The social construction of disability and the capabilities approach: Implications for nursing

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2019

Journal Title

Nursing Forum

ISSN

1744-6198

DOI

10.1111/nuf.12389

Abstract

Problem

Improving the health and well-being of people with disabilities (PWD) should be included https://plato.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/encyclopedia/archinfo.cgi?entry=justice-distributivein any strategies aimed at eliminating health disparities and achieving health equity in the United States. However, practitioners and policymakers often overlook disability when considering health equity. This is problematic because structural injustices including social and environmental barriers frequently worsen health for PWD. A commitment to social justice, however, dictates that everyone should have equitable opportunities to participate in chosen aspects of life to the best of their abilities and desires.

Methods

We use a critical commentary to provide suggestions for the nursing discipline. Specifically, we 1) position the disparities in health and well-being experienced by PWD as matters of equity and social justice, 2) describe Amartya Sen's capabilities approach, and 3) provide suggestions for incorporating tenets of the capabilities approach into nursing practice, research, and policy.

Conclusion

The capabilities approach can provide a useful framework to guide nursing practice, research, and policy in order to advance social justice for PWD.

First Page

642

Last Page

649

Num Pages

8

Volume Number

54

Issue Number

4

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Link to Full Text

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