Understanding disability

Definition

Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

(Art. 1 - UNCRPD)

International Convention

• The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities received its 20th ratification on 3 April 2008, triggering the entry into force of the Convention and its Optional Protocol 30 days later.

• This marks a major milestone in the effort to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

Disability is a Human Rights issue

• Disability is an unavoidable and universal part of human diversity

• There has been a change in how the person with disabilities is viewed:

– From being seen as an object of charity and a burden = approach of assistance

– To a subject of law = approach based on the respect of all human beings

– Shift from a charitable to a rights-based approach whereby individual is respected and empowered

• In light of this change, four core human rights values take on particular importance in the context of disability :Dignity: respect for a person’s physical and moral

integrityAutonomy: capacity for self-directed action,

decision and behaviourEquality: prohibition of discriminationSolidarity: social support

Everybody has the same rights and should have the same access to their rights

The problem is within the individual: the disability is the direct result of the person’s impairment

Disability is only a health (thus medical) issue

Solutions are designed by « medical experts » on the basis of a medical diagnosis

Focus: elimination or cure of disability ; normalisation

Reference to people with disabilities as an oppressed minority

The environment of persons with disabilities is a problem

The disability is the result of barriers linked to : physical environment, attitudes, information and communication. This leads to unequal access to opportunities

Focus: elimination of barriers linked to physical space, attitudines and information/communication

Disability viewed as an individual pathology

MEDICAL MODEL

Disability viewed as a social pathology

SOCIAL MODEL

Contrasting disability models

Adapted from Rioux, 1997 - Cité par Interactif déc 2002 - Understanding disability : look, then act

SOCIAL PARTICIPATION

Environmental factors

Interaction

Personal factors

Human development model (RIPPH, 1996)

Intrinsic Extrinsic

HUMAN DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL

Personal factorsPersonal factors

Life HabitsLife Habits

HUMAN DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL

Facilitator - Obstacles

Environmental Environmental FactorsFactors

CapabilitiesAbility – Funct. impairment

Organic systems Integrity - Impairment

Social Participation - Disabling Situation

Interactions

Adapted from Disability Creation Process, Fougeyrollas et al., 1997

A heterogeneous group...

They have different types of impairments of varying degrees of severity

They have diverse combinations of education, skills and experiences

They live in different environments with specific obstacles and facilitators

Organic systems

Capabilities

Environmental factors

…with a lot of potential

Many impairments could be treated or compensated for!

People with disabilities have capabilities and can develop new

ones !

Obstacles could be reduced and facilitators multiplied !

This is the story of Annie, a 23 year old woman from Zambia. Annie Mweemba is a wheelchair-user. Annie has completed a two-year tailoring course. She knows she was lucky to complete this training. After spending some time at home helping her parents with domestic chores, Annie thought of using their old sewing machine to start her own business. She began by advertising her home-based business, but met with negative attitudes, especially from her parents, because of her disability. However, Annie persisted and eventually people began bringing her sewing. Her business was not profitable because she had a lot of competition from other tailors, but she continued to work hard to earn a living. However, her sewing machine was not adapted to her needs and her old wheelchair made it even more difficult for her to work efficiently. She tried to get a loan from a bank to buy a new better-adapted sewing machine, but she couldn’t get into the building with her wheelchair. After much effort she convinced a friend to help her to get inside, but the bank personnel rejected her request outright because of her impairment, without even trying to gauge her skills in business management, her technical expertise or the collateral guarantee. Despite all her efforts, Annie was forced to give up her dream of becoming financially independent and had to go back to being dependent on her family. She is now confined to her home and reduced to doing the domestic chores. She often wonders how different her life would have been if she had had access to information on places that help people like her to realise their aspirations. Annie is just a case in point. There are countless Annies in our society, people who have the skills, determination and aspirations to make it on their own, but are unable to do so…..

What are the personal and environmental factors that affect Annie’s life

habits/situation?

What facilitators would have contributed to Annie’s success?

Annie’s case-study