Calling all nations!

[Theresa]

I know we've sometimes discussed differences in country's policies, like the US ADA vs. South Africa's policies, but I was wondering if anyone here would be willing to give me some guidance or info one health care policy in general for children living with SB in countries other than the US?
I am graduating in May (hopefully!) with a bachelor's in social work, and one of my final papers has to compare a US social welfare policy with one in a different country. So I thought maybe I could use the US's Americans with Disabilities Act and compare to maybe South Africa's, but it sounds like SA doesn't have something similar specific to physical disabilities? So then I thought just health care in general, but that's too broad, so then I thought maybe comparing health care for children with disabilities? For example, in the US we have Children's Special Health services on the federal level, which is then dispursed to the states to administer. It's supposed to be available to all kids with special needs, relating to diagnosis and not based on income. What do other countries do for kids? I am sure it is more than here, but need specifics!
Any help/thoughts/opinions are appreciated! :sign0009:

[Dodger67]

You're right that SA doesn't have a "system" or a comprehensive approach. The welfare grant is a ridiculously small amount - about US$ 100/month. (Its the same for indigent elderly, etc.)
Our rights all come from a single phrase in the bill of rights against discrimination.
Other bits are scattered throughout thousands of laws and regulations such as wheelchair ramps in the building regulations.

[Theresa]

Well Dodger, maybe I won't do SA then! Thanks for the info!

[XoBLoNDiE85]

r u guys talking about social security for the disabled....if so we couldnt even get cause we make too much they say. i have tried and tried and nada!

[LisaJoy]

Children's Special Health services I think is what used to be called Crippled Children's Program; it was created as part of the initial Social Security legislation in 1935. Since it is disbursed to the states to then use, the eligibility rules vary from one state to another (just like rules for Medicare and Medicaid vary). At least, I think this is the case -- I could be wrong about all of this. I've had great difficulty tracing the history of the Crippled Children's Program after the late 60s.

Theresa, I think Canada or the UK might work for your comparison.

[abbysmum]

Ireland has a fairly comprehensive programme of social welfare but I'm not familiar enough with all the various SB-specific things to help you right now.

Some of the things I have found out:

All the SB-related surgeries etc are conducted in the public system so we have no hospital expenses.

We can get a domicillary care allowance of just over 300 euro per month, which is means-tested but is based on the child, so unless the child has some massive court settlement, there is next to no chance of not getting it.

All the equipment etc is provided by either the public health system or some of the related SB charities, Enable Ireland or the Central Remedial Clinic.

We can get a VAT & VRT exemption for a new car, which is a hugely substantial reduction (vat being 21.5% and VRT varying but in the region of several thousand euro regardless). We also get tax-free fuel, again that's 21.5%.

There are a load more social supports but I can't think of them right now. I know from friends that if structural changes were required for their child's school, it was absorbed by the state, not the parent.

[angel]

r u guys talking about social security for the disabled....if so we couldnt even get cause we make too much they say. i have tried and tried and nada!

From what I understand you have to be poor, not lower income just plain poor by thier standards. I know when i started working making a whopping 6 dollars an hour mine was taken, and i was a single parent with no child support coming in. When I got up to 7.25 an hour they started working on my son's. I went for 3 years without any health insurance because obviously i couldn't afford to buy it on what i made and lets not even mention the fact that no insurance companies want me anyway because of my SB. I have taken meds all my life for infection prevention and now have some damage to my left kidney because i couldn't take them for so long. The system here is ok if you can be a part of it. Now I am on medicare because of the years i have worked i qualified for it. From what i gather i can never have that taken from me as long as i pay my premiums. I sure hope that is right!

Angel

[Gymp]

In Canada we have universal health care,rich,poor,young,
old and infirm are all supposed to receive health care in a timely fashion,without any undue financial hardship upon themselves or family.That's the way Tommy Douglas (the founder of our health care sys.) envisioned it and wrote it back in 1964.Lots has changed since then,especially in the timeliness part!We are evolving into a pay as you go system as budgetary restraints and cutbacks abound.

For disabled children in particular and how we compare to other countries you may want to read this,Basic Health and Welfare Convention article 23:Children With Disabilities written by the CCRC (Canadian coalition for the rights of children) It pretty much sums up the way it actually is...

http://www.rightsofchildren.ca/report/page16.htm

The entire article and it's contents can be found here...

http://www.rightsofchildren.ca/report/index.htm

Good Luck with your Bachelor's Degree Theresa,
Gymp

[Theresa]

okay - I'm going to compare Canada's with the US, focusing on care for children with disabilities, specifically health care - but I'm sure the supplemental income is going to have to be related somehow.

We were talking in class how Norway and Sweden seem to have the best social support system for care, but the taxes are extremly high there. That's a bummer with Canada moving more toward paying for services. Maybe the US's healthcare illness is contagious.

Thanks everyone, back to the grindstone!!

[Theresa]

And that's terrible, the story cited in the first link about the guy who was only sentenced to two years after killing his daughter with CP! Wow!

[Barb]

Kali would be a perfect person as well as Dodger. You may try to PM her, she pops in and out quite a bit

[Dodger67]

What do you want me for?