The purpose of this study is to provide an intervention plan for enhancing independent living of disabled people by identifying the factors that affect independent living of them. For that purpose, the impact of demographic characteristics, disability...
The purpose of this study is to provide an intervention plan for enhancing independent living of disabled people by identifying the factors that affect independent living of them. For that purpose, the impact of demographic characteristics, disability characteristics and social support on independent living of disabled people is analysed.
300 disabled people from residential facilities in Gyunggido, between the age of 18 and 65, were selected and surveyed, and 223 of them responded to the survey and their responses were used as data for final analysis. The analysis was conducted by using SEM(Structural Equation Modeling) and data processing was done by using statistical data processing programs, SPSS/win 12.0 and AMOS 6.0.
The main findings are as follows.
First, the independent living of disabled people is related with demographic characteristics (general/disabled); married people with high education and high income showed higher level of independent living, and people with high degree of self-esteem showed higher level of physical and psychological and social independence. This indicates that their positive perceptions about their disabilities are an important factor for independent living. In other words, disabled people who react to their low self-esteem and lack of confidence caused by their physical problems in a positive manner showed higher level of independent living. And availability of daily support and facilities for disabled people and economic support for them would help raise the level of independent living of the disable.
Second, social support for the disabled has differential relationship with demographic (general/disabled) factor, psychological factor and environmental factor. It turned out that social prejudice against disabled people causes them shame and low self-esteem and has a negative impact on their forming social relationship.
Third, from the result of structural equation modeling analysis, it is understood that environmental factor do not affect independent living of disabled people, but disability characteristics and psychological factor and social support have direct and indirect impact on independent living of disabled people. Social support especially has an influence on independent living of disabled people. That means the direct impact of disability characteristics and psychological factor on independent living of disabled people is important, but mediating impact of social support is also very important. Therefore, in order to enhance independent living for people with disabilities, disability characteristics and psychological factor are very important, but strengthening social support is also important.
Fourth, from the result of structural equation modeling analysis, it is understood that psychological factor has a direct influence on independent living of the disabled and at the same time, has an indirect influence through social support, and disability factor has no direct influence on independent living of disabled people but has an indirect influence through social support. That means factors that have direct influence on independent living of disabled people are important but mediating impact of social support is also very important. In other words, negative influences on independent living of the disabled can be reduced by correcting various barriers to people with disabilities through social support.
Practical and strategic implications of this study are as follows.
First, function of delivery system of welfare facility for disabled people needs to switch to independent living paradigm. Currently, main functions of social welfare facilities are treatment, education and training, but they should, in the long run, change to special education sector and medical sector progressively and everyday life service and home care services should be strengthened. However, home care services should go beyond the current concept of care to support for disabled people to challenge the environment and to connect the various resources and to solve problems of limited rights.
Second, personal assistance service is highly needed for assisting independent living of disabled people. Of course, there are practical limitations, but the service should be provided regardless of severe or and mild disability. In the US and Japan, personal assistance service is mandatory and when a disabled person requests, they dispatch a helper or give an allowance for disabled person to be able to hire a helper. Compared to those countries, Korea is in an early stage, and such service should be enhanced and expanded.