Understanding rather than pity

According to Disabled People of South Africa (DPSA) almost six million South Africans live with some form of disability.

We are compelled by this high figure to learn more about disabilities, so we can support and help people with disabilities in our community.

Something else to bear in mind is that disabilities can be congenital/hereditary or acquired. Congenital/ hereditary means a person can be born with a disability or develop it due to genetic problems. Acquired means that any person who thinks they are otherwise healthy or normal can become disabled at any age due to factors like illness or accidents.

The National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa state that “Persons with disabilities include those who have long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments”.

Impairment is a “problem with a structure or organ of the body”. Disability is “the restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity” due to an impairment.

In the scenario where a person lost a leg, one would say the loss of a leg is a physical impairment and the person has a walking disability. This is an example of a physical disability.

Mental impairments are mental or psychological disorders, for example depression, schizophrenia and social anxiety disorder.

Intellectual impairments are disorders that limit a person’s reasoning, learning and problem-solving abilities.

Sensory impairments are problems with a person’s senses, i.e. sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste and spatial awareness.

These disability related terms are meant to be used in a medical context by medical professionals to make diagnoses to help and support people with disabilities. The rest of us should be cautious, because we often offend and hurt people when we use these terms loosely and incorrectly.

Maybe we should stop focusing on terminology and remind ourselves that a person with a disability is a person, rather than a condition or diagnosis.

In the words of Sabah El Khouly, a young woman with a visual impairment: “What we must have is not pity but understanding, not custody but opportunity, not care but acceptance. Feeling sorry for someone doesn't help; it actually hurts. Expressing to someone that you feel sorry for them can easily reinforce self pity.”

This column provides an overview of impairments and disabilities. You can contact your local doctor or mental health provider for more information or support. You can also contact Disabled People South Africa (DPSA) on tel. 021 422 0357 or online at www.dpsa.org.za.

• Nathan Ferreira is a practitioner in inclusive education and a proponent of inclusive communities. disABILITIES is a monthly column. natjfer@yahoo.com