This is a an organization that strives to ensure that Persons With Disabilities of working abilities are empowered economically. We believe that through economic empowerment especially entrepreneurship and employment, persons with disabilities can attain an independent life, and be able to make choices for their lives. In this struggle, we urge all people of good will to join and support us to get started or move forward.
On Tuesday, Faridah Nakazibwe celebrated her 36th birthday with Spice Diana as they extended charity to Rukia Nakigudde (19), a young lady living with cerebral palsy.
Faridah Nakazibwe shared the news about Rukia through her social media platforms as she asked for assistance from her followers to help Rukia achieve her dreams despite her disability.
She made it a point to celebrate her birthday by visiting Rukia and she was accompanied by Spice Diana, Madrat & Chico and the Triplets Ghetto Kids’ Patricia Nabakooza.
Spice Diana gave a brand new phone and forked out Shs950k ($250) which she gave to Rukia as capital to support her business. She thanked Nakazibwe for always reaching out to people who need help.
Thanks to Faridah for reaching out to people like this. It’s an example to us. A lot happens on social media but I love it for one thing, it makes such things possible. I wouldn’t have known about Rukia had it not been for the post on Faridah’s page.
Spice Diana
Spice Diana also pledged to come up with a strategy to enable Rukia achieve her dream of modeling in a few weeks to come. The songstress also said she would keep in close touch with Rukia.
Fitness enthusiast Shanae Yates has one message she wants to tell people - do not assume she is not capable.
Yates, 23, has cerebral palsy, but chooses to not let that hold her back. Instead, she is beating people's expectations and has started up a personal training business.
Last month, she was awarded a certificate in personal training which would allow her to work with people in the gym. Already, she has clients lined up.
According to Statistics NZ, disabled people have a higher rate of self-employment at 24 per cent, compared with 17 per cent of the non-disabled working population.
Her passion for fitness started when she completed an Outward Bound course in 2014, something which pushed her physically and mentally.
Blenheim CCS Disability Action service manager Wendy Greig said she will never forget the look on Yates' face when she went to pick her up from the course in Picton.
"She was just smiling from ear to ear," Grieg said.
Yates spends a lot of her time in the gym to help rehabilitate her body and work on her strength.
The gym is her safe space, something she has found helps to motivate her.
"I learned to stand up for myself and have shown others that disability doesn't brand a person incapable."
Yates had support from CCS Disability Action - a community organisation that advocates for disabled people. Together they worked towards getting her certificate.
"I had the best support around me," Yates said.
She said she was inspired to start her own business because she wants to educate people that she is capable and her disability does not define her.
"I've had so many people tell me I can't do that because I have a disability," Yates said.
Her own internal drive also helps her to stay motivated and achieve her goals.
"Anyone can have a dream and anyone can accomplish it, don't let negativity in."
She added she was not starting her business to prove people wrong, but because she loves fitness and watching people become confident is important to her.
Her weakness lies in the bookwork aspects - such as accounting and paying taxes.
CCS Disability Action "My Business" helps with this, mentoring Yates so she can run a successful business. My Business is a new national programme which supports and helps fund disabled people who want to become, or already are, self-employed.
DUBAI: The General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai has announced the launch of the "Dubai Inclusive Development Forum" which will take place at Madinat Jumeirah between 11th-12th of October 2015.
The announcement was made in a press conference at Emirates Towers in the presence of select representatives of the Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as local media.
Among attendees at the conference were Abdullah Al Shaibani, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai and Vice Chairman of the Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; Khaled Al Kamda, Director General of the Community Development Authority and Member of the Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; Majid Al Osaimi, President of the Asian Paralympic Committee, Vice President of the UAE Disabled Sports Federation and Member of the Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and Dr. Salem Alshafei, Director of Policies and Programs, Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the General Secretariat of Executive Council of Dubai.
The "Dubai Inclusive Development Forum" will be the first of its kind event in the Emirate. It is a key move to achieve the aim of the 'My Community' initiative in establishing Dubai as a fully inclusive, disability-friendly city by the year 2020. Joining together the efforts of all concerned authorities in Dubai is also central in providing important and essential services for persons with disabilities. We look forward to uncover future plans and steps that will be taken to take full advantage of the opportunities available, and overcome any obstacles that may stand in the way of persons with disabilities", said Abdullah Al Shaibani, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai and Vice Chairman of the Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In this regard, Al Shaibani pointed out the Law No. (2) Of 2014 on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Emirate of Dubai". Issued by Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the law aims to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy all their rights, enhances their respect, preserves their dignity and protects them from all forms of discrimination or abuse, as well as highlighting their potential abilities in contributing to the development of the community.
