A quick view on Group Work Setting for Physically, Visually and Mentally Challenged.

1. SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS
Group Work with
Physically, Visually and
Mentally Challenged
Social work With Group Assignment
By: Kartik Beemsingh
2012
MADRAS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

2. Social Work With Group Assignment
Social Group Work Setting with Physically, Visually and Mentally Challenged
Introduction
Group work with physically challenged comes with its own set of challenges. A social work has to
adapt to this change and by accepting the challenges look for opportunities.
The Group work setting in this setting can be a Clinical, Therapeutic or a Support depending upon
the requirement of the Group.
As there are challenged there are various opportunities while working with physically disabled.
There are lot of facilities and institutions which are established by the Government for the
empowerment of physically disabled. A social worker can make use of such facilities for the helping
client or act as a facilitator for the client to avail the same.
Physically Challenged
Rehabilitation of people who are physically challenged is another priority of the Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment. Special care is provided to them through District Disability Rehabilitation
Centers, institutes and NGO's.
People with physical disabilities include the visually impaired, hearing impaired and amputees. Disabled
people need different types of rehabilitation depending on the extent of their injury. Patients/Clients are
evaluated by a team of specialists and are counseled along with their families. Rehabilitation involves
processes to help patients live a decent standard of life with their handicap.
Rehabilitation for the blind involves learning the sighted guide technique, the use of the white cane,
reading and writing the Braille language and performing household chores without sight. They are
taught vocational skills in fields where blindness is not a handicap like candle making and other crafts.
Some may be provided visual aids.
People who have lost a limb due to a disease or accident receive reconstructive surgery. Later on they
may be provided with an artificial leg like a Jaipur foot, a caliper or crutches. They are then taught how
to walk with new aid they receive and are given vocational training to help them get a job.
Deaf and Mute people may be recommended surgery or fitted with a hearing aid or ear mould
depending on their unique condition. Those who haven't learnt to speak as yet (children below five) are
given speech therapy that includes learning the sign language, lip reading and other pointers.
Depending on their situation, a few disabled people may also be prescribed medications and surgery of
different types. The rehabilitation process in all cases involves follow up treatment where the patient is
rechecked at periodic intervals.
Hospitals and Institutes Handling Disabilities:
 Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai.
 National Institute for the Orthopedically Handicapped (NIOH), Calcutta
 National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, Dehradun
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3. Social Work With Group Assignment
 Institute for the Physically Handicapped (IPH), New Delhi
 National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities, Chennai
 National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research, Cuttack
 Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute for the Physically Handicapped
Mentally Challenged
The symptoms of mentally challenged people are usually not easily visible. People who suffer from
mental disabilities have a brain disorder and no control over their condition. Some common mental
problems are autism, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, anxiety disorders and
schizophrenia. Some people are born with mental disabilities while a large many acquire mental
problems after accidents, strokes, serious illnesses and old age.
Severe psychiatric disabilities interfere with a person’s ability to carry out such primary aspects of daily
life. These activities include self-care, household management, interpersonal relationships and school or
office work. Traditionally, medication and psychotherapy were the two major treatments given to those
with psychiatric disabilities. Little attention was given to preventing or reducing functional limitations
or handicaps to social performance. However, new mental rehabilitation strategies include community
integration and making patients independent and able to deal with their situation.
Skill strengthening involves teaching life coping skills, symptom management and resources to find a
job. Critical environmental support strengthening approaches include family behavior management and
the use of peer groups in the transition to community living. Patients are also given social skills,
interpersonal skills, personal hygiene and self-care training. This includes dress and behavior codes;
rules about what to say and not to say; and stylistic guidelines about the expression of affection, social
reinforcement, and interpersonal distance.
Work assistance approaches include individualized career planning, help with job access, and aid in job
retention; peer support, coordination with other social agencies and assurances of confidentiality.
Some patients may be given medications to control their condition while others may have to undergo
different types of surgery. All patients are provided vocational training, occupational therapy that
involves teaching them a new skill or creative activity. Those who complete rehabilitation therapy have
to attend regular checkups and camps.
List of a few centers that treat mental disorders in India
 National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore.
 All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
 Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
 Bombay Hospital
 Apollo Hospitals
 Central Institute of Mental Retardation (CIMR), Trivandrum
 Central Institute Of Psychiatry (CIP), Ranchi
 Ranchi Institute of Neuro Psychiatry and Allied Science (RINPAS)
 National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped, Secunderabad
 Rehabilitation Council of India, New Delhi
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4. Social Work With Group Assignment
Corporative Initiatives for physically Challenged
RBI for banking facilities to visually challenged and physically disabled
“The banking regulator has advised all banks to make provisions to ensure that all banking facilities such
as cheque book facility, ATM facility, Net banking facility, locker facility, retail loans, and credit cards are
offered to visually challenged persons without any discrimination” – banktechindia.com
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has advised banks to adopt measures to ensure that visually
challenged and those with physical disabilities aren't discriminated against or at a
disadvantage when accessing banking facilities.
 RBI's advisory follows a report by Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with
Disabilities which noted that visually challenged persons are facing problems in availing
banking facilities like internet banking.
 In its notification, RBI said that banks need to make sure that all banking facilities such as
cheque book facility including third party cheques, ATM facility, Net banking facility, locker
facility, retail loans, credit cards etc., are invariably offered to visually challenged persons
without any discrimination as they are legally competent to contract.
 RBI also advised banks to take necessary steps to provide all existing ATMs / future ATMs
with ramps and to make at least one third of new ATMs installed as talking ATMs with
Braille keypads.
 Citing its earlier circulars in which it had advised banks to put in place effective mechanisms to
seamlessly extend banking services to visually impaired and physically challenged, the
banking regulator advised banks to strictly adhere to instructions contained in the earlier
notifications.
 In September 2005 the Court of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities had passed
Orders instructing banks to offer all the banking facilities including cheque book facility, ATM
facility and locker facility to the visually challenged and also assist them in withdrawal of cash.
It had also advised banks to render all possible assistance to the visually challenged for
availing various banking facilities.
Story of KFC
KFC is a chain of restaurants, which is known for its taste and quality, have tried to make a difference.
Servicing at a Point of Sales is not an easy job to do, this involves taking order, reconfirming the order,
generating bills, collecting cash, returning back the balance and finally serving the order. Amazingly
the entire tasks mentioned above are smoothly executed every day at KFC by hard working individuals
who are physically challenged in some way. This is a great example that at any given walk of work life,
physically challenged people can learn adapt and execute their duties just like any other ordinary
person. At KFC these individuals get the same remuneration as any ordinary employee and make a
decent and dignified living.
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