Recently I read an article in the Times which pulled apart a document produced by the Chinese to "advise" people who to treat people with disabilities in preparation for the upcoming Paralympics. It really made some sad reading, especially given that there are approx 83 million people with disabilities living in China (which is equal to the entire population of Germany).
"The guide for Chinese volunteers at the Games this summer explains that disabled people are a “special group” with “unique personalities and ways of thinking”.The section of the manual entitled “Skills for helping the disabled” goes on to say: “Some physically disabled are isolated, unsocial, and introspective. They can be stubborn and controlling . . . defensive and have a strong sense of inferiority."
So then I began to think about how people with disabilities are treated here, in South Africa. I am afraid to say that in many cases we are just as bad, and in some areas we are worse. Recently, I was asked to give a talk to a group of business people in Jo'burg on the integration of Disability. What shocked me was what the speaker before me was saying. He runs some rehabilitation centres for people with disabilities and he was speaking from his experience of running them. His main thrust was that newly disabled people have usually "lost their connection with god" and the first step to rehabilitation HAS to be making that connection. Because I was being paid to speak, it would have been inappropriate for me to shout him down (although I did correct that when it came to my own turn!!!). I really feel so sorry for all the people in his "care". Now, I will admit that I have met many newly disabled people, whose faith has helped them come to terms with their disability. I would not deny that, and I have seen that it does work for some people. However, I have also seen the complete reverse, where a person's faith or religion has really had a huge negative effect on a person's recovery. Some people (including the sad, deluded, Oprah -inspired, "the secret-loving", mindless eejuts) actually believe that a disability is a punishment from a god for some sin committed. I have been informed that I am in a wheelchair for that reason on more than one occasion. How would a person begin to come to terms with that? It is awful, and the proponents of this sick way of thinking should be ashamed with the hurt and negative impact that they may cause. Fortunately, for me, I do not believe that there is any god or supernatural being, but I can only imagine the really deep psychological issues that a believer may feel if they think that way or are told that.
In some sections of society in South Africa, a person with a disability is viewed as an embarrassment, as they really think that it is some form of punishment on either the individual or even the family. For this reason the person is often hidden away from society. I have found people who have not been out of their shack (or even their family's up market house...it is not just certain sections of society) for years. They carry a massive amount of guilt for what they think they are putting their family through.
Of course, there is sometime guilt involved with newly disabled people, depending on individual circumstances. I felt very guilty as my disability was initiated through sport (something I did not have to do), and also that I did not appear to have the same earning potential as before (this coupled with having to spend a lot of my savings, which had been put aside for children's education and the like. I also felt like less of a man. I would suggest that they are all pretty normal issues that many people have to come to terms with. But add a sick religious (or perhaps supernatural belief in the case of 'the secret" believers) dimension on top of that, and that must make that guilt feel almost unbearable for some people.
86% of people with disabilities gain their disability through their lives (only 14% were born with the disability). 10 - 20% of any population are disabled. People with disabilities are just people who live with different impairments. We are not (necessarily!) sinners, or saints! Get rid of the labels!! We are all in this together. Some people with disabilities may require your assistance at times - but either wait to be asked, or please ask before providing it. If you go to shake someone's hand and you are given a stump to shake, then bloody well shake that. If the person has problems speaking, then please don't try to finish the words or sentences for them. Don't pet their guide dogs when the dogs are in harness. Don't stare. If a child asks you why that person is in a wheelchair / blind / walks funny / looks funny / whatever, then give the child a sensible answer (dependent on their age) after all there are the disabled and those people who are temporarily able, and tomorrow it may be you or the child who is the one being asked about. If you happen to believe that your version of your god is the sort that disables people as a punishment, then please keep that to yourself, and I hope that you would find a way to live with that belief if you ever become disabled yourself...Some more political promises - we need to monitor to see if they are actually delivered.
E Molewa on priority provincial disability programme: "'The programme includes, amongst others, commitments on economic empowerment of people with disabilities, improving the internal capacity to manage the disability programme, increasing accessibility of services to persons with disabilities and broadening their participation in decision-making processes,' Premier Edna Molewa said today at the Provincial Legislature.
Tabling the Budget Vote for the Office of the Premier, Ms Molewa said she was honoured to report to the Provincial Legislature that her office has ensured that the disability sector is represented in all working groups of the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) as promised last year.
