By: Chowdhury Md. Usman Ahmmady
"ASMA, mildly handicapped with a behavioral disorder reading in class one for two years and her younger sister Salma in class three were left in my hand while their mother went to a nearby shop for milk. At first, Asma had a shy look. But after a while she started beating her younger sister. I tickled her to change her mood to laughing, but she got scared, an opposite reaction to such an extent that she was very angry. Her mom saw that and beat her up badly breaking down in tears", said her next door neighbour.
This kind of negative punishment in response to an embarrassing situation created by Asmas is the outcome of overreaction from the frustration by the parents. It is said that more than two-thirds of families with disabled children feel that their issues are neglected and unaccepted by the local community. Their hopelessness spares no room for their disabled children to lead normal lives.
According to the recent report of UN Development Program, crrently there are in total about 650 million people living with disability, which is 10 per cent of the world's population whereas World Bank says that the percentage is double in the poor and developing countries. Regretfully, we don't have any national data on the actual number of the disabled. If we take the estimation of World Bank, the number of disabled persons in Bangladesh is 32 million, which is equivalent to the number of children living in UK.
As per the total quantity and categories of the disabled people in Bangladesh, approximately 28% are physically disabled, 32% visually handicapped, 22% deaf-mutely impaired, 7% mentally retarded, and 11% multiply handicapped, says Action on Disability and Development.
Bangladesh is still fighting with poverty. Poor and illiterate parents don't even know that education is the birthright for their child. Access Bangladesh Foundation claims that presently 1.6 million disabled children are deprived of education in the country. As 1 in 5 people are living on less than a USD a day, how can they support their disabled child's growth and development? They often take them to the street to start their life in the profitable business of begging showing the handicapped part of their child.
There are 78 government-run special schools, only about 1500 are being taught, out of which 69 schools are for visually handicapped, and seven for deaf-mute children, one for intellectually retarded and only one for training and rehabilitation. In addition to government's inadequate effort, about 15000 children are under the educational programme of around 400 NGOs, says USAID report on "Assessment of educational needs of disabled children in Bangladesh".
To achieve the Millennium Development Goal of Universal Primary Education and the goal of education for all children by 2015, the government has urged all educational institutions to take immediate inclusive educational strategies for at least mildly disabled students. But most of the time, the disabled children face institutional discriminations before and after getting admission. And Rajibs are the victims.
Rajib diagnosed with mental disability is the only son of an army personnel and one of the luckiest to manage a mainstream school. But his intellectual disability, lower communicative competence and stubborn behavioral activities left him with no choice but to leave the school for good and his father has to go on keep changing his schools for the same class for 3 years with no fruitful outcome.
The discriminatory mindset of the school authorities remains unchanged. In fact, "inability to learn" is often confused with "stubbornness". If proper training and supports are available, perhaps they could learn and perform near a normal child.
So, inclusive education is regarded as the most effective means of combating discriminatory attitudes. Besides, the class room teaching should be student-centred, not teacher centred, where the child starts working designing next steps.
To ensure that children with disabilities can attend mainstream schools, the government should provide them with an allocation of reserved seats, apposite growth-based curriculum, skilled teachers, special teaching equipments, and other needful resources.
The present government is giving much attention to the most discriminatory concern for the most disadvantaged section by proper implementation of the Disability Welfare Act 2001 with ensuring equal rights of persons with disability. In FY 09-10 government earmarked TK 636 crore as insolvent disable allowance, reports Bangladesh Economic Review 2010. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina strictly ordered the concerned government officials to implement the 10% quota system to provide jobs for the disabled this year. Nursing training, technical training centers, Healthcare Aid Center, special schools, sports centres would be in place soon, she added.
The disabled are not a social burden. They can prove themselves to be gifted with their excellence. Their success can comment on our compassion, on our willingness to invest in the notion of growth, education, equity. They just need support and care. Since 1995 to date, they have achieved 45 gold, 28 silver, and 28 bronze medals in the Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Consider the story of Ali Hossain who fought for victory in his life and became proud to get chance in the Kha Unit of Dhaka University entrance exam last week. As the first visually handicapped student, he secured GPA-5 in his Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam in Bangladesh.
