Many people have physical and mental disabilities, ranging from mental health conditions, such as depression to physical conditions, such as Cerebral Palsy. The American Disability Act (ADA) was created in 1990, the United States’ first piece of civil rights legislation, prohibiting people with disabilities from being discriminated against in several areas. While the United States has enacted federal legislation, other nations such as Canada, do not have federal level laws that protect people with disabilities, each province making the choice to enact disability laws. In spite of disability legislation and solid existing programs that help people with disabilities, some changes are needed.

In the economically distressed state of New York, social workers have done an excellent job advocating for people with disabilities. Without social workers, people who are in wheel chairs would not have special ramps needed to get into restaurants, grocery stores, concerts, theaters, etc. Social workers have also worked hard to advocate for people who have other disabilities, such as mental illness and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

In the state of New York, there are several in home services for people who have TBI. Companies such as New Frontiers Traumatic Brain Injuries, Inc., now called Allwell, have offered several services that help people with TBI get back into the community and reclaim their lives. Independent Living Skills Trainers and Social Workers work with these individuals one on one, as they assist them in skills of daily living, memory strategies, medication and financial management, and vocational skills. New York State also does a great job dealing with deaf individuals and students.

Organizations such as Deaf Adult Services help deaf individuals get access to needed resources. New York is especially accommodating to deaf high school students, the Amherst School district having developed a special Hearing Resource Program that provides students with access to an interpreter, an in class note taker, special testing accommodations, and transportation for deaf students outside of the school district. Many public colleges also offer services for students with learning disabilities, special accommodations available that give students a quiet place to take tests and quizzes, as well as extra time.

Yet, there are still some problems that exist. After assessing social work programs in New York and in general, I noticed some issues that need to be fixed. Many individuals with disabilities receive public assistance. The majority are willing to work, but are unable to do so for various reasons. Obtaining public assistance as a means to provide food, clothing, and shelter for families is becoming more prevalent. Individuals willing to work have many difficulties of providing child care while working, and transportation to get to and from work, without spending everything they are making at their job. Additionally, many individuals with disabilities need job skills as they do not have diplomas or GEDS, and job training is minimal in the area. Other individuals that have college degrees are unable to find employment due to the poor job market.

One way to solve this problem is to develop a proposal for a “one-stop-shop” to serve the needs of those moving from welfare to work. This allows individuals with disabilities to take care of several needs simultaneously. I would approach the social planning/community organization and explain pressing dilemmas. Many individuals on welfare are having difficulty finding stable employment or are unable to locate jobs that will work around their children’s school schedules. Others are unable to pay for child care and basic needs with the minimum wage that the job they have is paying. Some individuals are unable to obtain jobs as they do not have a high school diploma, a GED, or job skills. Some individuals are unable to find transportation to get to a job or have to pay bus fare, or have a car payment that is the same as the amount they are earning. Lastly, there are individuals who have degrees but are still unable to obtain employment due to the poor job market. Including individuals on welfare in the decision process would empower them. As stated in the NASW Code of Ethics, “Social workers respect and promote the right of clients to self determination and assist clients in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals”

After determining the strengths and weaknesses current disability programs, City Planners can be used. For instance, if a strength is seen in the fact that there is a bus system in New York, but a weakness is lack of busing in rural areas, City Planners could work with Resource Developers to develop better routing systems to meet the needs of more individuals. Other areas planners could work on would be developing job training sites. Perhaps working with City Supervisors and Managers to locate local business owners who would be willing to do job training for individuals could be developed. Additional job training may be set up by Educators in the facility set up as the one-stop-shop for welfare to work recipients. These Educators could be made up of the individuals who are currently on welfare but have college degrees and are having difficulty finding employment. Employing them by having them teach their trade or another similar trade may be an option. Child Care services could be an area developed in the one-stop-shop and run by individuals in the welfare to work program who have a desire or background with childcare. Lastly, Educators will be needed to work with these individuals on employment skills such as resume’ writing, and obtaining and keeping jobs. Once an area for the “one-stop-shop” has been established and the ideas are planned by the City Planners, funding will be necessary to provide for this “one-stop-shop.”

While I feel that New York’s State’s Disability Services are good, social workers having greatly helped people with disabilities to secure needs services and accommodations, I feel that changes can also be implemented. A “one- stop- shop,” is a way for individuals with disabilities to find better jobs, increase their income, and get more education, thereby increasing the quality of their lives.