“Somewhere, a child is being told he cannot play because he cannot walk, or another that she cannot learn because she cannot see. That boy deserves a chance to play. And we all benefit when that girl, and all children, can read, learn and contribute. The path forward will be challenging. But children do not accept unnecessary limits. Neither should we.” Anthony Lake, Executive Director, UNICEF.
A few weeks ago I attended a concert at NAPA organised by the T&T Blind Welfare Association and entitled Jewels of the Evening – featuring the talents of persons who are visually impaired. This is one of a series of events to mark the Association’s 100th anniversary. Those who missed this concert missed a treat. It really brought home to me how society can ignore the tremendous talents of persons with disabilities.
As I drove home I recalled my words to parents of autistic children when Mrs Teresina Sieunarine invited me to address the Autistic Society of T&T a few years ago. I reminded those gathered that they must never let anyone determine their children’s self-worth.
In May, UNICEF published the 2013 edition of The State of the World’s Children. This edition focused on the situation of children with disabilities. (See http://www.unicef.org/sowc2013/ .) The report states, “One in every seven children is disabled. Children with disabilities are among the most likely to be marginalised, poor and vulnerable.” The report examines the barriers – from inaccessible buildings to dismissive attitudes, from invisibility in official statistics to vicious discrimination – that deprive children with disabilities of their rights and keep them from participating fully in society. It also lays out some of the key elements of inclusive societies that respect and protect the rights of children with disabilities, adequately support them and their families, and nurture their abilities – so that they may take advantage of opportunities to flourish and make their contribution to the world.
“Children with disabilities belong at the centre of efforts to build inclusive and equitable societies, not only as beneficiaries but as agents of change… Children with disabilities and their communities both benefit if society focuses on what those children can achieve, rather than what they cannot.”
T&T would do well to draw on the good-practice guidance contained in the report on “inclusive health and education; prevention; nutrition; protection from violence, exploitation and abuse; emergency response; institutionalisation; and the role of appropriate technology and infrastructure”.
Atherosclerosis- Atherosclerosis is a condition, which essentially constricts arteries, controlling the amount of blood that is able to cheap cialis 20mg grow at all. Today’s fast-paced life takes a constant toll on purchase cheap viagra one’s mind and body. For instance, if you sense that your office visit was unpleasant or unproductive, you do have are right buy levitra on line navigate to this storefront to a refund on your visit. These varied monopolies allow for the strong financial sale on viagra growth of individuals at the expense of the very people, the fans that support these sports. If we follow the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) estimate that in any given population, 10% of that population has a disability, then in T&T there are more than 130,000 persons living with a disability of a mental, physical or sensory nature. We lack accurate data, for example the 2013 State of the World’s Children report states that the level of literacy in T&T is still 99%. Evidence-based policies must be based on evidence!
T&T’s Policy on Persons with Disabilities states: “As citizens, persons with disabilities have the same rights and responsibilities as other members of society to participate in the social, cultural, economic and political life of their communities.” If we truly respect their rights, we would, for example, have an education system that meets their needs.
Mikkel Trestrail is a former member of CCSJ. He has been blind since he was 11 years old. The concerns he raised in the Catholic News in November 2005 have not been addressed effectively to date. Inter alia, he said: “Unfortunately, many persons with disabilities are still treated unfairly. This means that an extra effort is required by everyone in society to reduce incidence of discrimination and prejudice.”
One of the issues he raised was inclusion. “I would like to encourage everyone to take an active role in this process. We all are responsible for each other. Pope John Paul II, in his message to the disabled in the Jubilee year, expressed a desire to see, ‘integration become an attitude and a culture’. This means that even though we may not have the power to change laws, we have the power to do something!
“We all must have inclusion as an attitude for daily living. This is not only inclusion of the disabled, but inclusion of all: the young, the elderly, and all people. People should find an open heart when they encounter a Christian.”
He also expressed concern about “the lack of support for the families of persons with disabilities… I hope that parishes in the near future can train individuals to carry out this much needed ministry, to seek out and support these families”.
Lord, help us to build an inclusive society/world for all your children.