This financial year, she said, the Office of the Premier will launch the Provincial Disability Machinery that will ensure the mainstreaming of disability issues across all sectors including government, business, labour, academic Institutions, religious bodies and all civil society organisations.
'The office on the status of people with disabilities will also convene a Provincial Disability Summit to develop a medium-term provincial plan on disability. This will be succeeded by the finalisation of establishment of municipal disability forums in all municipalities,' said Ms Molewa.
Again, they will also develop a database of people with disabilities this year."
This is a great post from another blog, Andrea's Buzzing About, which gets you thinking...
Colony Collapse Disorder : Blogging Against Disablism Day � Andrea’s Buzzing About:: "The honeybees are in danger.
I don’t care; I hate bugs!
Too few people with disabilities complete their education or are fully employed.
That’s not my problem; I don’t know any of Those People.
Curiously, these two things are more related than you might imagine, at least on the social level."
At least we can listen on the radio. But from all accounts Muizenberg Pavilion is a real dive. Surely a more suitable venue could have been provided for a man of Professor Hawking's stature?
N Pandor to meet S Hawking in Muizenberg, 11 May: "On Sunday, 11 May the Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor will welcome Stephen Hawking, who is to give his first ever public lecture in Africa.
Hawking's books have inspired movies and made the general population aware of the complex yet fascinating area of theoretical physics.
Titled 'Universe', Hawking's lecture will take place at 18h00 in the Muizenberg Pavilion. The event is already sold out, but it will be broadcast live on Radio 2000.
Hawking will be a guest of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Muizenberg, Cape Town.
Other scientists and engineers, including two Nobel Prize Laureates in Physics, David Gross, and George Smoot and the Head of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Michael Griffin, will also be speaking and participating."
This is a very interesting piece of news. A city in the UK has won a technology award for the provision of talking bus stops. I would suggest that people read the full article. They do say that this can be replicated in other areas, and I hope that will happen.
Case study: Brighton & Hove City Council - Talking Bus Stops for the blind and visually impaired (linked to Real Time Bus Information signs) :: PublicTechnology.net :: e-Government & public sector IT news job vacancies:: "A multi-disciplinary working group was been formed, including councillors, officers, system designers, users, local politicians and consultants. A partnership was formed with the Royal National Institute for Blind (RNIB) to evolve a RNIB React system from providing orientation messages to include Real Time Information. The interface to provide a text to speech link with the Siemens VDO Passenger Information Displays was created by working with SFX Technologies, whilst Atkins Consultants helped with project management. The resulting system can be replicated in other areas and interest has already been shown from London local authorities."
We have heard these sort of promises from different politicians before. But I would encourage public promises like this as it does raise awareness. So full marks to the Minister for this promise. My follow up question would be how? We do need to get more people with disabilities into employment, but in order to do that there is much ground work that needs to be done. It is not as simple as just going out to employ these people. Often many PWD have had no work and limited educational experience. There are often barriers for them to access the work place, both physical, and also attitudinal (other peoples' perceptions). What we don't want to witness is the usual stereotyping and merely employing blind telephonists which we see so often...
E Pahad on rights of people with disabilities during Imbizo Week: "Minister in the Office of the Presidency Essop Pahad has reiterated government's commitment to improving the living conditions of the disabled.
Speaking in Jane Furse, Limpopo during an Imbizo held as part of the government's Imbizo Week programme, he said government was doing all possible to meet its 2010 deadline of employing a minimum of two percent public servants with disabilities. Minister Pahad was responding to a question raised during the Imbizo about unfair treatment and less opportunities for the disabled in the workforce.
'It is the policy of this government that by 2010 we have within the public service at least two percent of our total staff being those with disabilities. This is a commitment we are working hard to achieve,' he said."
It will be interesting to see how accessible the Olympics and Paralympics will be this year.
VOA News - China Prepares to Host Paralymics: "China is preparing to hold its first Olympic Games this year, and along with it, the Paralympics Games for disabled athletes. Chinese officials acknowledge that they are far behind in providing equal access for the country's disabled citizens, and they hope the games will help improve the situation. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing."
Beijing says, for the first time in Paralympics history, the city will pay all travel expenses for disabled athletes and team officials.
There is an exhibition taking place in Cape Town (Civic Centre) called "Aesthetic and Disability" from 2nd to 29th February.
