Role of Public Health in Addressing

Physical Disabilities

ASSESSMENT 01

PRESENTERS T3 2023
SHAHZAB AKRAM GROUP: 03
RAO HAIDER CLASS: MELBOURNE
SHILPA DHIMAN INSTRUCTOR: MRS SONIA
Introduction
• In our exploration of public health's role concerning physical disabilities, we recognize a
significant challenge: 77% of individuals with disabilities suffer primarily from physical
impairments.
• This topic warrants urgent attention due to its widespread impact on health, well-being,
and societal participation.

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Background of the Population
and Health Issues
• Physical disabilities predominantly involve the musculoskeletal system (30%), including
back issues and arthritis, and extend to the ear and mastoid process (8.4%), circulatory
system (6.3%), and nervous system (6.7%).
• In Australia, out of the disabled population under 65 living with families, 61% are
physically disabled.
• Interestingly, only a small fraction (4.4%) of the disabled population uses wheelchairs,
highlighting the diverse nature of physical disabilities."
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Social Determinants of Health
• Social determinants significantly impact the health of individuals with disabilities.
• These individuals often face poor health and unmet medical needs due to poverty,
exclusion from education and employment, and substandard living conditions.
• Their reliance on family support for community and health activities further strains both
the disabled individuals and their caregivers, often women and girls.

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Health Inequalities
• Health disparities are a pressing concern, driven by factors like poverty, biological risks,
inadequate medication, behavioral aspects, and educational disparities.
• Conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease disproportionately
affect those with physical disabilities, highlighting a clear inequality in health outcomes.

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Employment and
Transportation
• In the employment sector, over a million working-age people with disabilities face
obstacles such as finding suitable jobs, lacking essential skills or education, age
discrimination, and inadequate work experience.
• Transportation is another critical area, where public transport systems often fail to
accommodate their needs, despite regulations like the Disability Standards for Accessible
Public Transport 2002.

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Social Justice and
Empowerment
• Social justice for disabled individuals involves addressing discrimination in employment
and service provision.
• Empowerment is critical, achievable through parental training, community participation,
vocational training, and legal awareness.
• It's about ensuring they have equal participation in society and access to their rights.

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Real-world Examples
• Two cases illustrate the challenges and solutions in public health for disabilities.
• One is a visually impaired student unable to participate in a standard exam setting, and the
other, a wheelchair user's inaccessibility to a local library.
• Both cases underscore the importance of adapting environments to meet diverse needs.

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Conclusion
• Concluding, people with disabilities strive for a quality of life akin to others, seeking
justice, healthcare, education, and employment.
• While many actively participate in these areas, challenges persist.
• Their experiences with accessibility, discrimination, and available services significantly
impact their life quality.

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References
1. People with disability in Australia, summary. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (n.d.).
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/disability/people-with-disability-in-australia/

2. Main features - overview of labour statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. (n.d.).

https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6102.0.55.001

3. People with disability in Australia, disability discrimination. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (n.d.-a).
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/disability/people-with-disability-in-australia/contents/justice-and-safety/disability-discrimination

4. Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. (2023, October 12). What are the
disability standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (transport standards)?
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/transport-accessibility/transport-disability-standards#:~:text=Disabi
lity%20Standards%20for%

5. Froehlich-Grobe K; Jones D; Businelle MS; Kendzor DE; Balasubramanian BA; (n.d.). Impact of disability and chronic conditions on 10
health. Disability and health journal. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27216441/
References
6. Face the facts - Australian human rights commission. (n.d.). https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/FTFDisability.pdf

7. People with disability in Australia, employment participation needs and challenges. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (n.d.-b).
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/disability/people-with-disability-in-australia/contents/employment/employment-participation-needs-a
nd-challenges

8. R;, F. A. F. S. (n.d.). Understanding disability and the “social determinants of health”: How does disability affect peoples’ social
determinants of health? Disability and rehabilitation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27927028/

9. J;, A. L. S. S.-L. (n.d.). A systematic review of U.S. studies on the prevalence of intellectual or developmental disabilities since 2000.
Intellectual and developmental disabilities. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31568738/

10. The future of the public’s health in the 21st Century - NCBI Bookshelf. (n.d.-b). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK221239

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Thank You All! :)

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