‘To change our lives, mindsets will have to be fixed first’
People with physical disabilities say they are pitied unnecessarily.
KARACHI:
Shakir Khan, a man who has polio, is a source of inspiration for his friends: he worked hard as a computer operator for the Navy and was awarded the title of ‘Employee of the Year’.
Khan has been working diligently in this post for the past seven years. He had joined the Navy on merit after completing intermediate studies from the SM Arts and Commerce College. “People with disabilities have abundance of talent,” said Khan. “But society has paralysed them psychologically.” Khan said that people treat people with disabilities in very odd ways. “Many people pity them for no reason at all.”
The International Day for People with Disabilities, which falls on December 3, will be marked this year with events to raise awareness. In Pakistan, some welfare workers lament the fact that people with disabilities have to navigate their way around without basic facilities and are discriminated against.
Javed Rais, Disabled Welfare Association’s president, said that people with physical disabilities are being denied jobs in government departments despite the fact that a five percent quota has been set for them.
He said that the government must be shaken out of its apathy and stop making false promises - care centres for people with disabilities should be built in all of Pakistan’s cities and public transport as well as facilities should be made easier to use. “People with disabilities should be allotted seats in provincial and national assemblies as well as the senate,” said Rais. “If minorities can be allotted quotas, then why can’t we?” He added that in the budget, special funds should be allotted to people with disabilities. The members of association demanded that the term ‘special education’ be changed to ‘disability education’, as they consider it an important step to change minds.
To mark the International Day for People with Disability, the association has organised an ‘awareness walk’ today at 11am from the press club to the Sindh Assembly building. The walk will also be organised in 23 other cities at the same time to remind the government that they have paid on lip service and failed to address the problem, said Rais.
Muhammad Rasheed, who has been paralysed below the waist after an accidental gunshot wound in 1984, said, “Changing minds would be the first step to change the lives of the people.” He said his five children were enrolled in the best schools of the city and he has no financial constraints but still people pity him. He said that pity is incorrectly equated with love “When we have accepted our fates, why don’t others?”
Another paralysed man highlighted the issue of unequal distribution of goods at the time of floods and other natural disasters. “How can we catch something thrown out of helicopters when even normal people can’t get hold of such things?”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2012.
Shakir Khan, a man who has polio, is a source of inspiration for his friends: he worked hard as a computer operator for the Navy and was awarded the title of ‘Employee of the Year’.
Khan has been working diligently in this post for the past seven years. He had joined the Navy on merit after completing intermediate studies from the SM Arts and Commerce College. “People with disabilities have abundance of talent,” said Khan. “But society has paralysed them psychologically.” Khan said that people treat people with disabilities in very odd ways. “Many people pity them for no reason at all.”
The International Day for People with Disabilities, which falls on December 3, will be marked this year with events to raise awareness. In Pakistan, some welfare workers lament the fact that people with disabilities have to navigate their way around without basic facilities and are discriminated against.
Javed Rais, Disabled Welfare Association’s president, said that people with physical disabilities are being denied jobs in government departments despite the fact that a five percent quota has been set for them.
He said that the government must be shaken out of its apathy and stop making false promises - care centres for people with disabilities should be built in all of Pakistan’s cities and public transport as well as facilities should be made easier to use. “People with disabilities should be allotted seats in provincial and national assemblies as well as the senate,” said Rais. “If minorities can be allotted quotas, then why can’t we?” He added that in the budget, special funds should be allotted to people with disabilities. The members of association demanded that the term ‘special education’ be changed to ‘disability education’, as they consider it an important step to change minds.
To mark the International Day for People with Disability, the association has organised an ‘awareness walk’ today at 11am from the press club to the Sindh Assembly building. The walk will also be organised in 23 other cities at the same time to remind the government that they have paid on lip service and failed to address the problem, said Rais.
Muhammad Rasheed, who has been paralysed below the waist after an accidental gunshot wound in 1984, said, “Changing minds would be the first step to change the lives of the people.” He said his five children were enrolled in the best schools of the city and he has no financial constraints but still people pity him. He said that pity is incorrectly equated with love “When we have accepted our fates, why don’t others?”
Another paralysed man highlighted the issue of unequal distribution of goods at the time of floods and other natural disasters. “How can we catch something thrown out of helicopters when even normal people can’t get hold of such things?”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2012.