Workshop. Mainstreaming Disability: Our Christian Response to the Marginalized

Transcription

1 Mainstreaming Disability: Our Christian Response to the Marginalized Workshop Micah Network Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation Malaysia October 4 th 2007 Paul Deany, Advocacy Officer CBMI Australia 2

2 Workshop overview Practical workshop to discuss why and how disability should be integrated into our work. Key topics: Why disability is a key issue for Micah Network, Christian NGOs and Churches Barriers and challenges to action How we can act on disability Lessons from other workshop participants. 3

3 Workshop rules Participatory Ask questions, comment, challenge, provide feedback, etc throughout Encourage discussion Let others share in your experience and expertise! There are no stupid questions Share examples from own work Begin reflecting on how this can influence your own work practices. 4

4 Key questions for us to consider 1. How are churches and Christian Organizations already responding to persons with disability? 2. What are barriers to responding? 3. What can we do to overcome these barriers? 4. What are opportunities? 5

5 Reflection Why are we at this workshop? Any key questions? 6

6 What is Disability? Disability: Is the outcome of the interaction between a person with an impairment and the attitudinal and the environmental barriers he/she may face [2]. Impairment: "Any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure or function"[3] 7

7 Impact of Disability Globally About 10% of the world s population live with some form of disability (600 million) 70-80% of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) live in developing countries PWDs comprise about 20% of the poorest of the poor. Numbers of PWDs in developing countries will increase by over 120% in the next 30 years, whilst numbers of PWDs in the North will increase by 40%. (European Disability Forum, 2002) 8

8 A story from India 9

9 Disability and marginalization As community leaders, they should have known better! As community leaders, they should have set a better example!! So how can WE, as community leaders, better lead and respond to disability? 10

10 Why disability? 11

11 Question Why should we respond to disability? 12

12 A Christian response to disability You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment (Mark 12:31) Thou shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind: I am the Lord (Lev 19:14) 13

13 A Christian response to disability "Then God said, 'Let us make humankind in our image..." (Genesis 1:26) Jesus says, The Spirit of the Lord is on me.to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me for the recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the lords favor (Luke 4:18) 14

14 A Christian response to disability For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me (Mat 25: 31-40) "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Mat 25: 31-40) 15

15 Micah Network Work we do must be the best for the poorest (Rev Kim Kong) Where is the voice of the marginalized? (Rev Kim) We must lead by example We are the Micah Network (Jane Furniss) 16

16 Disability is the church s and our challenge - our responsibility! Persons with disabilities (PWDs) require the same access to services & the church We therefore need to work with and for PWDs Working with disability is a key way to demonstrate God s love and the churches role as a community leader and advocate The power of example What would Jesus do? 17

17 PWDs are often the most marginalized Tragically marginalized by churches, the marginalized often go elsewhere, lost to the Christian community when perceived as not needed, loved or valued Our ability to deal with children with disabilities is a yardstick of our ability to deal with all children (James Wolfenson World Bank) Correspondingly, Our ability to deal with disability is a yardstick of the Church s ability to deal with all marginalized people 18

18 Question What are some of the barriers to us (churches, NGOs, individuals) integrating disability? 19

19 Barriers and Challenges How do we exclude PWDs: negative attitudes, stigma, denial, apathy, fear We don t do disability Disability is not a big issue in our community Where do we start? 20

20 How to do disability? 21

21 How Micah Members are responding to disability Two plenary speakers with a disability: Rev Wong Kim Kong: Call to the Church to respond to the marginalized Mr Soloveni Tubuitamana: Testament Plenary Presentation: Kirsty Thompson: An Introduction to marginalization and disability 22

22 How Micah Members are responding to disability Case Studies: Integrating People with Disabilities in Post-war Afghanistan (SERVE) Physical Rehabilitation and Community Impact (United Mission to Nepal) Restoring Hope to Disabled Children and their Families (HAGAR, Cambodia) STEP (Stigma Elimination Program) (American Leprosy Missions, South East Nepal) 23

