Monrovia-Oct. 22/24: Things such as the human rights for disabled Liberian persons, or gender discrimination that people in this part of the world rarely cared about up till the 70s or 80s, have all now become topics for national and discussion in Liberia nowadays. Thanks to the power of local and international social workers and advocates.
As the debate heats on, churches and social groups are continuing to sponsor, organize forums here in Liberia and beyond during which professional training, targeting service care providers, would help caregivers to better serve and understand the “rights” of People With Disability (PWD) under existing territorial laws and without engaging in prejudice.
At a recent training conference for the disabled held in Congo town, Monrovia, both caregivers and PWDs bluntly shared their personal views on the “wrong” and “right” ways to deal with or help people living with disability within our local communities. The one-day event was attended by hundreds of handicaps, caregivers and representatives from local government institutions.
An American disability-specialist identified only as “Tim” who spoke at the one-day training conference first pointed out numerous challenges that caregivers face daily, and urged caregivers to approach their work with faith and determination.
A Christian, Tim often spoke from a godly standpoint, stressing the need for service providers to show respect for the sick and their cultural values, while treating them with utmost dignity. He also told caregivers to show compassion to PWDs.
Tim said caregivers ought to be resourceful, helping to educate their clients about their human rights and how they can reject any stigmatization associated with their conditions.
He noted that contrary to beliefs among certain people that those living with disability make no meaningful contributions to society, research carried out years ago in the USA revealed that PWDs contribute more to the “workforce” in America.
The JNB Foundation Deputy Executive Director Henry Flanpor who also served as a presenter, pleaded with Liberian authorities especially education officials to introduce a strong Braille-Learning and Sign-Language system within the schools of the blind in Liberia.
He frowned on how most Liberians have become hypocritical and would not do what they advocate or preach, adding, “we preach against discrimination but we practice discrimination against others.”
He narrated how he himself grew up in a home he shared with relatives who had disabilities and regretted that people weren’t allowed at all to discuss issues or challenges PWDs often experienced.
Meanwhile, participants at the program called for the institution of more seminars on the rights of PWDs which would help educate many people about disabled peoples’ rights under the law.
