The disorganised nature of European disability: rethinking protection for HIV positive individuals

Despite the fact that there are approximately 80 million individuals with disabilities within the EU, there is no coherent definition of disability. There is also no clear consensus amongst Member States as to the question of whether People Living with HIV/AIDS (“PLHA”) should be defined as “disabled” and thus acquire the various legal protections associated with such a designation. This paper will argue that in order to adequately protect PLHA within the EU, the European Court of Justice (“CJEU”) need to ensure that a coherent EU wide definition of disability based upon the social model of disability is adopted. Such a definition is necessary in order to ensure adequate protection not only for PLHA but for all individuals from disability discrimination throughout the EU. In addition to this central argument, this paper will also argue that the lack of a coherent definition of disability grounded in the social model fragments protection for PLHA across the EU leading to a number of possible unintended consequences. PLHA may seem a strange choice of focus but, in some ways, PLHA represent the “front line” in the ideological battle concerning the definition of disability at an EU level and the question concerning the relationship between sickness and disability as will be seen by the Advocate General’s opinion in the recent HK Danmark (Ring and Skouboe Werge) case concerning unlawful discrimination within employment

The challenge of HIV - social stigma or disability?

The nature of discrimination against people living with HIV and with AIDS ("PLHA") is rooted in deeper stigmatisation than discrimination against other groups. Reasons for this include the association of HIV/AIDS with behaviours that may be considered socially unacceptable by many people. To combat such discrimination, HIV is deemed to be a "disability" under the Equality Act 2010. Whilst this protection has been welcomed by various activists and policy groups within the field, it will be argued that the decision to classify HIV as a disability is an inadequate response to the unique and multi-faceted discrimination faced by PLHA. To achieve this this article will examine the history of the virus; current epidemiology within the UK; the extent to which HIV accords with traditional models of disability and the definition employed by the Equality Act 2010; and finally, the manner in which HIV is socially constructed and how this has compounded discrimination against PLHA

Critiquing 'disability': the Disability Discrimination Act's interplay with society

This paper presents a critique of the legal constitution of disability employed by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The concept of disability employed will be evaluated with reference to current social models of disability. These will be employed to evaluate to what extent, if at all, the Act’s definition accords with the contemporary models of disability. The definition of disability will be deconstructed and by reference to both legal and non-legal sources, key fault areas within the constitution of disability will be identified and critically evaluated. The interplay between the concept of “normality” and the legal constitution of disability will be explored, as will the constitution’s interplay with social disabilities and hidden disabilities

Retirement Security: Improved Guidance Could Help Account Owners Understand the Risks of Investing in Unconventional Assets

[Excerpt] Federal law places few restrictions on the types of investments allowable in tax-favored retirement accounts, such as IRAs or employer-sponsored 401(k) plans. Recent federal and state investigations and litigation have raised questions as to whether investing in unconventional assets may jeopardize the accounts’ tax-favored status, placing account owners’ retirement security at risk. GAO was asked to examine issues related to the potential risks and responsibilities associated with investments in unconventional assets. GAO examined: (1) what is known about the prevalence of accounts that invest in unconventional assets; (2) how these accounts are managed; and (3) what challenges are associated with administering these retirement accounts. GAO reviewed relevant federal laws, regulations, and guidance; analyzed data collected from the retirement industry; analyzed available industry documents; and reviewed 334 related consumer complaints collected from three federal agencies and two independent entities

Media Bias in Covering the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: With a Case Study of BBC Coverage and Its Foundation of Impartiality

In 2009 I began a long process of researching allegations made against the British Broadcasting Corporation and its media coverage of the Israeli Palestinian Conflict. Stemming from courses on European society and politics as well as a summer program examining the British Government’s relationship with the media, I took an immediate interest in the BBC. I was then fortunate enough to know a professor from abroad who worked with the BBC and through his connections I was able to interview a plethora of employees from the Corporation. The former correspondent from Jerusalem, the Editor of BBC Online Middle East, an Islamic affairs and Middle East analyst for the BBC World Service, the current Editor of the BBC Nighttime News, and the person jointly hired by the British government and BBC to look into the allegations were among the people I interviewed for this project. In addition, outside research was conducted on the BBC and its history in reporting on the conflict as well as examining its modern coverage. To have a more complete view of the issue I was also able to interview the Chairman of a media watchdog organization based in the UK. Based upon my interviews and background research I was able to put together a clearer picture of what variables are at play when reporting on complex foreign events and how the BBC stands fast in its assurance of having a foundation of impartiality. With the help of Dr. Miriam Elman as my Advisor and Professor Seth Jolly as my Reader, I will be working on my Capstone to extend the scope of the work to adding a general introduction on bias in the Media at large on the conflict and looking at some of the things which create an infrastructure of bias regardless of journalists’ good intentions. In my work, I first look at the different aspects that affect media coverage on the conflict and how they further complicate the preexisting issues of the region. I then examine how this affects the viewing global community and how we perceive the turmoil and its players. Lastly, to present a primary media entity, I will take a thorough look at the BBC as a case study on the topic

Communication Ethics of “Sharenting” : A Content Analysis of Instagram Mom Meso-Influencers

Among the many concerns of social media, “sharenting,” or parents oversharing about their children online, is becoming increasingly prevalent. Millions of children are growing up on the internet with little-to-no control of their digital narrative, instead becoming fashionable or even lucrative props on their parent’s social media platforms. The purpose of the study was to explore how much and what type of sharenting parents post on social media. This study explores five key elements of sharenting through a content analysis. Researchers coded 10 Instagram mom meso-influencer accounts within a 30-day timeframe and determined how many posts were embarrassing, intrusive, revealing, child sponsorship, or personally identifiable information. Over half of all content coded was coded as sharenting. Researchers found that individually, over half of almost every meso-influencers’ content was coded as sharenting, albeit outliers. The most frequently seen type of sharenting was not one of the five key elements. Instead, the existence of more than one element was observed most frequently among posts. In conclusion, social media users should be cognizant of how widespread sharenting is throughout various corners of Instagram and other platforms. From a communication ethics standpoint, users are recommended to proceed with caution before engaging with sharenting content due to its dehumanizing nature