Research Design

Introduction

The research area is “accommodation of people living with disabilities.” The study is

founded on existing literature that raises concerns about discrimination against people

living with disabilities. Studies point out the laws and policies that require inclusivity, but

other sources pose a mismatch between policy and what is being done at different

institutional levels in society. The research thesis is that although society has embraced

people living with disabilities, there are still structural and other barriers that prevent the

disabled from fully participating in societal activities. The review will focus on several

areas; the perception of the disabled and how it has changed over time,

accommodation of the disabled, mismatch between policy and practice, and the existing

barriers in education, healthcare, transport, and other sectors.

1. Annaswamy, Thiru M., Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, and Lex Frieden.

"Telemedicine barriers and challenges for persons with disabilities:

COVID-19 and beyond." Disability and health journal 13.4 (2020): 100973.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2020.100973

The research paper seeks to determine the challenges facing people with disabilities

while accessing health through telemedicine services. According to the authors, most

people living with disabilities live in rural areas where it is challenging to access fast

internet. The authors are also concerned that the costs of maintaining clinical

productivity via telemedicine will be transferred to vulnerable populations, including the

disabled, which makes the situation more challenging. Telemedicine is effective when

combined with physical visits. Since patients will be required to go for ancillary services

such as lab testing, coordinating these logistics will remain a challenge to people living

with disabilities. Lastly, the authors point out communication barriers as a significant

challenge since most telemedicine platforms lack friendly features for the disabled.

The article raises critical questions about the ability of disabled people to receive

equal care with those who are not disabled. While technology is supposed to ease

access to healthcare across all populations, it is ironic that technology promotes

healthcare inequality. Even software developers do not consider the needs of the

disabled in the community and come up with tools and platforms that are ineffective for

this population. Conventional challenges, such as mobility issues, still exist in this era of

telemedicine, and if nothing is done, it implies that these vulnerable populations will

continue to suffer. As it stands, people living with disabilities have poor access to

healthcare and worse health care outcomes.

This is a recent paper that was authored in 2020 during the pandemic. It contains

current and relevant information. Although it focuses its findings on the pandemic era, it

clearly shows that people living with disabilities will still suffer as long as telemedicine

exists, even if the pandemic will subside. All the authors are authoritative; Monica is a

Texas Health Science center professor. Thiru is a corresponding author at the North

Texas Health Care System. Lex is also a professor at the University of Texas Health

Science Center. The three have pointed out specific barriers in the healthcare system

that prevent the disabled from accessing maximum care.

2. Bezyak, Jill Louise, et al. "Community participation and public transportation

barriers experienced by people with disabilities." Disability and rehabilitation 42.23

(2020): 3275-3283. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2019.1590469

The research was founded on the hypothesis that people living with disabilities are barred

from accessing basic facilities because of existing physical barriers. The survey was conducted to

determine the accessibility of public transportation by the disabled. Although there were group

differences, the main finding from the survey was that these people face significant challenges

when accessing and using public transport. Therefore, people living with disabilities are not fully

accommodated, and they may be forced to deal with challenges trying to lead a normal life.

The research implies that some disability groups deal with more severe problems than other

groups, based on the answers from different groups. An analysis of the answers also implies that

when coming up with disability-friendly policies, it is important to consider the needs of the

different groups so that more vulnerable groups are prioritized. The findings pose a question on

whether policymakers and advocates consider different groups when formulating policies or not.

It also shows a likelihood of a mismatch between policy and practice.

The article is recent and contains recent findings and information that can be used to address

the problems. All the authors are credible, having published several other types of research in

different disciplines. The information in the article meets the researcher's needs and helps

analyze the physical barriers that exist for people living with disabilities. The information is

correct and truthful because it is based on a primary survey where the participants expressed

their experiences and opinions. It helps to answer the research questions by identifying existing

barriers that will help propose recommendations.

3. Blanck, Peter. "Disability inclusive employment and the accommodation principle:

emerging issues in research, policy, and law." Journal of Occupational

Rehabilitation 30.4 (2020): 505-510.

Blanch points out anti-discriminatory laws and policies seek to remove structural and

attitudinal barriers that conform people; living with disabilities as they exercise their rights to

participate in societal activities. The accommodation principle is the most demanding

requirement because it calls out on employees to make adjustments that allow the disabled to

work and participate fully. Discrimination, in this sense, implies that the institution has failed to

make adjustments, exposing the disabled to daily struggles. It also includes denying people work

opportunities because of disability. Blanck further reveals that institutions incur minimal to zero

costs to accommodate people, and the best way is to teach a culture of inclusivity and support

that makes everyone comfortable. The author concludes that some companies have tried to

accommodate the disabled, but structural barriers exist.

