SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FACED BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Based on survey, the challenges faced by persons with disabilities can be centered on the following: The family, environment, society, education, and some African cultures,
The family
The family is the is the first stage of every human being. In fact, it is regarded as the first school in life. This is because it’s in the family that a child is introduced to many things in life such as stills, tradition, language etc. But it is also in the same family where most discriminations towards persons with disabilities begins it’s life from. It is observed that in many families, parents do not regard persons with disabilities as part of the family. In fact they are never involved in the decisions of the family. To some parents, investing money in the affairs of their children with Disabilities is a waste. This result to other members not valuing them as their elders or younger ones.
The environment
The environment should be a place free and inclusive for all. This is a place we’re we all live in and should therefore be a very conducive place for all. The irony part of it is that this is the same place we’re most persons with Disabilities in Africa face uncountable challenges. In Africa, most of the environments are filled with open gutters, holes, bricks and stones that makes it very difficult for persons with visually impairment to move freely without being guided. Most of the structures including government and public are inaccessible for persons in wheelchairs. Most of this structures are built without rams to give access to the physically challenged.
The society
The discriminations in most African societies towards persons with disabilities is unpredictable. Most people do not want to associate with persons with Disabilities. It’s so sad that most drivers in public transportations are reluctant to stop for persons with Disabilities all because of discriminations. The most venerable in this case is persons in wheelchairs. Some drivers will instead tell you “no I can’t take you because my boot can’t accommodate your wheelchair.” Or sometimes the passengers will instead tell the driver “please don’t stop, he will waste our time” look at such wickedness. Many don’t want to bee seen with persons with Disabilities.
Education
Persons with Disabilities face many challenges trying to get access to quality education simply because there are insufficient materials and special accommodations for them to get access to learning materials. Most of the school buildings are not accessible for all persons with Disabilities . Teachers/lecturers do not want to spend their time on persons with disabilities.
Finally on some African cultures.
Cultures are very good and essential in upbringing children. It is through culture that African children are taught important aspects of live such as tolerance, respect, obedience etc. But however some negative African accommodate discriminations to the highest extend. This is were words like “if you wake up in the morning and meet a blind person, then know that it’s a bad lunch for you, the cane of a blind person can bring hard luck when it touches you” are inculcated in the minds of the young. Growing with this baseless ideas will definitely prevent one from helping a person with disability.
In conclusion, please let’s work together and fight discrimination.
In the service of PWDs we remain committed. FCRPD