Words matter: ‘Use inclusive language for the differently-abled’

International Day of Disabled Persons marked in City

LAHORE:

“Education is a fundamental right. Disabled citizens should not be denied this right,” speakers at an event held to mark the International Day of Disabled Persons on Thursday said.

The event was organised at Children’s Library Complex by the Lahore Businessman Association for Rehabilitation of the Disabled (LABARD) and Ghazali Education Trust. Lawmakers, teachers, social workers and students of trust schools in rural areas participated in the meeting.

They highlighted the importance of building an inclusive society for disabled people.

“Disabled citizens also have a right to education. They should not languish behind closed doors, focusing only on their disability,” they said. “They should be provided opportunities for empowerment so that they can become productive citizens,” they said.

LABARD President Pervaiz Malik said, “Disabled citizens should be provided skills training.”

He said, “We should stop focusing on disabilities. Rather, we should appreciate their abilities.”

Punjab Welfare Trust for the Disabled Managing Director Dr Amjad Saqib said, “It is sad that many people in Pakistan are identified by their disabilities. People are judged by what they can’t do rather than what they can do. This is a huge challenge for disabled citizens,” he said.

Saqib said, “If we judge a person solely by things they can’t do, we will find that all of us are disabled at some level.” “We need to create an enabling space for disabled citizens,” he said.

He said that a supportive atmosphere was required to create an inclusive environment.

“These initiatives are needed at the micro-level. Families should start by changing their approach towards their disabled members,” he said.

A group of handicapped children of the Punjab University Child Welfare Centre (PUCWC) presented a play on the December 16 attack on Army Public School. At the end, the children said the nation was united against terrorism.

The event was organised at Al Raazi Hall of Undergraduate Studies.

PU Law College Principal Shazia Qureshi, Faculty of Education Dean Mumtaz Akhtar, PUCWC Principal Ayesha Wajihullah, social worker Raja Munawar, Humaira Bano, Academic Staff Association (ASA) vice president Dr Abid Hussain Chaudhry, secretary Dr Mahboob Hussain, teachers and a large number of special children were present on the occasion.

Qureshi said special children had special abilities. “They are full of talent and creativity.”

Raja Munawar said he referred to children with disabilities as super children.

Abid Hussain Chaudhry said that activities for masses must be organised so that people could understand abilities of special children.

The Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) announced the launch of a pilot project for inclusive education to rehabilitate children with minor disabilities. The project will be launched in collaboration with Special Education Department in Lahore, Multan, Vehari, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal.

PEF MD Ali Jan Khan said that the PEF would pay Rs950 monthly to each disabled student. The PEF will also pay Rs40,000 to each partner school for provision of necessary facilities for their special students.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2015.