Comment paper #3

Comment Paper #3

Mark Priestley (2003). Disability: A Life Course Approach. Polity Press: Cambridge.

Colin Goble (2004). Dependence, Independence and Normality from John Swain, Sally French, Colin Barnes and Carol Thomas (eds.). Disabling Barriers – Enabling Environments, 2nd
Edition. London: Sage.

Robert D. Wilton (2006). Working at the Margins: Disabled People and the Growth of Precarious Employment from Pothier, Dianne and Richard (eds.). Critical Disability Theory:
Essays in Philosophy, Politics, Policy, and Law. Vancouver: UBC Press.

Throughout the world, individuals need employment that is well paid to be able to
survive and meet the needs in life. This does not mean that each individual is able to achieve
well paid employment, for example disabled individuals have difficulties if not receiving a job
then having a job that does not meet the needs of living. Within the book by Mark Priestley it
discusses how within today’s society there is an aim in helping disabled individuals receive jobs
and as well how it is difficult for them. Although within the book it talks about ways to help
disabled individuals with employment it supports the other two articles by Colin Goble and
Robert D. Wilton because it explains how employment is a negative issue for disabled people.
Throughout this paper, I will be discussing ways in which the book and the two articles support
each other.

Within the book by Mark Priestley, it explains how there has been a goal in helping disabled individuals in achieving a well paid job. “Such responses have emphasized increased
flexibility responding to disabled people’s employment needs, and the economic benefits of bringing disabled people into paid work” (Priestley 136). Not only does it state that there is a
aim in helping disabled individuals but as well how there is still some difficulty within employment opportunities. To support this statement, within the book it states: “ 80 percent in some countries, remain unemployed due to the disabling attitudes of employers, unequal access to education and training, an absence of appropriate support, and disabling barriers in the workplace” (Priestley 133). Not only does it show within this book how disabled individuals have had obscurities within the workforce but also with the article by Colin Goble.

Within the article, Dependence, Independence and Normality by Colin Goble it focuses on how professionals are trying to help disabled individuals with employment and how it affects them negatively. By having disabled individuals isolated from others by having special programs for them so they are able to achieve employment brings upon an unenthusiastic feeling. “In these isolated, and often closed and authoritarian worlds, inmates were socialized into a view of themselves as sick, helpless, inferior and in need of help and care to survive. Thus the circle was closed, and many disabled people themselves completed the perception of disability as a ‘tragic’ problem, internal to the affected individual, in their internalization of that view” (Goble 41). This shows how disabled individuals feel as if they are not able to achieve employment without the help of professionals and how it can affect them negatively.

Within the article, Working at the Margins: Disabled People and the Growth of Precarious Employment by Robert D. Wilton it displays how disabled individuals have a disadvantage when trying to achieve employment within the workforce. “People with disabilities are disproportionately concentrated in poorly paid positions, less likely to occupy visible positions involving contact with the customers, less likely to be promoted, and paid less than non-disabled workers” (Wilton 129). Within the article it states how disabled individuals are offered low wages, the workforce can be inaccessible and the quality of training is poor. There are a few examples how individuals have had difficulties throughout their life as being disabled and entering the workforce. For example, “Over a period of ten years, Gordon experienced downward mobility, working jobs that paid less, offered fewer benefits, and over which he had less control” (Wilton 140). This article clearly shows how disabled individuals are represented negatively within the workforce.

The readings support one another by discussing how disabled individuals are negatively
disadvantaged within the workforce. Within the book and articles it stated how disabled individuals who receive employment are offered the negative ends of jobs such as, low paid jobs,
less benefits, and much more. As well within the book it stated that within society a change is
trying to occur by giving disabled individuals equal opportunities but there are still negative affects on disabled individuals.