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| Thursday, 19 August 2004 |
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Workshop titled disability is not inability by Nadira Gunatilleke A two day workshop on the theme of 'Disability is not Inability', 'Disabled are not mere recipients of welfare but people with rights to lead a normal life', organised by the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) in association with the Centre for the Study of Human Rights of the University of Colombo will be held on August 19 and 20 daily from 9 am to 4 pm at the HelpAge Auditorium, Wijerama, Nugegoda. According to the ITDG, In Sri Lanka out of the estimated 500,000 disabled people only 10,000 (two per cent) have access to education and appropriate basic services. Disability affects the lives of more than 600 million people globally, the majority living in developing countries. The two day workshop calls for a major shift in the approach for the disabled from that of a charity based towards a more rights centred approach. Even though a number of development programs are implemented they tend to by pass the needs of the disabled or treat them merely as recipients of welfare. It is therefore essential that disabled people are included in development efforts in order to improve the economic and human welfare of millions of poor people in the developing world. People with disabilities are generally stereotyped either as passive recipients of care and charity or 'super' disabled people with outstanding achievements. Disability is not a medical condition or a personal problem. Rather it arises out of the interaction between an individual with impairment, inaccessible physical environment and negative, stereotyping attitudes. Therefore getting rid of these barriers depends not on the individual but on social change. |
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