Differently abled and their social integration
K. Wijayaratnam
Differently abled or disability is defined as limitation of a
person’s ability to carry out the activities of daily living, to the
extent that he or she may need help in doing so. The American
Disabilities Act of 1990 defines disability, as ‘physical or a mental
impairment that substantially limits one or more of life abilities’.
Such impairment may include physical, sensory and cognitive or
intellectual impairment. Mental disorders, such as psychiatric or
psychosocial disability or various types of diseases such as TB, HIV,
stroke, spinal cord injuries, Arthritis, Alzheimer may be also
considered as disabilities.
A disability may occur during a person’s lifetime or exist from
birth. The WHO define it as a “restriction or lack (resulting from an
impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within
the range of considered normal for a human being” - a functional
limitation or activity restriction by an impairment.
Impairment would mean “any loss or abnormality caused of
psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function such as
loss of limb, organ or other body structure, as well as defects or loss
of a mental function.
The definition of ‘disabled person’ according to the Declaration on
the Rights of the Disabled Persons proclaimed by the United Nations
Assembly on December 9, 1975 is: “any person unable to ensure by
himself, wholly or partially, the necessities of a normal individual
and/or social life, as a result of deficiency, either congenital or not,
in his or her physical or mental capabilities.”
General
The World Health Organization estimates that about 650 million (about
10 percent of the world population) around the world are differently
abled people and of this it estimates, 80 percent live in developing
countries. In a number of countries, people with disabilities are
entitled to a range of benefits, such as, attendance and mobility
allowances, free medical facilities, concessions in parking and on
public transport. Many countries have enacted ‘Equal opportunities
legislation’ to ensure that people with disabilities are not
discriminated against, in the workplace.
According to the Sri Lankan National Census 2002, the number of
people disadvantaged due to disability stands at 1,629,000. This may not
be a correct figure now, as the ‘civil war’ that ravaged the country,
during the last few years had affected many mentally and physically.
Number of people, both civilians and fighters, on both sides have been
affected physically and psychologically. Many have lost their limbs due
to artillery fire and due to bombardment from the air and many have
become mentally deranged having witnessed the loss of their kith and
kin.
Many of the disadvantaged are hidden from society - they shy away
because a large section of the society shuns them. Social exclusion of
persons with disabilities lies at the core of the problem often defining
the path the people take and treated, to how they are perceived and
treated. When people are stymied at every turn by social stigma it is
difficult for those to survive in society. Anxiety and hopelessness can
cripple them more than their physical and mental limitations and
dwindling options. Insulting terminology such as nondiya (lame fellow),
pissa (mad fellow) used by people, who are fortunate not to be affected
by disabilities, add to their suffering. Depression can set in and the
spectre of hunger, makes their lives miserable. Most of them live in
deplorable conditions owing to physical and civil barriers, which
prevent their integration and full participation in the community. As a
result they are segregated and deprived of virtually of their rights and
lead a wretched and marginal life.
Social stigma
The treatment meted out to the disabled persons, defines the inner
characteristics of a society and highlights the cultural values that
sustain it. Surely with the great traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism,
the major religions of the country, Sri Lankans should be able to play a
more vital role in alleviating the sufferings of the disabled?
Social acceptance of these people will do much to pave the way for
such persons to interact in society with great confidence to face their
problems. Attitudes and traditions have to change for the ‘differently
abled’ people to be accepted by society.
Disability related information campaigns and created awareness are
important steps towards this end. Today the debate has moved beyond a
concern about perceived cost of maintaining dependent people with
disabilities, to an effort of finding effective ways to ensure, that
people with disabilities can participate in and contribute to society in
all spheres of life.
Human rights
People with disability are also human beings and have the same
fundamental rights as other citizens of the country (Article 3 of the UN
Declaration) to enjoy the right to a decent life, as normal as possible.
They have the same civil and political rights and are entitled to the
measures designed to become self reliant as possible.
They have the right according to their capabilities to secure and
retain employment or to engage in a useful, productive and remunerative
occupation and to join trade unions to promote their interests.
According to the UN Declaration the disabled are entitled to have
their special needs taken into consideration at all stages of economic
and social planning. They have a right to live with their families or
with their foster parents and participate in all social, creative or
recreational activities. They shall according to the Declaration be
protected from ‘exploitation, of all regulations and all treatment of a
discriminatory, abusive or degrading nature’.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCPRD)
adopted by the assembly in December 2006, and which came into effect in
May 2008, draws a lot of attention to the inclusion of people with
disabilities in international development cooperation. Article 32 of the
Convention stipulates that international development cooperation must
include people with disabilities and be accessible to them. In the
process, cooperation between the various actors in the civil society and
persons with disabilities is decisive. Some donors - including,
Australia, Germany and Great Britain - have made disability and
development a focal point of their development cooperation.
