Attitudes about disability must change<\/p>\n
By Julian Francis<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In many countries the voices of people with
\ndisabilities are being increasingly heard. This is particularly
\ntrue in the richer countries, but also now in countries such as
\nBangladesh.<\/p>\n
People, whether with or without disabilities, are gradually
\nbeginning to realize the causes of the massive discrimination
\nthat, unfortunately, works against the lives of people with
\ndisabilities.<\/p>\n
People with disabilities are usually \"labeled\", at first by a
\nmedical description or terminology. A person is referred to as
\nbeing an amputee, blind or deaf. Describing someone in this way
\nis sweeping and impersonal, and focuses on the disability and not
\non the person.<\/p>\n
People with disabilities are more handicapped by the attitude
\nof people around them rather than by their own particular
\ndisability. Non-disabled people are often afraid to try, or do
\nnot know how, to relate to people with disabilities and this is
\ndue to fear, a lack of awareness or understanding.<\/p>\n
Also, in the back of some peoples' minds -- from films, books,
\nand even fairy tales -- evil people are often portrayed as people
\nwith physical disfigurements.<\/p>\n
So, how to change the attitude of the public as well as the
\ngovernment officials who plan programs \"for\" people with
\ndisabilities.<\/p>\n
People with disabilities must automatically participate in the
\nplanning of many of the educational programs funded from
\ngovernment sources and only then will we see any gradual change
\nin peoples' understanding related to disability issues.<\/p>\n
Teachers and other officials have to learn to avoid using
\nwords that give wrong meanings and which can be used in the
\nlabeling of people with disabilities. I have heard children in
\nWestern countries refer to a bad idea as a \"spastic idea\".<\/p>\n
Officials talk of a country having a \"crippled\" economy. There
\nmust be a conscious effort to avoid using these types of words.<\/p>\n
In the same way it is important to refer to people with
\ndisabilities as such, and not as disabled people. The emphasis
\nmust be put on `people' because they are people first just like
\nanybody, but who just happen to have disabilities which can
\nusually be noticed.<\/p>\n
To start educating and molding the attitudes of the next
\ngeneration, there are moves in many Western countries to phase
\nout \"Special Schools\" for children with disabilities and
\nintegrate them in regular schools, and in Dhaka too there is such
\nan experiment being undertaken.<\/p>\n
Where this has been implemented there have already been great
\ngains on all sides. Everyone has learned about each other and
\nabout themselves.<\/p>\n
Now people with disabilities are beginning to realize that
\nthey have unwittingly been silent participants in discriminating
\nagainst themselves because they have failed to challenge others
\nwhen non-disabled people have said that those with disabilities
\ncannot do this or cannot do that.<\/p>\n
This is changing, as it is in Bangladesh too.<\/p>\n
In the past few years a few dynamic and dedicated young people
\nwith disabilities have joined in hours of discussions about how
\nthey can change the situation of people with disabilities in
\nBangladesh.<\/p>\n
They meet regularly and exchange ideas and plan strategies.<\/p>\n
Gradually they are having an impact even though at present it
\nis small. The discussions, often assisted by non-disabled but
\nexperienced friends, have led to a certain amount of recognition
\nby some government authorities, particularly in the Ministry of
\nSocial Welfare.<\/p>\n
This small but growing group of women and men with
\ndisabilities have produced two potentially important documents
\nwhich could, if implemented gradually and with care and
\nsensitivity, change a lot of attitudes towards people with
\ndisabilities.<\/p>\n
One is a National Policy on Disability for Bangladesh and the
\nother is a recommended comprehensive parliamentary legislation
\nentitled \"Bangladeshis with Disabilities Act\".<\/p>\n
It is significant that the multilateral and bilateral donors
\n(with the exception of UNICEF's immunization program) have not
\nput disability issues very high on their agendas when having
\ndiscussions with the government of Bangladesh.<\/p>\n
Now, therefore, is a very good opportunity for the government,
\nwith the advice and assistance of the group of people with
\ndisabilities, to set a shining example to the donors and to other
\ncountries as well, to show that they can very well begin the
\norganization of a national program themselves.<\/p>\n
In many countries it has been calculated that every person has
\nat least a 1-in-4 chance of coming directly in close contact with
\na person with a disability.<\/p>\n
This statistic shows how important it is for all people to
\nlearn and understand more about their friends and neighbors,
\nparticularly those with disabilities.<\/p>\n
In this learning, the media in Bangladesh has played a vital
\nrole. The print media has in recent times been very supportive
\nand it is hoped that Bangladesh Radio and Television will now do
\nmore.<\/p>\n
There are many useful messages and teachings which can
\nsometimes be life-saving and that can be passed on, particularly
\nby radio provided that the broadcasts are regular and the
\nlanguage used is not too scientific and complicated.<\/p>\n
Also, the many community organizations that exist all over the
\ncountry can get involved but first they should learn from the
\nexperts.<\/p>\n
The writer lived and worked in Bangladesh for seven years
\n(1985-1992) and worked closely with people with disabilities. His
\nown brother and son have severe mental disabilities and they are
\nthe persons who originally inspired him to work on disability
\nissues. He currently lives in Indonesia where he works with an
\ninternational development organization.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/attitudes-about-disability-must-change-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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