Benecia Rodrigues
Unit 12 : Supporting Individuals with Additional Needs
Learning Aim B: Examine how to overcome the challenges to daily living faced by people with
additional need (P2, P3, M2)
In this report I will explain how disability is viewed in a social construct and how it impacts on an
individual’s wellbeing, then I will describe how health or social care workers can assist one child and
one adult with different additional needs in order to overcome their daily living challenges and
improve their quality of life. Furthermore, I will continue assessing the impact of challenges to daily
living that may be experienced by the young child and the adult with different additional needs, and
how effectively these challenges can be overcome in order to improve the individual’s quality of life.
In this report I will be focusing on two case studies of two individuals with different additional needs.
I will be using two Pearson authorised brief case studies; one of a young child named Rebecca Brown
and one of an adult named Ben Grace. For this study I will be explaining, assessing and describing
how the disability is viewed and how the society constructs it.
Case study 1. Rebecca Brown (Child Study)
Rebecca Brow is 8 years old and is a wheelchair user, following a road traffic accident when she was
five years old. Rebecca requires one to one personal care due to her physical disabilities, as she
sustained a fractured spine in the accident, meaning that she has no movement below her cervical
spine.
Rebecca attends a school for children with additional needs, where she has a designated teaching
assistant and also a carer who provides her with personal care during the school day.
Rebecca lives with her parents Sue and David and her older sibling Michael who is 12 years of age.
The family live in an upstairs apartment provided by a housing association, which is small and not
‘wheelchair friendly’.
Sue has a part time job at a local day nursery but has to stay at home during the school holidays, in
order to care for Rebecca and Michael, reducing the family income.
David works full-time at a local factory, working long hours for a low wage.
The neighbourhood where the Brown family live are not tolerant of Rebecca’s ‘difference’, and the
family have received unpleasant comments as they pass neighbours in the street, causing them to
avoid going out whenever possible.
Case study 1. Ben Grace (Adult Study)
Ben Grace is fifty two and has Down’s syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Ben has a learning age of 8 and
requires support with all aspects of daily living.
Ben lives in a group setting with five other adults who have learning difficulties and who also require
additional support.
Ben previously lived with his mother, but following her death last year, Ben moved to the residential
setting.
Ben has always enjoyed going shopping, but since he has moved into the residence, he prefers to
stay in his room which is a concern for the staff, following an incident with some local youths who
shouted at Ben when he went shopping with the residents and carers. Recently Ben was refused
entry to a local funfair by the manager who stated that Ben’s appearance could prevent other
people wanting to attend.
Ben is refusing to keep to the special diet required to control his type 2 diabetes and staff have
found bags of sweets under his pillow when making his bed. His blood glucose levels are unstable,
resulting in Ben feeling unwell. Ben has become withdrawn.
Disabilities is a physical or mental condition that maximum an individual’s movements, or activities;
covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions 1. Individuals with a disability
1
https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/disability
, Benecia Rodrigues
Unit 12 : Supporting Individuals with Additional Needs
may experience predicted and unpredicted events therefore over time life events can leave an
individual with additional need and may increase their condition negatively. Disablement is when an
individual is unable to perform due to their physical or mental unfitness 2. Due to the individual’s
disability the individual would not be able to live an independent life due to social constructs and
barriers imposed on them by society that disables people. Disability is divided into two models
known as the social and medical model. The medical model of disability explains individuals are
disabled by their impairments or differences. An impairment is a problem in the body’s functions;
this would limit an individual’s performance therefore the model would suggest medical or other
treatment can be used to treat the disability. The individual will go through diagnostic procedures
which will be carried out by specialists; specialists are highly trained people who specialise in a
specific subject with a highly qualified degree. The diagnostic procedures will determine the
individual’s disability. For example, for a wheelchair user the medical model would suggest, the
person should be expected to live in a communal home and receive therapy sessions for their
wellbeing. On the other hand, the social model of disability clarifies that disability is caused by the
society’s organisation which would lack the individual in performing certain activities. The model
says that people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference. Barriers
can be physical such as not having suitable toilet facilities for the disable. Or they can be caused by
the society’s reaction towards the disable, such as disabled people would not be able to do some
activities; this links to the theme of discrimination. Discrimination is the unfair treatment of different
categories of people such as disable3. The social model of disability can be improved by providing
support to the individual to carry on their daily activities and improve their quality of life.
