Núcleo Disca

Disability and citizenship

Author Archives: Comunicaciones Núcleo DISCA

  3. First DISCA Student Meeting

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    On April 8th, the first DISCA Student Meeting was held at the Diego Portales University in Santiago, Chile. The activity brought together undergraduate, masters and doctoral students involved in research within the DISCA Millennium Nucleus, with the aim of sharing topics of interest, getting to know each other and thinking about collaborative initiatives to support each other in the design, development and dissemination of their research.

    The meeting, held in a hybrid format, was attended by 11 students (6 on-site and 5 online), who shared their research motivations and reflected together on possible dissemination actions. The director of the Nucleus, Florencia Herrera, welcomed the group and contextualized the current state of the project, which is in its third year of operation.

    During the day, several ideas emerged to make visible the work that each student is developing. As a first step, a survey will be sent out to gather opinions and prioritize the proposals with the greatest support. In addition, a second meeting is planned in a month’s time, with a view to further strengthening the support networks among DISCA students.

  4. Actitudes frente a la maternidad y la preservación de la fertilidad en mujeres universitarias: Un estudio transversal [Attitudes Toward Motherhood and Fertility Preservation Among University Women: A Cross-Sectional Study]

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    Points of interest:

    • In Chile, fewer and fewer children are being born. In 1962, women had an average of 5 children. Today, that number has dropped to just over 1 child per woman.
    • This research aims to understand how university women see their reproductive future, their intention to become mothers, and their willingness to preserve their fertility by freezing their eggs.
    • A self-administered and semi-structured survey was conducted with 1,020 students from Universidad Diego Portales in Santiago. The average age was 21 years. Most of the women believe that before becoming mothers, they should finish their studies, have a stable job, and be able to support themselves with their own income.
    • For many university women, becoming a mother is not a current priority. They think of motherhood as something that could happen later, when they feel more prepared. Also, only a small group believes it is necessary to have a partner or be married to have children.
    • Teen pregnancies have also decreased, which is related to better access to contraceptives and better sex education. This has given women more freedom to decide about motherhood.
    • The study highlights the need for public policies on reproduction and family planning that are adapted to the new realities and priorities of Chilean women.

     

    Notes:

    • The following summary was prepared by Núcleo Milenio DISCA and is based exclusively on the original publication. Therefore, it should not be used for citations or references.
    • This article was originally published in Spanish.

  5. Accesibilidad en el hábitat residencial: Recomendaciones de Diseño [Accessibility in Residential Habitat: Design Recommendations]

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    This text aims to contribute, from a scientific research perspective, to the accessible architectural design of residential habitats. It presents design recommendations at the different territorial scales studied: housing, housing complexes, and neighborhoods. These recommendations are intended for use by residents, construction companies, and agents involved in the design and implementation of public policies in the housing and urban fields. The contributions of Corporación Accesible and SERVIU are acknowledged through their manuals and guidelines on this subject.

    This book is intended for professionals and agents involved in the design and production of habitat: architects, urban planners, builders, sponsoring entities, and policymakers in the housing and urban sectors. It is also aimed at students in related fields, educators engaged with these topics, and people with different disabilities and their families.

    Notes:

    • This book is not open-access and is only available for purchase through Editorial Universitaria.
    • This book was published in Spanish.

  7. Healthcare access among people with and without disabilities

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    In this article, published in the journal Public Health, significant gaps in healthcare access between people with and without disabilities are highlighted.

    Main results:

    Compared to people without disabilities, those with disabilities:

    • Are twice as likely to have health problems.
    • Use health consultation more frequently (general practitioner, emergencies, specialists, dental care, tests, etc.).
    • Show lower coverage for the EMPA Adult Preventive Medical Examination (ages 15-64).
    • Show lower coverage for the Pap test (among people with disabilities aged 25-64).
    • More frequently face barriers to accessing healthcare (distance/transportation, waiting times, affordability, etc.).

    This study reinforces the urgent need for public policies that ensure a more accessible and equitable healthcare system for all people.

  8. Trayectorias de luchas de la Asociación de Personas con Discapacidad del Guayas, Ecuador y del Colectivo Nacional de la Discapacidad de Chile [Struggles and Paths of the Association of Persons with Disabilities of Guayas, Ecuador, and the National Disability Collective of Chile]

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    Points of interest:

    • This article studies two organizations of people with disabilities: ASODISG in Ecuador and CONADIS in Chile. The goal is to understand how these organizations fight for their rights and how they take part in politics to raise issues and demands of people with disabilities.
    • Historically, people with disabilities have been excluded from important decisions. That is why disability social movements seek to have a voice and to change public policies based on their own experiences.
    • Disability movements have started using a human rights approach to defend the dignity, equality, and participation of people with disabilities. This approach sees people with disabilities as rights-holders, not as objects of charity.
    • The International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was very important for disability movements in Latin America. Although many countries signed it, there is still a big gap between the promises and what is actually done.
    • Ableism is a form of discrimination that treats people with disabilities as less valuable. Current policies favor more “productive” people and exclude those who do not fit that model.
    • The article highlights that the bodies of people with disabilities are not “passive objects”, but have the power to change reality. Marches, protests, and meetings are examples of this.
    • The article uses a qualitative case study approach. Interviews, focus groups, and direct participation in the organizations were done to understand the experiences of activists and how they organize to defend the rights of people with disabilities.
    • Although the International Convention is important, disability movements in Ecuador and Chile have gone further, creating their own ways of fighting that are also connected to other social movements in their communities.

     

    Notes:

    • The following summary was prepared by Núcleo Milenio DISCA and is based exclusively on the original publication. Therefore, it should not be used for citations or references.
    • This article was originally published in Spanish.

  9. Comprehensive Gerontological Assessment: An Update on the Concept and Its Evaluation Tools in Latin America and the Caribbean—A Literature Review

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    Points of interest:

    • This article reviews the concept of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), a complete method for evaluating the health of older adults that considers their physical, mental, functional, and social status.
    • The article proposes updating this concept and adapting it to the reality of Latin America and the Caribbean, where the population is aging rapidly and there are still few professionals trained in geriatrics and gerontology.
    • Fifty validated assessment tools from the region were compiled to identify the needs and risks of older people.
    • It highlights the importance of applying these tools in various settings: primary care, hospitals, nursing homes, telemedicine, and community programs.
    • During the pandemic, many assessments were adapted, which opened up new possibilities for using technology in the care of older adults.
    • The article provides recommendations for improving professional training, conducting more research, creating digital applications, and designing public policies that use these assessments to enhance the quality of life of older people.

    Notes:

    • The following summary was prepared by Núcleo Milenio DISCA and is based exclusively on the original publication. Therefore, it should not be used for citations or references.
    • This article was originally published in English.