An ecological perspective : the experiences of persons with disability in a Gozitan community

Abstract

This study explores the interactional effects of the community and the family on persons with disability. This provides a better understanding of the experiences of persons with disability living within a particular Gozitan community. The exploration is conducted from an ecological perspective which entails the Micro level (the person with disability), the Meso level (the family) and the Macro level (the community). These three levels are interrelated; thus each level affects the other. The study makes a clear distinction between these three different levels, and it also provides an overall clear picture of such interaction through various factors. These factors include the supports and the barriers of both the community and the family on the person with disability. The main findings of this research show that on the Micro level, the person with disability, as other persons, develops various abilities and weakness. On the Meso level, the supports of the family aim to give a holistic support to the person with disability whilst different levels of protection may hinder the person to develop his or her abilities, strengths and aspirations, especially in the community. On the Macro level, there are the community functions which aim to reach for the needs of the person with disability to belong, to participate and to socialize in the community; however if the needs are not met, the community is creating a barrier for the person to be fully included and feel belonged in the community. The results suggest both the family and the community provide supports but also create barriers which can be a push or a pull factor and influence, positively or negatively, the experiences of persons with disability within a community. In this regard, the main conclusion of this research is that support should be strengthened and given in an effective manner as this contributes barriers being eliminated