10 Ways to make society more inclusive for people with disabilities
Although our laws and White Paper was designed to have people with disabilities become viable and authentic citizens, access to resources is still denied and the disability community continues to fight a losing battle to be recognised as valuable contributors in all sectors of our Community.
It is wishful thinking to assume that discrimination no longer occurs and that full equality prevails. This is proven by how the children who are Differently-Abled are shunned and are not included in school activities thereby ending up staying at home to be cared for while the parents work.
The Differently-abled community is one of the biggest minority populations in the world, it is not just the wheelchair-bound people but those with hearing, eye or loss of limb, stature and other drawbacks. What is forgotten is the large Purchasing Power and how valuable they are as Consumers.
Employing those that are Differently-abled, they are very ambitious to work and prove their worth in society apart from wanting to earn a living and help contribute to their family’s income, having the job-satisfaction that brings with it Dignity and pride. The people with disabilities are still very much discriminated against at work from being refused a job or denied a final interview but when it comes down to it, employers need to see this sector of the community as a person, including their disabilities, as an asset and not a potential liability. Every employer should ensure that their bathroom facilities are adequate enough to take a wheelchair when they re-model or move offices, they, themselves, may end up in wheelchairs or on crutches.
Increasing Disability representation in Political settings, have we ever considered incorporating the younger generation to become politically involved nationally or locally? Very seldom, if ever, again, they are seen to be more of a burden and may slow down the processes, here again, all government offices should have disable facilities, their current, able-bodied leaders may have accidents and need to utilise the bathrooms.
The differently-abled have a say and a right to vote in our Country but this is not even considered when it should be a priority considering the huge number of voters that cannot access their voting stations due to lack of consideration, transport, bathrooms, automatic door openers also height of voting counters. When appointing voting staff, are those with competency to deal with people that are differently-abled given priority when appointed or are the disabled themselves ever considered as valuable inclusions in those decisions, especially those who are able to communicate in sign language and even used to dealing with the blind? How do they know where to make their marks when it comes to voting?
Schools – How can a person who is differently-abled identify with their history if they are not taught? If they do not attend schools, as they should without being discriminated against, despite some learning disabilities. How do they become responsible citizens and not burdens as they are perceived to be?
Our overall cultural consciousness on how we treat and interact with the Differently-abled needs to change drastically, beginning at elementary level in the schools. Less discrimination and more social inclusion with the children who are and those without disabilities learning side-by-side. The talents and gifts that those special children bring into the schools is invaluable they, in turn teach the able-bodied children how to adjust to difficult circumstances but that their spirits soar just as high and they also, by integrating on all levels with their fellow learners allow them to appreciate their peers and others who are disabled in all walks of life, they are not sub-humans and are often more intellectually capable than is the concept that these people are actually not worth bothering about especially when it comes to sports.
We need more people who are differently-abled to be seen in the media – Adrian Gore spending one day in a wheelchair to promote Eden is a case in point. His Day in a wheelchair was on social media and was spoken about for many days and many cities and towns (like Plett) are challenging their mayor’s to do the same, we particularly want our Mayor to go up and down the other side of Main Street so that he, too, can see the obstacles that the disabled have to face, daily.
Making air travel universally possible to all – for those who are Differently-abled and have vibrant careers get on a flight, they cannot use the washrooms and are faced with total anxiety and loss of respect, imagine what they must endure especially on a long flight? Companies just do not, in most cases consider the special needs of these passengers who also contribute to their turnovers and with the convenience of having a decent washroom would most certainly elevate the numbers.
Realise that People who are Differently-abled are Humans too – it is so easy to forget these intricate humans who have multiple angles and talents and forget that a person with a disability is first and foremost a human being with desires, talents, skills, heartache and loss just like everyone else.
At the basis of every person are the similarities we all share for being Human, and that includes the Differently-abled.
10 Ways to make society more inclusive for people with disabilities
- View the Disability Community as a Valuable Consumer
- Employ people with Disabilities, they are ambitious to work.
- Increase Disability Representation in Political Settings
- Integrate Disability History in School Curriculums
- Promote Social inclusion in Schools
- Employ more people with Disabilities in Mainstream Media
- Provide Scholarships to Athletes with Disabilities
- Make Air Travel Universally Accessible
- Acknowledge that brutality and abuse occurs on people with Disabilities
- Realise that People with Disabilities are Humans too.