Social disparity is the greatest barrier for the development of the disabled. Ali Hossain is one of the exceptions who became privileged enough to break social barriers.
The electronic and print media along with NGOs should come up with different mass awareness programmes to change the non-cooperative attitude towards disabled people. Even we can put more emphasis on creating awareness by providing chapters on disability in the text books. This will help normal children to feel sympathetic towards such less able children, resulting in the fruitful implementation of inclusive education system.
Persons with disability are not the social curse. Rather they are the gifts from God. Whenever we change our attitude towards the disabled people, thousands of the disabled like Asma, and Rajib would be able to play vital role in the development of the country.
The writer can be reached at jamdani85@yahoo.com
09 December, 2010
Disability Rights in India
Have you ever traveled alone in a bus? In a train? Have you ever read a book? Or browsed through several websites? Did you ever have the misfortune of using a public toilet in India? Can you get a driving license if you pass the set test? Do you get to choose where you want to work, so long as you fit the requirements of your chosen job? Do you think that most people reading this article would answer most of the above questions in the affirmative? Over 70 million people with disabilities in India will not.
Having a ‘disability’ puts a person in the largest minority in the world. A minority that has been denied its rights for years on end, with no justification whatsoever. Oh, wait! A 2007 study by the World Bankshows that an overwhelming majority of Indians consider disabilities to be a result of Karma or a curse of God and, therefore, ostracise people with disabilities. I believe that if you consider that to be a good enough justification, you are committing bad Karma. Beware.
Then there is another set of enlightened people. The charity folk. The ones who ‘give’ persons with disabilities what they need. Well, some food, a place to stay, clothing – that’s about it they require, right? If someone came to you and said, “Look, you’re disabled according to a number of us and so we’ve decided to take you on as our pet project. We’ll give you food, drink, a room in some institution and clothes as per requirement. Be happy, alright?” would you be happy? Would you agree to spend your life according to what others believe you require?
When we talk of women’s rights, do we consider women with disabilities? When the government publishes something for its people, is it published for all Indian citizens? When we design a building, do we ensure that everyone can get in? Is our public transport system really public? Are all jobs open for all people with the requisite qualifications? Well. NO. We discount a sizable population. Every single time.
It’s time we did a rethink. What is a disability? If you knew nothing about mathematics and were shoved into a room full of mathematicians who refused to talk about anything but math, wouldn’t you be disabled in conversation? If you were forced to study in Braille, wouldn’t you be disabled? Are you the person creating the disability or is the circumstance such that you find yourself disabled? Is it you, or is it your surrounding? It’s not the fault of a person who has to use a wheelchair that he can’t enter a building, it’s the fault of those who built it such that a person using a wheelchair can’t enter.
Which brings one to a pertinent question: on what grounds can a person with disabilities be denied access? If every child has a right to education, then why don’t educational institutions allow universal access? If a person has made it through an interview then how can he be denied a job on the grounds that he requires matter to be printed in larger font size or requires a screen reader? On what grounds can you deny a people with disabilities the right to use a public toilet without aid? What right do you have to publish books in a manner that actively denies all those who’re unable to read normal printed books the chance to peruse them? It’s a simple answer. We haven’t the right to deny access.
I believe it’s time we realized that pity isn’t an answer. Nobody wants pity. Give the 70 million people in India their rights. Else, remember the bad Karma threat.
Blogger Comments: Such situation prevails in whole developing world especially in South Asia
Having a ‘disability’ puts a person in the largest minority in the world. A minority that has been denied its rights for years on end, with no justification whatsoever. Oh, wait! A 2007 study by the World Bankshows that an overwhelming majority of Indians consider disabilities to be a result of Karma or a curse of God and, therefore, ostracise people with disabilities. I believe that if you consider that to be a good enough justification, you are committing bad Karma. Beware.
