Dear Editor,
In his letter `Persons with disabilities should be considered in all rebuilding and development plans’ (SN, 3rd November 2020) Ganesh Singh broached a subject that is not discussed often enough. That is, what can be done to help people with disabilities (PWDs) live better lives?
Ganesh Singh comes up with a few recommendations which are workable.
Two things I would like to say is that PWDs are stigmatized in society because of their capabilities in relation to work. Stigma comes from a lack of understanding which is not the PWDs’ fault but that of society. An assessment would need to be done of PWDs’ capability to work. The emphasis here is what work can PWD undertake?
The second thing is to understand that PWDs are not looking for handouts. A grant while useful to PWDs can also limit PWDs’ capabilities in that it creates a dependency syndrome. I speak from experience here. While it is good to have an income it also disempowers PWDs in that PWDs are not being given the skills and opportunities to become empowered. Again, an assessment would need to be done to establish the capability and potential of a PWD.
Yours faithfully,
Sean Ori
