Involving the disabled in social, economic life

Involving the disabled in social, economic life

Inge Komardjaja, Research Institute for Human Settlements,
Bandung, West Java

The recent seminar on "Income generation through the inclusion
of people with disabilities in the community" was conducted by
the Belgian non-governmental organization, the Platform for
Disability and Development Cooperation (PHOS), in Brussels
between Nov. 4 and Nov. 6. The topic was related to the upcoming
International Day of the Disabled on Dec. 3, whose main theme for
2002 is accessibility.

Accessibility is the condition of using facilities and
infrastructures without negotiating barriers. In the context of
inclusion, accessibility means to have access to various
resources according to one's personal needs. The general mission
of the international day is the prevention of disability,
rehabilitation, full participation and equality of the disabled.
The last two aspects are definitely about inclusion.

Attended by people with physical impairments from Asia, Africa
and Belgium, as well as those who are not disabled, the meeting
discussed empowerment and networking, two inexorable elements of
inclusion. Notwithstanding, inclusion in society must begin
within the disabled themselves. An expert wrote that a person who
is disabled is first and foremost his or her own redeemer. Nobody
can help them, if they do not change internally or do not begin
to take real action.

They have to be self-motivated to be part of a group. Others
are only capable of counseling, providing information and giving
encouragement. It is far more essential to raise the awareness of
their potential among the disabled than the nondisabled.

The disabled must realize their abilities or qualities to
become useful for themselves and society. Parents are the
foremost persons to develop self-motivation within their
children. But not all parents understand the inherent potential
of a disabled child, specifically those overwhelmed by shame or
self-pity. In such cases, NGOs may be influential in raising the
awareness of these potentials through meetings and by taking a
personal approach. School teachers are also competent in helping
disabled students develop self-confidence.

Empowerment is about the authority or power a disabled person
possesses to accomplish something, and information refers to
facts about someone or something. Hence, information has an
empowering effect on people as well.

Networking, the process of establishing contacts, is a key
factor in getting access to information. Through the Internet,
for example, those who are limited in physical mobility can have
a wider range of contacts which may lead to meaningful and useful
inclusion in a particular community. The many barriers in
physical life make this impossible, but in cyberspace and in
light of their condition, those who are disabled can get access
to various resources.

Internet communication goes beyond borders and happens
instantaneously. In the physical world, those who are disabled
experience marginalization in social and economic activities, but
in cyberspace, they are challenged to take part in many occasions
offered by various Internet fora.

While Internet may only be compatible for middle and higher-
income people, low-income groups are able to collect information
to access resources through frequent gatherings. In a collective
culture, which is a feature of a low-income community, meeting
people face-to-face is necessary. It is a chance to establish
personal connections and develop education, health and job
information networks. Empowerment and networking are thus of
considerable importance and may enable the disabled to gain
insight into the kind of goals they are capable of achieving.

PHOS' praiseworthy act of including a person with a disability
to hold a primary role in the international exchange was
assigning a young woman to be the convener. She has cerebral
palsy, which was caused by a lack of oxygen at birth. In spite of
weak limbs and muscles, she was absolutely essential in the
seminar. She was respected as one of the key individuals
entrusted to make crucial decisions and to announce them
publicly. In this manner, participants, visitors, and those not
directly related to the seminar would be aware of her existence
and potential, which in turn increased her self-confidence. The
point was the recognition of her capabilities.

Through opportunities and trust, the disabled can adjust their
limited physical capabilities to barriers, so that they can
anticipate their tasks.

The nondisabled often deem the disabled as passive, weak,
dependent, useless and harboring self-pity. Hardly do they
consider them to be individuals with capabilities and needs or
social beings who are eager to be included in social and economic
activities. The assignment of the above woman to become convenor
stems from positive attitudes toward the disabled and
nondisabled, and surely from this woman. When internal changes
occur, inclusion in society will materialize.

Incorporating the inclusion of the disabled into official
instructions of accessibility is one thing, putting it into
effect is another. For Indonesia the vexed question is then: "How
can the government enact strict accessibility laws when in truth
the enforcement of all laws is weak and inconsistent?"

This provokes reflection on the future of the disabled.
Finally, the central mission of the disabled's full participation
and equality is the UN's catchphrase. It reminds us to include
the disabled in all areas of life, not only once a year. They
should be firmly entrenched in our thoughts and actions.