PHYSICAL DISABILITY ‘IS NO EXCUSE’
THREE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SPEAK OUT They praise Government for inclusive policies.
The Fiji Disabled People’s Federation is hoping to move its members away from the handout mentality some people living with disabilities have become used to. There are 113,595 people above the age of three years in the country who are living with disabilities, according to the most recent census survey.
This equates to 13.7 per cent of the national population. This was disclosed by Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Veena Bhatnagar as she opened the FDPF Biennial General Meeting at the Pacific Theological College in Suva. FDPF president Joshko Wakanaiyasi said he wanted people living with disabilities in the country to think how they could contribute towards nation building.
“For a long time, people with disabilities have had handouts. Whenever they talk about assistance, they are given money or food vouchers. This is all good,” he said.
“But what I want to do is challenge them and tell them that they themselves can take ownership of their own success, they themselves can work towards solving their own problems.
“Before, only $200,000 was given towards people living with disabilities. This was noted as an NGO grant. Now on top of this, there is another $1.1 million. This is new.”
Mr Wakaniyasi said legislations are now in place and the government policies favour people with disabilities. He said the Government had ratified the United Nations Conventions on People with Disabilities and policies had followed.
“We now have the responsibility of telling people living disabilities that they should be pulling up their socks – so to speak. We have to build capacity of our members so they are able to decide a pathway for themselves,” he said.
“We want to break this culture where people living with disabilities just give into the handouts and rely just on that. We have to break away from this culture.
“They have to be able to use their skills and gain a life for themselves. We are telling our branches that they have to tell members that they have to be able to contribute to the society. We
want to meet them half way. “With the government focusing more on people with disabilities we want to economically empower our members.” The Government’s disability allowance under the Department of Social Welfare is $6.85 million, which covers 5157 recipients. $100,000 has been given for economic empowerment of those living with disability.
$1.1 million has been given for grants to organisations that provide services to people with disability. $1 million was allocated to the Fiji National Council for Disabled People to carry out its role under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.
The bus fare subsidy benefits 77,575 people, a 300 per cent tax incentive for employers, $500,000 for making Fiji buildings disability friendly, $580,000 for a Western disability centre, and 20 full-time scholarships under the Toppers package for students with disabilities are part of government’s initiative. 65-year-old Gordon McGoon has a unique story to tell. The Levuka man was diagnosed with polio when he was two years old. As a result of the disease, Mr McGoon’s limbs did not develop properly.
“I went to primary and secondary school in Levuka. There was no special treatment for me. I had to compete against abled bodied students. So, I was also playing rugby with the boys, although I was on my crutches,” Mr McGoon said.
“I started working for Air Pacific in 1973. I was part of the reservations team until 2010. It was when the services were outsourced.
“I was able to get married and have three children. My wife passed away 14 years ago. Two of my kids were small and I looked after them.” Mr McGoon said he always believed that he was able to do anything he put his mind into. He has a home in Nadi and two of his children are living overseas.
“I believe that anybody can do this. Live a happy life. Work hard and make your dreams a reality,” he said. Mr McGoon is also the president of the FDPF’s Nadi branch. He said two things he would like to see was more disability friendly buildings and public service vehicles that cater for people with disabilities.
“Buses definitely need to be disabled friendly. Right about now, it is very hard for most with physical disabilities to travel by bus,” he added. Mr McGoon hopes people will look past their disability.
Freddy Lal
Freddy Lal was born with a physical disability, which has had him confined to the wheelchair. He is now 48 years old and thanks his parents for their support. “If my parents did not believe in me they would never have sent me to school,” he said.
“I was lucky that my father and mother decided to send me to Hilton Special School. I studied there and believe that my parents had the belief that I could earn a living for myself through education.
“I am totally supportive of the idea that people with disabilities should move away from the idea of handouts.”
Mr Lal also believes that prejudice still exists in society. He said this was one of the reasons why the North was not disability friendly.
“I have a challenge. I invite anybody in Labasa to move around in a wheelchair for a week. Stay confined to the chair and go about doing your daily chores,” he said.
“This will help some people realise what we go through on a daily basis and the things that need to be done to ensure towns and cities in the North are disability friendly.”
Edited by Naisa Koroi