Saturday, 20 July 2013 00:00
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By Cheranka Mendis
A balmy Thursday evening and The Good Market is in full swing.
There are children running around while parents stop by at various stalls to see what else they could add to their already overflowing bags and baskets. The fragrance of freshly baked goodies wafts in the air and the plants that sitting steady in pots rustle their leaves almost in tune to the guitar that plays in another corner. Rain or shine, there is no place like The Good Market to be on a Thursday evening.
However, today our journey is to a craft stall that showcases the talent of a bunch of very talented men and women. The only difference, if there is any, is that these are made by those who are less able than the rest of us – the differently-abled.
The stall, shared by three local institutions – DeafLink, Navajeevana and National Council for the Deaf – is full of handicrafts and yummy treats, all prepared by those who are empowered under the said bodies.
The differently abled
The traditional understanding of disability as an ‘individual’s impairment, medical problem or health condition which requires cure’ immediately corners the differently-abled person from the rest as it identifies the disability as something that needs to be ‘fixed’ with others adapting a pitying or charitable attitude towards them.
However, the definition has shifted over the years to identify that disability is just as much, or more, about how society puts up impediments that exclude disadvantaged people with impairments by not recognising their needs and potential.
This brings forth the fact that concerns on differently abled persons are a social responsibility; with each of us having a role of our own to break down social prejudices and accept them in to our circles with no discrimination.
Vocation of CBM
In an attempt to create more awareness in society, to enable the differently-abled to make a better position for themselves in society and shake off the perception that they cannot function on their own, Christoffel Blinden Mission (CBM) from Germany has over the years partnered with various bodies from across the world with a commitment to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities in the poorest communities in the world.
Seeking to build and promote an inclusive world in which all persons with disabilities enjoy human rights and achieve full potential, CBM supports health care needs, education and rehabilitation services for those with visual, hearing, physical or psychological impairments.
In Sri Lanka, CBM works with these local partners to provide vocational training and to help people with disabilities become economically independent. Positioned as ‘Ability Unlimited,’ the stall showcases an array of products handmade by the differently-abled persons in the country.
The local partners
Gunaseelan, the Administrative Officer of DeafLink, one of the institutions that has partnered with CBM, explained that all monies collected through the sale of the showcased products would be handed over to the craftsman itself, with the bodies keeping no commission or charge for themselves. “We are working on behalf of people with disabilities. Our vision is to improve their lifestyles,” he said.
Speaking about DeafLink, he noted that several schools were now in operation under the DeafLink umbrella to provide inclusive education to people with disabilities. Day-care centre facilities are also provided.
“We have 13 centres all over Sri Lanka, which includes Batticaloa, Kalmunai, Anuradhapura, Tangalle, Weligama, Vavuniya and Jaffna,” Gunaseelan explained. “After they pass out from the schools, we have vocational training centres where they undergo training in tailoring, handicraft, carpentry, food processing, electronic and electrical repairs.”
At the conclusion of a six-month course, those who are trained receive employment opportunities by way of loans, moral support and financial assistance.
“This is their production. We are proud to showcase their talents through The Good Market. By being present here we also want to educate the customers on the three key bodies and the range of services we provide for adults and children with disabilities and create an inclusive society for everyone.”
During the last three years DeafLink has supported over 500 differently-abled persons. Apart from The Good Market, there are display centres in Colombo and Jaffna as well.
“These are all homemade and handmade products,” Gunaseelan said. There are various products made from palmyra, local honey and jaggery, handlooms and bags, homemade sweets and cakes, articles made from wastepaper, etc.
Products showcased by the National Council for the Deaf are however not for sale. A source from the body present at the stall noted that their aim is to create awareness and showcase talent. The majority of the creations under the council comprise fabric painting and handlooms.
Navajeevana is a primary organisation working with people with disabilities in the Hambantota district. Under Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) and Institutional Based Rehabilitation (IBR) and through a wide network of donors which includes CBM, the work under Navajeevana is supported by a strong institutional based multidisciplinary approach which includes therapy and education to support all forms of disabilities.
Statistics
According to statistics on the UN ESCAP Report ‘Disability at a Glance 2010: a Profile of 36 Countries and Areas in Asia and the Pacific,’ the population of persons with disabilities totals some 1,407,000 according to an ESCAP Secretariat estimate based on available information, while the proportion of persons with disabilities is said to be 7% (ESCAP 2006, Q 18) of the entire population.
However, according to the Sri Lanka Human Development Report 2012 published by the UNDP, Sri Lanka has no consistent and reliable data on the prevalence of disability. The report notes: “According to the 2001 Census conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, 1.6% of people have a disability, a rate considerably below the 7% for the Asia-Pacific region in 2007, according to the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).”
The variations in numbers may be mainly due to definitional differences, it said, as for Sri Lanka, the 2001 Census defined someone with disabilities as “a person who was unable or limited in carrying out activities that he or she can do due to congenital or long-term physical/mental disabilities”. This is a relatively narrow definition that may not fully capture the prevalence of disability.
The Commission (ESCAP) adopts a broader approach: “Any person who, as a result of any deficiency in his physical or mental capabilities, whether congenital or not, is unable by himself to ensure for himself, wholly or partly, the necessities of life.”
The most comprehensive data on disabled people is from the 2001 Census. According to it, 274,711 people were disabled, including 4,851 children aged 0-4. Among disabled people, only 14.4% of disabled people were employed and only 4.1% of people with mental disabilities had work. Family support sustained 73.3% of disabled persons.
Pix by Sameera Wijesinghe
