A Journey towards
Disability Mainstreaming
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| A student who is visually impaired using speech software |
Many of us have heard
of the word mainstreaming many times. Mainstreaming which refers to
incorporation of all channels towards one goal; in one process has been a major
issue in many advocacy fields; gender and disability for instance. The concern
is that having a separate channel that includes certain groups of people
results into that group being treated differently which may sometimes lead to unequal
access to human rights.
“If we create a stream
to flow beside a large river, water levels from the river will go down when
drought strikes; but the stream running beside it will completely dry up”. When
it comes to issues of disability in our societies, we have a main channel of
programming and another channel created to cover issues of disability. In other
words, issues of disability are not mainstreamed into the main systems of our
societies; for instance, the consideration of policies regarding public
infrastructure and employment.
In the process of
lobbying for incorporation of all programs in one societal channel without
considering differences in claiming human rights, the disability sector has
embarked on an advocacy journey towards disability mainstreaming.
Disability mainstreaming
places emphasis on adjustment of policies, environments and also the
consideration of rights that empower persons with disabilities to claim their
rights to equal opportunities in the society.
Knowing that disability
is not inability, the ministry of disability and all service providers in the
disability sector has embarked on a process of lobbying the public and private
sector to create policies that will take persons with disabilities on board. Persons
with disabilities are being empowered to take up opportunities in all sectors
of the society.
The idea of disability
mainstreaming places emphasis on legal and policy provisions in favor of
disability-inclusive development. It goes further to employers to be core
players in capacity building for disability focal persons, heads of human
resource management and all persons responsible for policy formulation in all
sectors of the society.
Mainstreaming starts
from creating an environment that does not pose a physical barrier to persons
with disabilities, thereby emphasizing on accessibility of public institutions
to all persons in the society.
The idea behind mainstreaming
is that people with disabilities should have rights that are of high standard; similar
to what others are getting and in a manner that maintains dignity to the rights
holder and there are no attitude barriers from the service providers.
For example, disability
mainstreaming is looking at persons with disabilities not having any barriers
in claiming their right to education. This can be achieved by creating a
disability inclusive environment that allows persons with disabilities to enjoy
their right to education just like anyone else in the environment.
In his opening speech
at the training of trainers in disability mainstreaming, the senior deputy
secretary for Ministry of Disability and Elderly Affairs, Chikumbutso Mtumodzi showed
his concern that there are gaps in the policies like the national disability
action plan, lack of prioritization of disability in the current Malawi Growth
and Development Strategies (MGDs) and inadequate and largely uncoordinated
delivery of services that target persons with disabilities. This has resulted
into minimum participation of persons with disabilities in developmental work
and limited improvements in their livelihoods at family, community and national
level.
Due to lack of
mainstreaming, persons with disabilities have been denied the opportunity to
claim equal rights to opportunities that enhance their talents, competences and
independence. Rather, core providers of programs and services have considered
that they need charity and care rather than empowerment. This has enhanced a
dependency syndrome instead of independence and self-reliability.
The disability sector
is lobbying for every sector to develop policies that include persons with
disability. This process will enhance persons with disabilities to go into the
mainstream so that they should participate equally in all activities and
programs in all levels of the society.
Inclusion and
mainstreaming also takes into consideration the use of language. Stereotyping and
the emphasis on differences is a core point in the process of working with
persons with disabilities. Appropriate language therefore should focus on the
individual rather than the disability.
Being torch bearers in
the process of disability mainstreaming, key service providers in the
disability sector; the Ministry of Disability and Elderly Affairs, Malawi
Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA), Federation of Disability Organizations in
Malawi (FEDOMA), and its’ affiliates have taken up the task to lobby for adjustments
in policies that govern infrastructure and development to be disability-inclusive.
This process starts with institutionalizing mainstreaming and goes further to
all sectors of the society.
Disability
mainstreaming is part of societal development and can be achieved with active
participation of all stakeholders and service providers. Making our policies
and environments inclusive will enhance participation of people with
disabilities thereby making us all move towards development of the nation.
