Disability: focus on ability
Written by: Bounmy Souvannalath, Senior Program Officer, Australian Embassy Vientiane
On Saturday 26 September, Laos celebrated the National day of People with Disability. The Australian Embassy marked this day by supporting 70 people with visual impairment from across Laos to participate in a range of activities. I would also like to share my personal story that I hope will help promote understanding of people with disability and encourage support for their dignity, rights and well-being.
People with disability are one of the most vulnerable groups in any society. They are often excluded from school, workplace, community and social activities. They can face being laughed at, being talked about in a negative way or receiving sympathy rather than being empowered or encouraged to participate.
Growing up with a father who is visually impaired, I understand how difficult it can be for people with disability to overcome barriers and constraints in everyday life. When my mother and father married and started a family, many of their friends and family were concerned rather than happy for the new couple. There was a lot of discussion in the community about how difficult my mother’s life would be and many people expressed concern that I would be born with a visual impairment. This made what should have been a happy time for my family very stressful, particularly for my mother. I was born without a visual impairment into a caring and happy home. However, when I started school many children laughed at me for having a father with a visual impairment, and they laughed when they saw my father at school events. When I recall this experience, I do not blame the children who laughed at us. I understand that they simply did not know enough about disability and did not know how to respond.
My father is just like any other man. He works hard to support his family, he participates in his community and supports other people with visual impairment. I am inspired by my father because he has been able to do these things despite the many physical barriers and negative attitudes he has encountered. To me, this demonstrates his ability, not his disability. At the National Day of People with Disability event on 26 September, people with visual impairment demonstrated their abilities by playing volleyball, basketball, football, ping pong and Patangue. Many visitors who came to the event were inspired by the talent of these people.
If you know someone with disability in your community, school or workplace, I encourage you to learn more about them. Try and understand how they learn, how they move around, how they socialise, how they play football and so on. Once you learn more about them you will see just how able they really are.
I believe we all have an important role to play in supporting people with disability simply by listening to their needs, giving them a chance to share their thoughts and recognizing their abilities. We can also help end misunderstanding by educating our children. We can read them stories about people with disability, encourage them to join activities that involve people with disability and demonstrate respect for them. People with disability can contribute much more if they know they are respected and valued as human beings.
"Canes are like clothes; make them a fashion statement, don't make them a medical aid. Look smart and smell the roses." Greg Williams, Extracts from Raising Canes, first published in the Calgary Herald on November 28th 2002.