This is a very significant source that articulates the role of laws and policies in making the

world a comfortable place for the disabled. Since the paper acknowledges some level of

accommodation, it helps to answer the general research question: if the world accommodates the

disabled. Apart from that, it still points out existing barriers that will form a foundation for

recommendations. The paper was published in 2020 and contains the analysis of recent and

reviewed laws and policies. The author is a professor at Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse

University, previously published credible articles. The research is based on reputable sources,

contributing to its validity and credibility.

4. Blanck, Peter. "Disability-inclusive employment, cancer survivorship, and the

Americans with Disabilities Act." Journal of Cancer Survivorship (2022): 1-10.

The author argues that disability-inclusive laws seek to challenge institutions to remove

structural and attitudinal barriers and ensure that the government and other entities comply with

the accommodation principle. The main point is to challenge researchers to conduct intensive

research that will help identify and address the gap between policy and practice. Based on this

article, inclusivity in employment and other sectors is not satisfactory. People living with

disabilities, including cancer survivors, are harassed and sometimes laid off illegally because

they are considered less productive.

The paper brings out an important issue of cancer survivors that has been significantly

overlooked. Most cancer survivors become more dependent and less productive when they

resume duty. The same organizations expected to accommodate them choose to discriminate

against them and sometimes lay them off. While cancer is not a disability, ADA protects people

when the disease makes them unable to do everyday tasks that they used to do before they were

diagnosed with cancer. The paper has also significantly pointed out the role of research in

identifying existing gaps and proposing ways of fixing them.

This is the most recent article used in this literature review. It was published a few days ago,

and this implies it contains the latest and up-to-date information. The article is founded on two

primary studies that make sit valid and credible. There is evidence of discrimination against

people living with different kinds of disabilities in the two cases. It helps answer the gap between

policy and practice, which supports the thesis that although the world has embraced disability,

the people are not fully accommodated. It is also important that the article proposes the research

approach in helping address the issue.

5. Groce, Nora Ellen. "Global disability: an emerging issue." The Lancet Global

Health 6.7 (2018): e724-e725. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30265-1

The paper notes that there has been a change in the way people living with disabilities are

included in the global health landscape. The article bases an argument on WHO reports that the

15% of the world population living with different forms of disability do not live normally. They

attribute the challenge to the inequities in healthcare, education, employment, religion, politics,

and socioeconomic activities. The author argues that good healthcare alone cannot decrease the

rate of disability; instead, other issues such as road accidents, violence, and diseases that have the

potential of causing disability are also threatening.

The article raises questions about the effectiveness of the medical approaches to reducing

disability. It also points out disability to other social factors such as violence, whose reduction

would imply a decrease in the rate of disability. The paper mentions the importance of balancing

health, social, policy-oriented, and other approaches to reduce disability. An acknowledgment

that people living with disabilities are disadvantaged calls for better approaches to accommodate

them and make them more comfortable in society. The paper also emphasizes that while

disability has existed for the longest time, it remains an emerging issue that calls for further

research.

The article is a credible and valid source of information, authored by a renowned researcher,

an affiliate professor, and a lead researcher at the Leonard Cheshire Research center. Nora Ellen

Groce has published many other articles that link disability to other phenomena. The arguments

in the article are based on credible research conducted by credible bodies such as the World

Health Organization (WHO) and The Lancet Global Health. Since the article was published in

2018, it shows that it contains current information that would relate to the current status quo. The

most important information in this article helps answer how different sectors can help address the

emerging issue of disability.

6. Houtrow, Amy, et al. "Children with disabilities in the United States and the

COVID-19 pandemic." Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicine 13.3 (2020):

415-424.

The corona pandemic provided an opportunity for different countries to realize the weaknesses

of their healthcare systems, and the US is not an exception. The authors mention that people

living with disabilities were already marginalized before the pandemic, and the pandemic only

worsened the situation. The research was focused on children, who the authors pose that have not

been discussed much because most researchers focused on older adults. According to Houtrow et

al., children are vulnerable because of social circumstances. These factors include limited

participation in social activities, poverty, and minority race. When the pandemic hit, children

with disabilities were more vulnerable and could not access proper care because of the

surrounding circumstances.

