Disability Awareness

Disability awareness should start within a family. Christabel lives with the parents and the other sister and three brothers. Initially she was not able to take care of herself, for example in taking baths, so the mother and the other close female family relatives had to help her. She had to be encouraged and taught easy ways of taking care of herself. Other family members quickly realised that Christabel required special attention for certain household activities such as eating and use of bathroom and toilet.

People with disabilities face challenges of being stigmatised because of myths and belief that people with disabilities are bad omen to the family or that it is a punishment from god. In our family we have been able to accept Christabel as she is and we integrate her in our activities. She is sociable and likes talking to people. From the word go, Christabel has been in the frontline in the house. She is easily accessible to all family members and visitors. She likes sitting in the television room.

With a good understanding of disability at family level, then it becomes easy to educate other people in the community about disability and how disabilities come about. This is important because it helps erase the myths and beliefs that people have towards people with disabilities. This gives hope to persons with disabilities and they also feel as part of the society.

If the person with disability attends school, like Christabel, he or she must be supported fully. Christabel is assisted in her school work by the parents and the sister and brothers.

When we go out to other places as individuals or as a family we are able to share our love for persons with disability. This is very important especially when we meet some one who has some disability.

What can we learn from this short story?

• Disability awareness starts at family level, and then spreads to the extended family, to the community and the rest of the nation or world.

• A person with disability should be encouraged and supported towards independence in doing day to day activities.

• A person with disabilities should be accessible in a home, he or she should not be hidden from visitors.

• The family members should fully understand that the person with disability may require some special attention.

• For school work, the parents or guardians should take keen interest in the academic work of the person with disability. They should frequently interact with the teachers to check on progress. Other family members should also help in school.

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