Independence for disable individual means these individuals will have to same access of physical,
social, economic and environmental facilities as non-disable individuals. The ideology of
independence is linked to the idea of social constructs of disability which suggests that individuals
within society imply that other individuals with a certain disability are dependent on others to fulfil
their daily living activities and social needs. This is an idea that has been created and accepted by the
people in a society and society may react towards this in an unusual way which can be considered as
a form of discrimination against individuals who acquires the disability. This would be resulted as
giving out unwanted impressions by society and limiting the same opportunities as everyone else in
society.
Rebecca Brown is an 8 year old young child who requires one to one personal care due to her
physical disabilities, as she sustained a fractured spine in a car accident at the age of five. This
resulted in no movement below her cervical spine; this is due to the damage in the nervous system,
especially the spinal cord. This could lead to other major complications such as stroke or trauma. The
damage in her spine challenges her daily living as she will not be able to carry on certain activities
such as dressing up, changing and other physical activities; therefore, she will be dependent on
others to help her with this activity. Rebecca’s disability would require her to adapt to different
equipment and experiences such as a wheelchair. Using a wheelchair would benefit Rebecca as this
would enable her to travel to different places such as school and hospitals which would positively
benefit her wellbeing. Travelling to school would allow her to get an education opportunity which
would help her in her carer. Also travelling to hospital would allow her to attend her appointments
which will benefit her health and improve her quality of life.
Due to her disability the government will give her the privilege to have a personal carer and she will
have the education opportunity in a school which is designed for disable kids where young children
receive extra help in understanding and learning. The government would also offer her free
transport which will enable her to visit places such as hospitals and entertainment places with her
carer. On the transport buses there will be printed pictures pasted in certain areas of the bus which
2
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/disablement
3
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/discrimination
Unit 12 : Supporting Individuals with Additional Needs
Learning Aim B: Examine how to overcome the challenges to daily living faced by people with
additional need (P2, P3, M2)
In this report I will explain how disability is viewed in a social construct and how it impacts on an
individual’s wellbeing, then I will describe how health or social care workers can assist one child and
one adult with different additional needs in order to overcome their daily living challenges and
improve their quality of life. Furthermore, I will continue assessing the impact of challenges to daily
living that may be experienced by the young child and the adult with different additional needs, and
how effectively these challenges can be overcome in order to improve the individual’s quality of life.
In this report I will be focusing on two case studies of two individuals with different additional needs.
I will be using two Pearson authorised brief case studies; one of a young child named Rebecca Brown
and one of an adult named Ben Grace. For this study I will be explaining, assessing and describing
how the disability is viewed and how the society constructs it.
Case study 1. Rebecca Brown (Child Study)
Rebecca Brow is 8 years old and is a wheelchair user, following a road traffic accident when she was
five years old. Rebecca requires one to one personal care due to her physical disabilities, as she
sustained a fractured spine in the accident, meaning that she has no movement below her cervical
spine.
Rebecca attends a school for children with additional needs, where she has a designated teaching
assistant and also a carer who provides her with personal care during the school day.
Rebecca lives with her parents Sue and David and her older sibling Michael who is 12 years of age.
The family live in an upstairs apartment provided by a housing association, which is small and not
‘wheelchair friendly’.
Sue has a part time job at a local day nursery but has to stay at home during the school holidays, in
order to care for Rebecca and Michael, reducing the family income.
David works full-time at a local factory, working long hours for a low wage.
The neighbourhood where the Brown family live are not tolerant of Rebecca’s ‘difference’, and the
family have received unpleasant comments as they pass neighbours in the street, causing them to
avoid going out whenever possible.
Case study 1. Ben Grace (Adult Study)
Ben Grace is fifty two and has Down’s syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Ben has a learning age of 8 and
requires support with all aspects of daily living.