Then there is another set of enlightened people. The charity folk. The ones who ‘give’ persons with disabilities what they need. Well, some food, a place to stay, clothing – that’s about it they require, right? If someone came to you and said, “Look, you’re disabled according to a number of us and so we’ve decided to take you on as our pet project. We’ll give you food, drink, a room in some institution and clothes as per requirement. Be happy, alright?” would you be happy? Would you agree to spend your life according to what others believe you require?
When we talk of women’s rights, do we consider women with disabilities? When the government publishes something for its people, is it published for all Indian citizens? When we design a building, do we ensure that everyone can get in? Is our public transport system really public? Are all jobs open for all people with the requisite qualifications? Well. NO. We discount a sizable population. Every single time.
It’s time we did a rethink. What is a disability? If you knew nothing about mathematics and were shoved into a room full of mathematicians who refused to talk about anything but math, wouldn’t you be disabled in conversation? If you were forced to study in Braille, wouldn’t you be disabled? Are you the person creating the disability or is the circumstance such that you find yourself disabled? Is it you, or is it your surrounding? It’s not the fault of a person who has to use a wheelchair that he can’t enter a building, it’s the fault of those who built it such that a person using a wheelchair can’t enter.
Which brings one to a pertinent question: on what grounds can a person with disabilities be denied access? If every child has a right to education, then why don’t educational institutions allow universal access? If a person has made it through an interview then how can he be denied a job on the grounds that he requires matter to be printed in larger font size or requires a screen reader? On what grounds can you deny a people with disabilities the right to use a public toilet without aid? What right do you have to publish books in a manner that actively denies all those who’re unable to read normal printed books the chance to peruse them? It’s a simple answer. We haven’t the right to deny access.
I believe it’s time we realized that pity isn’t an answer. Nobody wants pity. Give the 70 million people in India their rights. Else, remember the bad Karma threat.
Blogger Comments: Such situation prevails in whole developing world especially in South Asia
15 September, 2010
Claiming disability rights Justice has to come to the fore
In the academy award winning movie Slumdog Millionaire, criminals are shown inflicting physical disabilities on the abducted or homeless children to make them work as beggars. The fate of persons with disabilities often leads them to the streets and temples with no options but to beg for a living. This cruel and unjust traditional practice of disowning, chastising and marginalizing people for physical and mental conditions they did not choose to acquire will continue unless the disabled people empower themselves by knowing and claiming their rights. It is for everybody else to show solidarity, to recognize and respect the rights of the disabled people, and to create an enabling environment for people with disabilities to assert their rights with dignity and autonomy. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) endorses persons with disabilities with powerful rights. The Convention is an instrument of the United Nations (UN) geared toward protecting the rights and dignity of disabled people throughout the world. Some of the principles of the Convention include non-discrimination, full and active participation and inclusion in society, equality of opportunity, accessibility and equality between men and women. In addition, one of the general obligations of signing the CRPD is modification or abolishment of existing laws, regulations, customs and practices that are sources of discrimination against persons with disabilities. National level strategies driven by both governmental and non-governmental actors is required to create an enabling environment for disabled people to be aware of and assert their rights.
Although Nepal is one of the countries that have signed the CRDP in 2008 and recently ratified it, international conventions by themselves may not have the force of law unless the national legislature is amended to reflect those commitments. Even if discrimination is prohibited in the constitution or via other legal provisions, unless the laws are enacted and monitored, they become useless. It should be a concern for current lawmakers that international organizations repeatedly underscore Nepal’s lack of data on disabled people as well as ineffective implementation of existing legislation and programs. The data on persons with disabilities in both national and international levels are scarce and unreliable. Going by the World Health Organization (WHO) estimation of 10 percent of the world population suffering from some forms of disabilities, about 3 million people with some forms of disabilities should be living in Nepal.