The Australian government recently (Aus AID) presented its strategy
for inclusive development. The guidelines in these papers include:
* Human rights orientation,
* Active involvement of persons with disabilities and their
organizations,
* Net working based on co-operation and
* Respect for the needs and potential of the disabled as a
heterogeneous group.
The guidelines provide for a twin track approach, which combines
advocacy on one hand with specific programmes or the empowerment of
persons with disabilities as well as initiatives to include these in
other development programmes Article 24 of the Convention emphasizes the
right of all children to education within an inclusive system. It is
estimated that only three percent of the children with special needs
have access to education worldwide, most of them in special as opposed
to inclusive facilities. World vision argues that inclusion of children
with special needs is crucial if millennium development goals are to be
reached. Article 28 speaks of social protection which would mean
protection of the following:
* Access to and social transfers,
* The option of receiving micro loans,
* Social protection programmes such as health coverage,
* The right to social services such as benefits.
Economists estimate that the exclusion of persons with disabilities
and their family members from productive labour results in economic
losses equal to about seven percent of the GDP worldwide (World Bank
2008). Disability and development have become a core issue for the World
Bank in the sector of social security. Article 27 of the Convention
relates to empowerment of the disabled persons and to the requirement of
local support structures. Access to capital is one of the most important
requirements. Article 12 of the Convention relates to this issue.
Sri Lanka lags behind in the rehabilitation and in the integration of
the disadvantaged persons. The government should lay down strong
national policies and take active interest in the welfare of the
disadvantaged.
It should ratify the UN Convention on the ‘Rights of the Persons with
Disabilities’ which had been ratified already by more than 88 countries.
There exists in Sri Lanka a strong stigma against those disadvantaged by
disability. The government should take active steps to change these
attitudes and to remove the stigma by educating the public, by awareness
campaigns throughout the island. Disability related information
campaigns and awareness rising are very necessary to change attitudes.
Awareness campaigns
Persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka are entitled to special grants
from the government for projects, to start small-scale businesses, but
very few of the disadvantaged are aware that such schemes exist.
Awareness campaigns therefore should not only to educate the
discriminatory and insulting attitudes of the general public but also
educate the disadvantaged on the social welfare measures available to
them.
The two major religions can also play important role in creating a
more congenial atmosphere to the disadvantaged, by reminding the people
of the teachings of the Buddha and of the great Hindu philosophers that
disable people are also human beings and should be treated like normal
people.
Another important step that should be taken is to make public
transport or the disabled less cumbersome by providing the disabled,
easy access to those vehicles. The provision of reserved seats is just
not enough as most of the disabled - the blind and the disabled find
getting in and getting out of public transport very difficult. The
disabled also find access to public buildings difficult.
Regulations on the accessibility of public and private buildings were
tabled in Parliament in 2007, but its progress had been slow and to date
there is no mechanism to facilitate the enforcement of these
regulations. Lack of resources and shortage of physical and
rehabilitation services, absence of coordination between Colombo and the
provinces are some of the other problems confronting the social
integration of the disabled in our country.
Self-employment
To improve the quality of life of the differently able people and
their families, there should be projects focusing on their physical
rehabilitation and their social integration. Good practices for the
economic inclusion of people with disabilities in developing countries,
speaks of use of micro credit and start of financing, to promote the
independence and entrepreneurship of persons with disabilities. Often
self-employment is the only way for the affected to earn their
livelihoods. Access to capital is therefore is very crucial (Article 12
of the Convention).
There is some reluctance in our country both by public and private
institutions, to give loans to people with disabilities. The government
should ensure that equal opportunities to micro credit are given to the
disabled. Free financing and subsidized loans should be only an initial
step and be reserved for people in extreme poverty.
Women and girls face tremendous disadvantages. Article 6 of the
Convention, speaks of multiple discriminations of women and girls.
Gender based vocational training programmes leads women with
disabilities, exposed to poor labour conditions, lower paying jobs, and
lack of opportunities for advancement.
The ILO’s Wedge team (Women Entrepreneur Development and Gender
Equality) focuses on women with disabilities (ILO count us in - 2008)
and should be of assistance.
Finally the private sector which is said to be the ‘engine of growth’
together with the government should open their doors for the disabled,
with suitable employment and help to erase the prejudice that the
disabled are unwanted and should be left to suffer because of their
‘karma’.
The writer is a Member Institute of Personnel Management |