23 How Micah Members are responding to disability Workshops: Effective Strategies Through Positive Partnerships to Support the inclusion of People with Intellectual Disabilities into Mainstream Society (Malaysian Care) This workshop: Mainstreaming Disability: Our Christian Response to the Marginalized (CBMI, Australia) 24

24 Reflection Think back to this morning s Micah Café What are some key issues raised and important elements in developing responses to disability 25

25 Key principles for integrating disability Mainstream and integrate disability into all activities and thinking Work with and involve persons with disability: they area key resource Focus on ability not disability Set an example to the community Think: what would Jesus do? He would be the first person to work with disabilities 26

26 Some disability-inclusive strategies Include PWD in planning and leadership roles Arrange a disability discussion or Bible study to raise awareness on disability issues Get PWDs or an OT to audit your church or organization for disability access Arrange assistive devices for hearing and vision impairment Modify the physical environment (ramps, toilets, etc) Create vocational opportunities to break the disability-poverty cycle 27

27 Some disability-inclusive strategies Remember charity begins at home. So carry out an inclusion analysis of your current programs, policies and practices Find opportunities to discuss disability in your staff meetings and in your annual planning Develop specific policies, programs, employment practices and activities on disability Appoint specific disability point persons or committees in you organization 28

28 Some disability-inclusive strategies Integrate disability into youth groups, church groups, education, and other activities Partner with disability organizations Link disability to different sectors (Watsan, Emergencies, health, livelihoods, ect) Learn from parallel lessons coming from mainstreaming of Gender and HIV/AIDS into church and development work 29

29 Approaches to intervention: Mainstreaming (DfID, 2000) 30

30 Some disability-inclusive strategies If you have disability specialization, be a resource, an advocate and a catalyst Create a theology for disability (learn from HIV/AIDS and Gender this week) See disability as an opportunity to powerfully demonstrate the love of Jesus love and the Church s compassion in action 31

31 Recognize that People with Disability are among the poorest of the poor 32

32 Poverty & Disability: A Vicious Cycle DfID,

33 Disability Exclusion Poverty Exclusion from education, rehabilitation & employment are the basic causes of high rates of poverty among persons with a disability in the poorest countries. 1-2% of children with disability in developing countries receive an education. Only 2% of people with disabilities in developing countries have access to rehabilitation and appropriate basic services. Approximately 80% of people with disabilities are unemployed. 34

34 Disability & Conflict Wars are generally no longer fought between armies. ~ 90% of those killed & disabled in conflict are civilians. 80% are these are women & children. (Women s National Commission, UK) 26,000 people per year are killed or disabled by landmines - 40% of those are children (UNHCR) For every child killed, are 3 permanently disabled (between , 6 million children have become permanently disabled). 35

35 Women & Disability Women with disabilities often face double disadvantaged due to gender & person with disability status. The burden of caring for people with a disability falls unevenly on women (& children). 20 Million women are disabled as a consequence of pregnancy & childbirth per year. Women & girls with a disability are 2-3 times more likely to experience physical & sexual abuse than those with no disabilities. 36

36 Children & Disability Only 1-2% of children with a disability in the Majority World receive an education. Girls with disabilities attend school less frequently than boys with disabilities Children with a disability are much more vulnerable to sexual & other types of abuse and are greatly disadvantaged in refugee situations. 37

37 How Micah Members are responding to disability Micah members are integrating disability at community level, nationally, ect Australian Disability and Development Consortium Launched in 2007 Already 300 members Lobbying, networking, resources 38

38 Follow Up Go to /resources/disability or Join Micah Network Disability Interest Group Send case studies to for the Micah website Discuss and act on disability in your agency, community or church Contact Paul Deany, CBMI

39 Reflection What have I learnt from this workshop? What will I do differently Thankyou! 40