Ben lives in a group setting with five other adults who have learning difficulties and who also require
additional support.
Ben previously lived with his mother, but following her death last year, Ben moved to the residential
setting.
Ben has always enjoyed going shopping, but since he has moved into the residence, he prefers to
stay in his room which is a concern for the staff, following an incident with some local youths who
shouted at Ben when he went shopping with the residents and carers. Recently Ben was refused
entry to a local funfair by the manager who stated that Ben’s appearance could prevent other
people wanting to attend.
Ben is refusing to keep to the special diet required to control his type 2 diabetes and staff have
found bags of sweets under his pillow when making his bed. His blood glucose levels are unstable,
resulting in Ben feeling unwell. Ben has become withdrawn.
Disabilities is a physical or mental condition that maximum an individual’s movements, or activities;
covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions 1. Individuals with a disability
1
https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/disability
, Benecia Rodrigues
Unit 12 : Supporting Individuals with Additional Needs
may experience predicted and unpredicted events therefore over time life events can leave an
individual with additional need and may increase their condition negatively. Disablement is when an
individual is unable to perform due to their physical or mental unfitness 2. Due to the individual’s
disability the individual would not be able to live an independent life due to social constructs and
barriers imposed on them by society that disables people. Disability is divided into two models
known as the social and medical model. The medical model of disability explains individuals are
disabled by their impairments or differences. An impairment is a problem in the body’s functions;
this would limit an individual’s performance therefore the model would suggest medical or other
treatment can be used to treat the disability. The individual will go through diagnostic procedures
which will be carried out by specialists; specialists are highly trained people who specialise in a
specific subject with a highly qualified degree. The diagnostic procedures will determine the
individual’s disability. For example, for a wheelchair user the medical model would suggest, the
person should be expected to live in a communal home and receive therapy sessions for their
wellbeing. On the other hand, the social model of disability clarifies that disability is caused by the
society’s organisation which would lack the individual in performing certain activities. The model
says that people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference. Barriers
can be physical such as not having suitable toilet facilities for the disable. Or they can be caused by
the society’s reaction towards the disable, such as disabled people would not be able to do some
activities; this links to the theme of discrimination. Discrimination is the unfair treatment of different
categories of people such as disable3. The social model of disability can be improved by providing
support to the individual to carry on their daily activities and improve their quality of life.
Independence for disable individual means these individuals will have to same access of physical,
social, economic and environmental facilities as non-disable individuals. The ideology of
independence is linked to the idea of social constructs of disability which suggests that individuals
within society imply that other individuals with a certain disability are dependent on others to fulfil
their daily living activities and social needs. This is an idea that has been created and accepted by the
people in a society and society may react towards this in an unusual way which can be considered as
a form of discrimination against individuals who acquires the disability. This would be resulted as
giving out unwanted impressions by society and limiting the same opportunities as everyone else in
society.
Rebecca Brown is an 8 year old young child who requires one to one personal care due to her
physical disabilities, as she sustained a fractured spine in a car accident at the age of five. This
resulted in no movement below her cervical spine; this is due to the damage in the nervous system,
especially the spinal cord. This could lead to other major complications such as stroke or trauma. The
damage in her spine challenges her daily living as she will not be able to carry on certain activities
such as dressing up, changing and other physical activities; therefore, she will be dependent on
others to help her with this activity. Rebecca’s disability would require her to adapt to different
equipment and experiences such as a wheelchair. Using a wheelchair would benefit Rebecca as this
would enable her to travel to different places such as school and hospitals which would positively
benefit her wellbeing. Travelling to school would allow her to get an education opportunity which
would help her in her carer. Also travelling to hospital would allow her to attend her appointments
which will benefit her health and improve her quality of life.
Due to her disability the government will give her the privilege to have a personal carer and she will
have the education opportunity in a school which is designed for disable kids where young children
receive extra help in understanding and learning. The government would also offer her free
transport which will enable her to visit places such as hospitals and entertainment places with her
carer. On the transport buses there will be printed pictures pasted in certain areas of the bus which
2
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/disablement
3
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/discrimination