The initial step is to ensure that people with disabilities, however severe, know their rights. Access to information and education, through parents, family members, teachers, friends and relatives and the mass media must be ensured. Developing critical consciousness, to borrow Paulo Freire’s concept, is imperative if disabled people are to overcome the age-old discrimination and repression, and to demand equality in terms of employment, education and participation. Increasing awareness among lawmakers, national and local leaders, planners, social activists and the general population about disability rights is important if we are to actuate the process of making what was readily signed on paper a reality in the ground.
The CRDP clearly defines employment as one of the fundamental rights of disabled people. As long as the government does not provide incentives to private sector businesses or impose quotas, people with disabilities who want to be employed will continue to find jobs out of their reach.
The process of organizing the disabled population will enhance their visibility and voice. When disabled people organize themselves, they are better equipped to demand change and advocate for their own rights.
Existing human rights organizations can play a catalytic role in facilitating the organization of people with disabilities from all walks of life. Building capacity of leaders and activists in promoting disability rights is essential to bridge the gap between international standards and its application on the ground. Capacity building exercises can include granting material and funds, training and development, and supporting collaboration with other organizations.
Local leaders must begin to recognize persons with disabilities as citizens with rights as everyone else and local communities be accommodating of their difference. Visibility of disabled people in the media, not as exceptions making news but as a norm will help this group secure its rightful position in the society.
Although at least ten percent of the population is affected by some form of disability, the disabled population is not proportionately represented in the media. It is unfortunate that government action in Nepal is now becoming possible only if groups exert pressure, especially in the forms of strikes and other desperate measures.
Scattered and hardly visible, the disabled people need better information, organization, visibility and voice to lay claims on rights they already have.
Although Nepal is one of the countries that have signed the CRDP in 2008 and recently ratified it, international conventions by themselves may not have the force of law unless the national legislature is amended to reflect those commitments. Even if discrimination is prohibited in the constitution or via other legal provisions, unless the laws are enacted and monitored, they become useless. It should be a concern for current lawmakers that international organizations repeatedly underscore Nepal’s lack of data on disabled people as well as ineffective implementation of existing legislation and programs. The data on persons with disabilities in both national and international levels are scarce and unreliable. Going by the World Health Organization (WHO) estimation of 10 percent of the world population suffering from some forms of disabilities, about 3 million people with some forms of disabilities should be living in Nepal.
The initial step is to ensure that people with disabilities, however severe, know their rights. Access to information and education, through parents, family members, teachers, friends and relatives and the mass media must be ensured. Developing critical consciousness, to borrow Paulo Freire’s concept, is imperative if disabled people are to overcome the age-old discrimination and repression, and to demand equality in terms of employment, education and participation. Increasing awareness among lawmakers, national and local leaders, planners, social activists and the general population about disability rights is important if we are to actuate the process of making what was readily signed on paper a reality in the ground.
The CRDP clearly defines employment as one of the fundamental rights of disabled people. As long as the government does not provide incentives to private sector businesses or impose quotas, people with disabilities who want to be employed will continue to find jobs out of their reach.
The process of organizing the disabled population will enhance their visibility and voice. When disabled people organize themselves, they are better equipped to demand change and advocate for their own rights.
Existing human rights organizations can play a catalytic role in facilitating the organization of people with disabilities from all walks of life. Building capacity of leaders and activists in promoting disability rights is essential to bridge the gap between international standards and its application on the ground. Capacity building exercises can include granting material and funds, training and development, and supporting collaboration with other organizations.
Local leaders must begin to recognize persons with disabilities as citizens with rights as everyone else and local communities be accommodating of their difference. Visibility of disabled people in the media, not as exceptions making news but as a norm will help this group secure its rightful position in the society.
Although at least ten percent of the population is affected by some form of disability, the disabled population is not proportionately represented in the media. It is unfortunate that government action in Nepal is now becoming possible only if groups exert pressure, especially in the forms of strikes and other desperate measures.
Scattered and hardly visible, the disabled people need better information, organization, visibility and voice to lay claims on rights they already have.
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