A call for inclusivity

Saturday, 11 June 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

THE Supreme Court of Sri Lanka recently brought into law the provision of constructing new buildings by giving access to differently-abled people. Recent reports show that about 15% of the world’s population – some 785 million people – has a significant physical or mental disability, including about 5% of children. This is according to a new report prepared jointly by the World Health Organisation and the World Bank.

The disabilities run the gamut of impairment, from blindness and limb loss to chronic pain and mental retardation. The problems, especially among old people, are more prevalent in low-income countries than in rich ones. Sri Lanka is a prime example of this, where the rapidly ageing population together with the war-affected have pushed the statistics to disheartening heights. It is estimated that one person in every 10 people is differently-abled in Sri Lanka and making these people independent remains a huge challenge. Strengthening the logistical and legal framework so that these people are empowered is imperative to reduce the economic and social cost borne by the country.

However, everywhere, disabilities are made worse by variables including stigma, architectural barriers, lack of legal protection, the cost of devices and assistance and the lack of knowledge by health professionals about how to interact with disabled people, according to the report released at the United Nations in New York.

These are all elements that can be seen in Sri Lanka. There are many able-bodied people who have been disregarded after they have become disabled; in particular, vehicle accidents have contributed largely to this. However, beyond changing the term ‘disabled’ to ‘differently-abled,’ as the politically correct term, large-scale awareness and understanding has been missing. Diseases also create disability and many of those who will join the ageing population will find that the actions they take today to help a fellow citizen will give them an easier life when it is their turn to bear the brunt of a reduced physical condition.

It is interesting that this gap has been filled by non-State organisations that are lobbying for more accommodating laws, medical support and awareness to reduce the stigma of disability, so that more people, especially from rural areas, are empowered.

The report is the first by WHO analysing data about disability around the world and its effects. Clearly the message is that the world cannot continue to discriminate against or ignore the needs of such a large proportion of the world’s population. The project took four years and involved 360 researchers around the world, many of them disabled, showing the global interest that this issue has gained over many decades.

Development is all about inclusivity and while it is disappointing to note that society had to wait until the Supreme Court passed accessibility into law rather than adopting it themselves, the fact that a start has been made needs to be applauded. Now the challenge is to ensure that the law is implemented and does not suffer the same fate of disregard that many of the other crucial laws in this country have had to face.