Eth125 Disability and Diversity

Associate Program Material

Aging and Disability Worksheet

Part I

Identify 2 or 3 issues faced by the aging population.

1. Health care

2. Outliving income

3. Workplace discrimination

Answer the following questions in 100 to 200 words each. Provide citations for all the sources you use.

• What is ageism? How does ageism influence the presence of diversity in society?

Ageism simplified, according to “Merriam-Webster” website (2014) is the “unfair treatment of old people” (Ageism). The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) further points out that while most seniors are physically and mentally active and still have a great deal to contribute, societal norms marginalize them, treat them with disrespect, make them feel unwelcome, and generalize them as if they are all the same, not individuals with individual lives and needs. Aside from facing mocking jokes from teens, comedians, and even commercials, or elders are discriminated against in the workplace (potential employers not wanting to hire for fear of heath related absences and quality of brain function, i.e. memory loss and speed of thought process), and have to worry about certain laws and regulations that treat seniors as minors who cannot make educated or informed decisions for themselves, limiting their choices ("Alfa", 2013). Taking all of these things into consideration, it is easy to see how ageism effects diversity, why we do not come in contact with many elders on any given day; it is not a matter of their population, but a matter of discrimination which keeps the, at home or more-or-less confined to retirement communities.

• What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? How does the ADA address issues for the aging population?

According to the “ADA National Network” (n.d.) website “the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in...