. I have a 14yo son who has Aspergers Syndrome and he looks over the little ones on my block like a mother hen. He goes to therapy (by his own choice by the way). When his therapist has a child who is really withdrawn he asks my son do come in and help him out. So I feel yes ,too many people look at what they cant do and not what they can.
I am an adult aspie and I feel my disability gives me more empathy towards others with disabilities. I feel most autistic people have a “radar” where we can pick each other out. I also feel this gives us a special rapport with each other because we can better understand where each other is coming from. So I feel disabled people are not only qualified but are better suited. This is not only applicable to autistics but to other disabilities as well.
there is a common thread with all of them and they can relate to each other better. have you noticed how caring individuals with disabilities are? i could only wish more people that were quote, “normal” could have this same compassion and patience with society. your job will help you out more than you realize. in the future you will be able to help someone understand the disabled after working there; you just don’t use that knowledge now. your experience touched someone, or will in the future,…trust me it will prove invaluable.
Yes they can care for other children, probable in an assistant type roll. And what a great way for them to gain experiences if it is done properly. Sometimes if you have been through something you are more able to help someone then someone who has never been through it.
Not all people are capable of looking after child.
Yes I think a Disabled person is qualified to take care of other Disabled people, depending on the fuctioning level of the Disabled person
People who have a disability are very capable of working if given the chance, and when working with other people with disabilities, they tend to to be more empathetic, caring and nurturing towards each other.
As for the people being “poor” could do with the fact that Human Services may have funded these camps, and will usually encourage families who seek there support and services to attend these camps. The exclusive camp for low income families, was due the families not normally being able to afford holidays or even regular respite due to high cost and fees.
If person is born into a poor family, and they have a disability, they are less likely to receive as much support services, as the family who has money, which will afford them better support services. Hence the low income camps.
As for the staff being poor and some with disabilities, well I commend the camp managers for employing disabled & poor people. Equal rights and opportunity.
Edit:
Disabled people in a “bad light” just what does that mean.
People with a disability are NOT BAD, and nor are they EVIL. They are regular people with the same thoughts and feelings as you or I, they just have an physical or cognitive impairment, which hinders their day to day living.
Camp leaders have to start some where, and the earlier they have hands on experience the better they are for gaining a job as camp leader, when the they have gained qualifications. Also what a better way of finding out if this is the type of work your wanting to specialise in.
I have seen quite a few young people come in as volunteers and then eventually go on to full time jobs after gaining relevant qualifications.
I have also seen small number who have not come back after completing a program with the disabled people. Possibly for the same reason you have, or they found it to hard or distressing, either way its ok.
I bet your richer for having spent a little time with the disabled children, and have a better appreciation of how difficult it really it is for some of them.
depends on the disabillityand the job.
So what generation is that who learned about putting disabled people in a bad light ? And boy would I like to talk to you for an article I’m writing.
I’m sure at your’ normal’ camp there were kids there called ‘”counsellors in training” just slightly older than the campers, those were the kids who were learning to be counsellors and developing leadership skills.
I am legally blind and worked at a camp for disabled children, I had no problem keeping an eye on them. I had to leave due to a mitigating health problem ,but I went on to become a teacher of special ed kids as well as a regular substitute classroom teacher. Now I’m a legally blind journalist.
Disabled people have the right to work at and train for any kind of job who will hire them.
Just like you they need to be taught what their strengths and weaknesses are .
Oh and I’m grateful I never had you for a cit under me , you would have been gone alot earlier than you were.
It depends the trust I have with that person!
of course, just the thought of helping others should be enough to qualify them as caregivers!…we do need these people in the world