In a bid to change the way society looks at disabled people and to celebrate their beauty, the City of Cape Town is to launch a photo exhibition featuring French models with various forms of disability.Now, while I applaud any effort to raise awareness around Disability, there is a potential aspect of this exhibition which I fear could become similar to the old, horrible, circus activity of inviting people to come and look at "the Freak Show" (bearded ladies, small people, etc.). But possibly I am guilty of pre-judging this, and it would seem that the photographers themselves are disabled, and so that may indicate that this issue will be addressed. I don't know, but I will be going to have a look myself.
This is very exciting! It just shows how new technology is breaking new ground every day.
Double amputee walks again due to Bluetooth - CNN.com: "WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Bleill lost both his legs above the knees when a bomb exploded under his Humvee while on patrol in Iraq on October 15, 2006. He has 32 pins in his hip and a 6-inch screw holding his pelvis together.
Joshua Bleill, pictured here with his girlfriend, is walking again with the aid of prosthetics outfitted with Bluetooth.
Now, he's starting to walk again with the help of prosthetic legs outfitted with Bluetooth technology more commonly associated with hands-free cell phones."
This should make all businesses and restaurants think...
Rolling Rains Report:: Steak & Shake: Where ADA Compliance has Been Taken Off the Menu!: "Americans with disabilities spend more than $13.6 billion annually on travel. The Open Doors Organization calculated that in 2003, persons with disabilities or reduced mobility spent 35 billion dollars in restaurants. According to the same study, more than 75% of these people eat out at restaurants at least once a week."
OK, off the usual subjects for a post, but I do feel that this is actually linked to Disability; as I know of several people who are now disabled due to to crimes where weapons were used, and they were shot. Prevention is always better than cure. We need to have stricter arms controls all over the world, but especially here in South Africa...
Therefore I have joined, and would encourage any readers of this blog to join, the Amnesty International Control Arms project.
Some startling figures for you:
Come on South Africa...we need ratification...and MUCH work to catch up. You tried to portray South Africa as at the forefront of this important work...they are looking like empty words as each day passes...
Rolling Rains Report:: Press Release: Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragua Ratify the UN Disability Rights Convention: "Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragua Ratify the UN Disability Rights Convention
RI Calls on Governments to Recognize the Human Rights of All by Ratifying the CRPD"
I know it is stating the obvious, but sometimes we need to. Here is more evidence of better, accessible design paying off.
WorldChanging: Tools, Models and Ideas for Building a Bright Green Future: Redesigning Buses: "Sightline Institute's blog The Daily Score recently noted that people always prefer streetcars and other light rail to buses. They aren't just being subjective, either--history backs them up. In 2001 the Denver Business Journal wrote of new light rail systems being mobbed in Denver, Dallas, Salt Lake City and St. Louis because they were so much more popular than forecasted, saying 'In Dallas, ridership on a new rail line was three times greater than ridership on an express bus that used the same route' and quoting government officials who were realizing 'How people respond to rail is different than how they respond to bus'.
So, why the mysterious preference for light rail? Two words: Better design."
This is exciting news...I really hope that it turns into action. Of course I applaud the move. Although I must admit that I smiled, when you see how a politician announces this...as though it is a huge favour, and we all need to be suitably thankful. The reality is that if access is not provided to places of culture, then they are in direct contravention of (their own) laws, and open to court action.
P Jordan on people with disabilities: "12 December 2007
The Ministry of Arts and Culture has pledged R162 million over the next three years to make cultural facilities accessible to persons with disabilities. The plan was announced by Minister Pallo Jordan as part of the government's plan to improve the plight of people with disabilities.
He said the funds earmarked for the three forthcoming years are R39 million for 2008, R43 million for 2009 and R80 million for 2010. 'We have detailed information on the provision that has been made for the upgrading of security and access for person with disabilities at the department's public entities.'
'These would include places like museums, playhouses and other institutions that bring people together to not only enjoy artistic expressions but witness and experience the heritage of our beautiful country,' said Minister Jordan. In fact, buildings and structures built since 1994 have disabled access, while older ones have had to be renovated and adapted.
At present the department is in the process of ascertaining the requirements of the public entities in terms of security and accessibility. A service provider will be appointed in the near future to report on the current status. 'The upgrade of security and accessibility for persons with disabilities is a priority to make the arts accessible to all the people of the country,' said Minister Jordan."
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