The publication is significant in this research because it focuses on a specific

population(children with disabilities), focusing on the challenges particular to this population. An

outstanding observation in this research is that the vulnerability of disabled children is linked to

many factors, including the financial status of their families. Based on the findings of this paper,

the best way to help disabled children is to address the root causes of their vulnerability. The

article also importantly points out the role of family, especially parents, in shaping their

children's socialization. The paper has identified poor healthcare access and unmet needs as

potential areas of improvement.

The article has been authored by experienced experts who have published several other books

and articles on disability and other disciplines. The researchers based their findings on credible,

peer-reviewed, and reputable journals to form the argument and prove that children with

disabilities are vulnerable. The article was published less than two years ago and contained

current information which can be useful in solving current issues. The declaration of no conflicts

of interest also shows that the research is as objective and unbiased as possible.

7. Langørgen, Eli, and Eva Magnus. "'We are just ordinary people working hard to

reach our goals!' Disabled students' participation in Norwegian higher

education." Disability & Society 33.4 (2018): 598-617. https://doi.org/

10.1080/09687599.2018.1436041

The article is research conducted to shed light on the experiences that disabled students go

through in the institutions of higher learning. The research conducted in Norway revealed that

learners face barriers when interacting with others and when accessing basic social services.

However, these students tried to resolve these barriers independently by working in silence and

using their capabilities. Their aim is to be perceived as ordinary by appearing strong and doing

things independently instead of seeking support. The students also point out that some students

and staff recognized their strain and provided necessary support without calling attention to it.

The article's title is communicative, and the fact that disabled students call themselves

"ordinary" shows some level of lack of accommodation. They have to remind society that they

are like any other person. They reveal that they face barriers, which is an indication that in the

education sector, people living with disabilities are not fully accommodated. Such findings

indicate a gap between policy and practice; a learning institution is a space that is expected to

promote equality. It is a place where all learners and staff feel safe. Some learners and staff

recognize disabled students as ordinary and give help necessarily shows some level of

accommodation. However, some imply not all, meaning other institution members perceived

them as inferior.

The article is current (published in 2018) which means it contains the latest information that

can be applied in today's situations. The article is primary research that captures real-life

experiences of people living with disabilities, contributing to the paper's credibility. Both authors

are credible and have published previously on disability. They are both professors at the

Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Neuromedicine and Movement

Science. The paper's analysis has been done professionally, and sensible conclusions made. The

information is relevant to this research, as it helps confirm that persons living with disabilities

are not fully embraced in society, including in the education sector.

8. Sharma, Ambuj. "Myths about disability: A literature review." Economic and Social

Development: Book of Proceedings (2018): 1-7.

Sharma argues that disability was associated with past bad deeds decades ago, which led to

the stigma and discrimination of people living with disabilities. The people who had disabled

family members and friends always perceived them as objects of pity and a problem that needed

to be fixed. Due to these assumptions, the author reveals that society imposes selfish beliefs that

become detrimental to the people living with disabilities. However, the article acknowledges that

international communities have managed to influence perception by minimizing stereotypes and

championing inclusion over time.

The article reveals clearly that a lack of understanding of the issue is a potential cause of how

people perceive and treat people living with disabilities. When people link disability to past

deeds, they are likely to discriminate against the disabled because they are responsible for their

challenges. The myths contributed significantly to the strained relationship between the disabled

and other members of society. It raises questions about the role of research in understanding

disability at that time. The article also appreciates the role of the international institution in

shaping perceptions and making the world a better place for people living with disabilities.

The article is a credible and valid source, with arguments based on primary and secondary

publications that have been published within the past few years. Ambuj Sharma is an associate

professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and is known for his credible publications

in various disciplines. He has actively contributed to the strong scientific foundation built to help

address disability. The article helps to understand and trace the issue of disability in the past and

how the perceptions have changed over time.

Conclusion

The perception of disability has changed over time in the past. Disabled people were

considered a curse and responsible for their problems. They were also an object of pity because

they could do nothing independently. Over time, with research and access to information, society

started embracing disability and perceived it as a normal occurrence. People started offering the

necessary support to the disabled without calling attention. For example, the research conducted

by Langorgen and Eva revealed that the participants (disabled students could get support from

other students and staff members who just considered it necessary to support them." However,

there are still barriers to inclusivity, and people living with disabilities experience challenges

every day. In business organizations, managers are less willing to make the necessary

adjustments to accommodate people living with disabilities. In healthcare, there are structural

barriers such as telemedicine features favorable for the disabled. Although some laws and

policies require inclusivity, most of these requirements are not met. Therefore, people living with

disabilities are not fully accommodated in society.