The voices of people with disabilities must be heard loud and clear | AK Dube

As a disabled person living in Africa, I have experienced the challenges and discrimination that many others in similar situations to me experience across the continent. Last week I spoke to parliamentarians, NGOs and donor agencies about the importance of ensuring people with disabilities are central to any discussions on international development that happen between now and 2015, the expiry date for the current millennium development goals (MDGs), and to ensure people living with disabilities are not left out again.

Although attitudes towards disabled people across Africa are starting to change, people with disabilities still face many challenges, from the additional costs for the healthcare services they need, where these even exist, to the stigma and discrimination they can face. It is frequently assumed that because someone is disabled they will be a financial and social burden to their family, rather than a child to be proud of and who, with some support, can be an incredibly productive member of the community. I feel my own story has resonance here. The use of my right hand and left leg were impaired when I contracted polio and measles when I was two. Afterwards I lived with my father who was a soldier. He was strict and made sure I could look after myself – he did not treat me like a child with disabilities. As it was just the two of us, I ran the house; collecting firewood, cooking and washing – skills that made me independent. The people in our local village did not approve of this and thought I should be sent to an institution for the disabled, but my father steadfastly refused and in many ways was ahead of his time.

 

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The voices of people with disabilities must be heard loud and clear | AK Dube