Today is the start of National Disability Awareness Week and we are celebrating it under the theme: Powered By Inclusion. Am I in Your Village? Honestly, if I had my wish, this question, “Am I in Your Village?” would be something everyone-business, government ministry, organization, school, church congregation, etc. would ask and reflect on repeatedly , not just this week, but every single day.
You see, for the most part, unless you are a person with disability or know someone with a disability or work with persons with disabilities, the challenges these persons face aren’t something you regularly think about.
A Different Viewpoint
You might not notice the lack of a handicap bathroom or the slight, raised edge in a floor. You probably wouldn’t even think about the many children who age out of elementary school and then have no prospects. No high school will take them and there are no life skills or job training for 14-18 year olds. Job opportunities are non-existent.
I’m not saying this to blame anyone. People don’t know what they don’t know. And because for the most part, persons with disabilities aren’t integrated, much less fully included in society, few have the opportunity to be exposed to these real every-day challenges to basic human rights.
A Music Video in My Head
If I was a videographer, I’d film society in sort of a glass globe with that special 2 way mirror. Persons with Disabilities would be on the outside looking in and everyone else would be going about their lives without ever seeing these persons leaning on the glass, trying to get their attention. It’d probably come across as those sad Country Music videos, but there are so many days, this is what I feel like is happening.
Pathway to A Fulfilling and Productive Life
Last year for National Disability Week, Dr. Stephen Shore was Autism Belize’s Guest Speaker. (If you missed it, he’s a professor, renowned author, autistic who stated, “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” )He spoke about the Pathway to a Fulfilling and Productive Life for Persons with Autism. First, Awareness, then Acceptance, and finally, Appreciation and Action. Honestly, I still see us, Belize, at that first stage.
And how will I know when we move from Awareness to Acceptance? Well, I think it will be when those who have no connection to the special needs and disability communities, start tuning in to our activities. When people really start reflecting on the question, “Am I in Your Village?” When they act on those reflections.
Wishes
Last night, we had our Special Needs Parent Support Group. I asked the parents if they had one wish for Belize what it would be. Most wished for more services and support. One mom, though, broke my heart. She’s been in this battle a LOT longer than I have and she still has hope. Her son is 24. He was never able to go to high school because none would have been able to work with him. He has never had a job. He’s just at home.
While she is genuinely happy that things are slowly changing in Belize and opportunities are slowly opening up,she stated the sad fact that all of these new initiatives are geared towards our young kiddos. So she had to ask, what about our teens? Our young adults? Where are the programs, services, support for persons like her son? Have we even thought about them?
“The past haunts and the future taunts. This is particularly true if you love a child with special needs.” -Lisa Thornbury
She is not alone either. I’ve had three parents within the last week with similar problems. They have teens unable to get into high school or young adults with no job, social groups…I listen to them and I can feel my ulcers flaring up. Is this what I have to look forward to for Mateo’s future? Why can’t we realize that Teo and all these big kiddos have value and can contribute to society. That they deserve the opportunity to at least try???
Ugh. Now I’m tearing up.
And Oregano!
In high school (way too long ago to admit to), I was a part of the Sr. Colville Young play, “Tiga Ded.” In the play, Anansi was giving Tiga a list of things he should get. Tiga, definitely more brawn than brains, couldn’t remember anything…But as Anansi tried to get him to memorize the list, as sort of a footnote, Tiga would shout, “And Oregano!” I wonder if we can all start being like Tiga and everyday as we go about our days, we can have this thought pop up like a broken record, “Inclusion!”.
Building a new office? “Inclusion!” Training Staff? “Inclusion!” Teacher Professional Development? “Inclusion!” Hiring more staff for your office? “Inclusion!” Developing a new Policy? “Inclusion!” You get the idea. If we all have that 5 second pop-up echoing in our brain (in my weird and messed up mind, I still hear Bra Tiga), then maybe we can ALL take part in actively making Belize an inclusive village.
Show us we are welcome
Step one to this reflection and along the path to inclusion is to try to participate in the activities this week. Especially if you aren’t affected by a disability, especially if you know NO one with a disability, take the time. Listen to our fun and inspirational guest speaker this week, Chris Nikic. Tune into the National Disability Conference. Learn things. Show us that even if we aren’t in your village right now, you are willing to open the door and help build the ramp so we can join…
