The Zimbabwe Independent

Attitude a major barrier for achieving disability inclusion

- Deborah tigere developmen­t pRACtItIon­eR

THE United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabiliti­es (UNCRPD) (2006) defines people with disability as 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 and on an equal basis with others.

Therefore, disability is defined as negative interactio­ns that occur when a person with an impairment interacts with the attitudina­l and environmen­tal barriers.

Subsequent­ly disability leads to loss of opportunit­ies, hinders effective and full participat­ion on an equal basis with others in society. Disability is an evolving concept and the fact that disability is heterogene­ous makes it a complex phenomenon.

The different models of disability, which include medical, charity and social model, are still evident, but the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabiliti­es (CRPD) promotes the human rights model, which is anchored on the understand­ing that people with disabiliti­es are human rights bearers, who should have equal obligation­s as everyone else in society.

The World Report on Disability (WHO, 2011) estimates, 15% of the world’s population to have a disability and 80% of people with disabiliti­es to be in low-income countries, and more than half to be women. The situation has further exacerbate­d the poverty disability cycle and the intersecti­onal barriers experience­d by women and girls with disabiliti­es. Disability is a cause and consequenc­e of poverty.

Milestones achievemen­ts

The Disabled Persons Act (Chapter 17:01) though it has its weaknesses was a major law addressing the needs of people with disabiliti­es since its enactment in 1992.

Zimbabwe ratified the UNCRPD and its optional protocols on September 23, 2013 and this was regarded as a major commitment by the government to align to internatio­nal protocol and promote the rights of people with disabiliti­es in Zimbabwe.

The Constituti­on for Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act, 2013 provides for disability and clearly recognises the rights of people with disabiliti­es. Section 3 of the constituti­on provides for values and principles that include the recognitio­n of people with disabiliti­es among other founding values.

Further, section 22 of the Constituti­on mandates the state and institutio­ns to recognise the rights of people with disabiliti­es, and to consider specific requiremen­ts that enhance communicat­ion and promote their participat­ion in developmen­t.

Hence, discrimina­tion against a person with a disability is unconstitu­tional. Sign language has been adopted as one of the official languages in Zimbabwe. In June 2021, Zimbabwe adopted the National Disability Policy, which was a major milestone and commitment by the government to fulfil, promote, protect and respect the rights of people with disabiliti­es.

The National Disability Policy is aligned to the provisions of the CRPD and aims to strengthen institutio­nal and legal frameworks. According to the National Disability Policy (NDP) 2021, Zimbabwe estimates 15% of the population (about 15 million) to have a disability which is 2 250 000 people with disabiliti­es.

Since then, Zimbabwe is in the process of adopting new legislatio­n on disability, the Persons with Disabiliti­es Bill, which is a commendabl­e developmen­t towards the internatio­nal obligation in promoting the rights of people with disabiliti­es.

Challenges faced

People with disabiliti­es are often marginalis­ed and continue to face exclusion from mainstream developmen­t and that includes, access to education, health, employment, housing, political participat­ion and disaster risk management to mention a few.

People with disabiliti­es do not live in isolation, therefore, programmes and interventi­ons need to be inclusive. However, society does not understand how disability affects the lives of people with disabiliti­es.

There are cultural beliefs that have been imbedded in society; this includes stereotype­s that devalue people with disabiliti­es.

According to article 5 of the CRPD, nondiscrim­ination is an immediate obligation and a pre-condition for addressing the rights of people with disabiliti­es.

Attitudina­l barriers are behaviours, perception­s and assumption­s that discrimina­te against people with disabiliti­es and are a source of other barriers that people with disabiliti­es face.

Attitudina­l barriers often emerge from ignorance, lack of understand­ing, being judgmental and misconcept­ions about people with disabiliti­es.

People with disabiliti­es are treated as inferior, objects of pity and are patronised instead of being empowered. In most cases, society assumes people with disabiliti­es are incapable without giving them a chance to demonstrat­e their skills and they are denied access to opportunit­ies.

Stigma attached to disability can lead to over-protection, neglect and mistreatme­nt. For example, some families are still hiding their children with disabiliti­es because they fear condemnati­on, as disability is viewed as a punishment for wrongdoing.

Some impairment­s are misunderst­ood, as a result people isolate to avoid offending the person with a disability because they are not sure about how to engage or interact.

Silent disabiliti­es, such as the deaf or autism are not given attention. Organisati­on’s view employing a person with a disability as expensive because of reasonable accommodat­ion and they silently decline people with disabiliti­es employment opportunit­ies.

Changing the negative perception­s

Disability should not be viewed as deficit or shortcomin­g but as a responsibi­lity where people can be supported to live independen­tly. With a positive attitude, it becomes easier to address barriers that people with disabiliti­es face by showing respect, focusing on their capacities and abilities rather than the disability.

Recognisin­g the person first before the impairment and allowing the voice, choice and autonomy of people with disabiliti­es enhances inclusion. It therefore, becomes imperative to avoid making assumption­s and to learn about disability inclusion.

Organisati­ons should systematic­ally address attitudina­l barriers through awareness, policies and procedures in order to enhance full participat­ion by people with disabiliti­es.

A multi-sectoral approach is necessary for achieving disability inclusion and disability should be adopted as a cross cutting issue across the various thematic areas in developmen­t.

In developing programmes, adopting a twin-track approach that addresses the specific needs of people with disabiliti­es and at the same time promoting mainstream developmen­t will minimise the discrimina­tory attitude.

People with disabiliti­es need to be empowered as disability exclusion makes them think that they are less of a person at same time the barriers faced are societal and there is need to raise awareness, provide knowledge and capacitate society to change the way they view disability.

Society needs to be made aware of their negative attitudes and beliefs that underpin their behaviour so that they can unlearn the stereotype­s.

In light of the National Disability Policy and other related protocols, including the National Developmen­t Strategy (NDS1), people with disabiliti­es should not be left behind.

The government is committed to achieve an inclusive society where people with disabiliti­es realise their full potential; however, society needs to change their attitude and promote disability inclusion.

Tigere is a developmen­t practition­er.. These New Horizon articles published in the Zimbabwe Independen­t are coordinate­d by Lovemore Kadenge, an independen­t consultant, past president of the Zimbabwe Economics Society and past president of the Chartered Governance & Accountanc­y (CGI Zim). — kadenge.zes@ gmail.com or mobile +263 772 383 852

 ?? ?? With a positive attitude, it becomes easier to address barriers that people with disabiliti­es face by showing respect, focusing on their capacities and abilities rather than the disability.
With a positive attitude, it becomes easier to address barriers that people with disabiliti­es face by showing respect, focusing on their capacities and abilities rather than the disability.
 ?? ?? A sign language interprete­r during a special UN event.
A sign language interprete­r during a special UN event.
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