Question 1
There are numerous resources for people with disabilities in New York City. These resources are designed to enhance independence, self-reliance and productivity for people with disabilities. The resources are diverse as they respond to various disabilities. In response to the disparities in employment, the American Bar Association Commission is a mentor program that offer law students with any type of disability the chance to practice and earn a living. This program matches such students with practices on the basis of location, disability and interest. This resource is very effective in that in addition to learning from the practicing attorneys, students with disabilities are given an opportunity to put their skills to use and earn a living. Other resources include the Jackson-Stricks Scholarship that offers scholarships, to students with physical disabilities within the Metropolitan area of New York City. This resource offers students with disabilities a chance to further their education.
There are also several public programs designed to assist people with disabilities lead productive lives. The mayor’s offices runs programs such as barrier free living, assisted living, advocacy programs that voice the concerns of this population, vocational rehabilitation services and transportation programs that assist people with disabilities to move around the city (The City of New York, 2014). For instance, Project Open House covers activities such as installation of amenities that are accessible for people with disabilities, widening the doorways for non-structural partitions among others (The City of New York, 2014).
These resources are effective in that they enhance self-reliance. For instance, the mentor programs assisting people with disabilities to get employment reduce dependency. However, their effectiveness is limited by the increasing number of people with disabilities and the disparities between this population and the people with no disabilities. Nonetheless, the concept and presence of these resources helps improve the quality of life for people with disabilities in New York City.
Question 2
There are mixed attitudes towards people with physical and mental disabilities in my community. Many people have positive attitudes towards people with disabilities. Their interest in forming friendships, dating or even marrying people with disabilities is not always influenced by their health status. A study carried out by Marini et al., (2013) found traits such as kindness, humor, personal traits and physical appearance as the most significant attributes in determining whether to form relationships with people with disabilities. The participants in the study who reported reservations towards such relationships did not cite their disability but factors like the increased dependence social awkwardness and possible inhibition in sexual performance as the most influential factors.
With regards to the homeless, the New York community has both compassionate and conflicted feelings. This concern is also coupled by the willingness to help alleviate the problem. For instance, a study carried out in New York City by Public Agenda showed that 85% citizens in New York were willing to assist the homeless people get accommodation. More precisely, people of New York would want they tax to be invested in low cost housing for the homeless people. However, there was an element of limit in this willingness and concern. 75% of the participants in the study decried the fact that people take advantage of the willingness of the residents to help the homeless. Additionally, 96% of the respondents argued that any efforts to assist the homeless should be pegged on compulsory training in order to get employment and rehabilitation for the homeless people with substance abuse problems (Maria et al., 2007).
There are mixed attitudes towards immigrants in the community. A larger proportion of the community perceive immigrant workers as assets to the community because they pay taxes, buy property and open business, thereby helping build the local economy and create job opportunities. Additionally, immigrant workers are seen as an important component of the labor force in the community. However, there are perceptions that immigrant workers are partly responsible for crime in the community (Pfeffer & Parra, 2007).
References
Maria, A. et al., (2007). Compassion, concern and conflicted feelings: New Yorkers on homelessness and housing. Retrieved from> http://www.publicagenda.org/files/ homeless_nyc.pdf
Marini, I et al., (2013). Ethnic, gender and contact differences in intimacy attitudes toward wheelchair users. Rehabilitation counseling bulletin, 56 (3): 135-145.
Pfeffer, M. & Parra, A. (2007). Community relations and immigrant integration. Retrieved from> https://migrationfiles.ucdavis.edu/uploads/cf/files/2007-june/pfeffer-parra.pdf
The City of New York, (2014). City Programs and Resources. Retrieved from> http://www.nyc.gov/html/mopd/html/programs/programs.shtml
The City of New York, (2014). Project open house. Retrieved from> http://www.nyc.gov/ html/mopd/html/open_house/open_house.shtml
The City of New York, (2014). Retrieved from> http://www.nyc.gov/html/mopd/html/programs/ employment.shtml
