Ameno Rolnu
Disability Rights Activist, Jakhama Village
Being young, I am Impulsive, Optimistic, and so on. While there has been many ways through which I have channelled this optimism and determination. I being disabled myself I have always been sure of one thing and that is my desire to work for person with disabilities. Having worked in the field of disabilities for 4,5 years I realized that it is in the quest to be strong, patient for those in need that I am the happiest and fully content.
In the field of special education or inclusive modules and policies, I wish to bring about a change in our community especially in the understanding of disability and the Society’s treatment- good and bad both of it. I feel that disability has always been neglected and treated as a pity of subject by the policy makers and even the public at large. In fact, In our public health discourse, I feel when it comes to health the main focus has always been communicable disease, disability, mental illness has hardly ever found importance in the framework of our public health programme, Furthermore to make it worse, many in our Society think that people with disability the way they are because of their bad karma, and hence it is accepted as a result of fate and not as a social responsibility. While I was grappling with such thoughts and looking for ways to learn more, Ms. K.Ela Director Prodigals’ Home Dimapur introduced me of Community Initiative in Inclusion (CII) course in Mumbai but the greatest challenge to undergo this training was the cost of the training, as it was beyond my family’s capacity.
The problem of admitting to the course was eased with the support of K.Ela who mobilized sponsorship for my training. Thankfully Merang Jamir Director Social welfare department and Neino Iralu Member Secretary, Nagaland State Legal Service Authority sponsored my training cost. I am thankful to Prodigal’s Home who not only helped me find a slot in CII course but guided me all through the way. Apart from that I acknowledge their selfless work towards empowering person with disability in Nagaland.
The CII course was for trainers and planners of Community disability services for Asia Pacific Region. The course was held from 10th January to 16th April at Able Disable All People Together (ADAPT) formally known as the Spastic Society of India with participants from Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Dheradun, Tibet-in- exile and Nagaland. I was the first ever participant from the North East India. The course module focuses on disability, Inclusion, Policy and community. Joining the course made me realize that change is possible provided we work with compassion and dedication. What I aspire to do after the course is to provide workshops on Inclusion and strive for the rights of person with disabilities in our Community. I look forward to a great learning experience, exchange of ideas, thoughts and building my knowledge to be the change’ in collaboration with my co-friends of Nagaland State Disability Forum and Prodigal’s Home Dimapur and slowly work towards bringing change in my community to help make it more Inclusive.
Highlight of some learning on Inclusion.
Disabled people all experience oppression as a result of the denial of our reality. If our reality is not reflected in the general culture, how can we assert Rights? If we do not appear as real People. With the need for love, affection, friendship and the right to do a good quality of life, how can a non-disabled people give any meaning to our lives? So what I think and feel is that Inclusion in fact is the first step that we need to know.
Inclusion- To achieve INCLUSION, COMMUNITY and FREEDOM for people with disabilities, we must use People First Language.
“Handicapped”, “disabled” or “People with Disabilities: which description is more accurate? Using the handicapped or even the disabled usually evoke negative stereotypical feelings (sadness, pity, fear) and creates stereotypical perception that people with disabilities are all alike. All people who have brown hair are not alike. All people who have disabilities are not alike. Many people who have disabilities would never think of themselves as “Handicapped”,
“Disability is the natural condition of the human experience”, according to the U.S. Development Disabilities Act and the Bill of Rights Act, 1993. Disability is not a “problem”, We need to rid ourselves of the word “problem” when talking about people’s needs. A person who wears does not walk around saying, “I have a problem seeing”, She would say, “I wear (need) glasses”, Recognized that a “problem” is really a need.
The real problem is attitudinal barriers. There have always been people with disabilities in our world and there always will be.
When we start calling by right names, when we recognize that people with disabilities are people first, we can begin to see how people with disabilities are more like people without disabilities than they are different. While people with disabilities and advocates work to end discrimination and segregation in education, employment and our Communities at large, prejudicial language that creates an invisible barrier to bring included in the Ordinary mainstream of life .
What is Inclusion?
INCLUSION IS ....A PHILOSOPHY. It is a belief, every person’s right to participate fully in society. Inclusion implies acceptance of differences. It means making room for a person who would otherwise be excluded. Translating this philosophy into reality is a process that requires collaboration, teamwork, a willingness to take risk, and support from a whole array of individuals, services, and institutions.
A PRACTICE. It is the educational process by which all students, even those with disabilities, are educated together, with sufficient support, in age-appropriate, regular education programs in their neighbourhood schools. The goal of inclusive education is to prepare all students for productive lives as full, participating members of their communities.
EVOLVING.....As people learn more about inclusion, they understand that “full inclusion” means that students with disabilities are part of the regular education system-even if their curricular goals and needs differ from those of their classmates.
REWARDING FOR ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED....When inclusion is carried out appropriately, friendships develop, students without disabilities learn to appreciate differences, and students with disabilities are more motivated. All of this is carried home and into the community.
INCLUSION IS........ A philosophy build on the belief that all people are equal and should be respected and valued, as an issue of basic human rights. An “unending set of process” in which children and adults with disabilities has the opportunity to participate fully in ALL community activities offer to people who do not have disabilities.
INCLUSION MEANS.......
Educating children with disabilities in the schools they would attend, providing services and supports the parents and children with disabilities they need. Supporting regular education teachers and administrators. Having children with disabilities follow the same schedule as other children. Encouraging friendships between children with disabilities and their classmates/peers without disabilities. Teachers and administrators taking these concerns seriously. Teaching ALL children to understand and accept differences.
INCLUSION IS NOT....A PASSING FAD. Numerous federal district court decisions have affirmed the right of students with disabilities to attend regular classes full time when the educational benefits for the student warrant such a placement. Inclusion, with its focus on outcomes, is the spirit of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the trend for the future.
INCLUSION IS NOT EASY......So parents, educators, peers, and the administrators are all partners in the inclusion process and must work together to make it successful. On-going problems solving is involved. TOGETHER WE CAN!!!