He added, "Furthermore, the new law envisages cooperation among all authorities concerned in Dubai to provide persons with disabilities health care, habilitation and rehabilitation services and educational opportunities that are equal to those provided to their peers at all stages. The law further stipulates providing persons with disabilities public services, including the use of roads, public transport, and utility services, in addition to an accessible environment ensuring their easy integration and access within the community.”
Shaibani stressed that His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, issued Law No. (3) of f 2014 on 'the establishment of the Higher Committee to protect the rights of persons with disabilities in the Emirate of Dubai, chaired by Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The law aims to implement the terms outlined and to supervise initiatives and activities being undertaken to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. Hence, we confirm that joining efforts of the concerned government authorities in implementing successful concrete projects, have markedly contributed in complementing previous and current laws. We reassure today that this initiative has so far gained great support within the community and this, in turn, reflects the broad community awareness on the important and active role that persons with disabilities play as individuals who can make positive change like their peers.
"My Community... A City for Everyone" initiative aims at providing equal opportunities to everyone in the community, including persons with disabilities. The initiative also strengthens social solidarity, cooperation and inclusive unity to best serve the community, thus eliminating all forms of discrimination or abuse, and eventually turning Dubai into a disability-friendly city that ensures proper nurturing, justice and equal opportunities" said Khaled Al Kamda, Director General of the Community Development Authority and Member of the Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
"The Dubai Inclusive Development Forum" is a platform for collective cooperation on five strategic pillars upon which the strategy for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities is based, including: social protection, availing public services and utilities, employment, education, health, habilitation and rehabilitation.
Hence, the Forum will offer the opportunity to shed light on international experiences in these areas. Additionally, organising special workshops during the forum will help impart knowledge and discuss these challenges with select international speakers," added Khaled Al Kamda.
"We look forward to promoting our community's culture, and providing a flexible life with equal opportunity for all persons with a disability. It is our duty to provide proper alternatives to ensure they live their lives and become active in the community like every other person in our society. It is also our duty to eliminate that sense of pity and charity towards persons with disabilities that still exists in some segments of our society and replace it with empowerment and respect for all."
"I would like to thank Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council for all his efforts in establishing "My Community.. A City for Everyone" initiative and the Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, chaired by Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.
These great efforts reflect the faith of our visionary leadership in persons with disabilities and their abilities to contribute in building our nation" said Majid Al Osaimi, President of the Asian Paralympic Committee, Vice President of the UAE Disabled Sports Federation and Member of the Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
"The people of the UAE have so far achieved a high level of awareness in recognising the capabilities of persons with disabilities and are today increasingly involved in projects and collaborations with the concerned teams to implement bespoke policies and beneficial programmes for persons with disabilities."
"The participation of persons with disabilities in such initial stages bolsters the success of these projects and programmes. Through such steps, they can share insights and opinions based on their actual circumstances and practical needs. This complements our leaderships' vision in integrating persons with disabilities in the community and providing equal opportunities for them.
"We expect extensive participation from persons with disabilities in the initial stages to support the success of the programmes and projects undertaken as they offer their opinions and thoughts on their own experiences and their needs. This in turns allows the successful implementation of the vision towards an inclusive society and the provision of equal rights for persons with disabilities in the society.
We also expect extensive participation of persons with disabilities in the forum as a way for them and the various attending parties to exchange experiences and insights and benefit from the learnings of worldwide experiments. Our invited speakers will be discussing their experiences and sharing their knowledge in various fields which the relevant authorities should consider in their goals towards the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities."
For his part, Dr. Salem Ali Alshafei, Director of Policies and Programmes, Rights of Persons with Disabilities at The Executive Council of Dubai explained that the "Dubai Inclusive Development Forum" is being held for the first time in Dubai on October 11 and 12, with the participation of select international and local experts, academics and specialists, and pointed to the distinct list of keynote speakers and participants associated with the cause, such as Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Global Disability Advisor at the World Bank Group.
McClain-Nhlapo will present a key paper entitled "Inclusive Planning and Policy Development", which will discuss translating the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) into national and local development Strategies.
Additionally, Victor Calise, Commissioner of New York City's Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, will discuss "Achieving Inclusion in a Global Mega-city, a Case Study on New York", through which he will shed light on the challenges faced in New York City since releasing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Calise will then move to tackle the possibilities that have led to significant progress in the integration of persons with disabilities in the community, in addition to highlight New York's future objectives and plans in this area.
Alshafei added, "We are also delighted by the presence of Dr. Ivor Ambrose, Managing Director of the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), who will join us to speak about the importance of making the tourism industry accessible for persons with disabilities. He will take the podium to acknowledge techniques and methodologies that help develop integrating sustainable and inclusive tourism developments".
Alshafei also pointed to Dr. Peyvand Khaleghian, Managing Partner at Avicenna Partners, who will be among the participants to discuss the important role of innovation in inclusive development, namely providing rehabilitative means for people with complex and severe medical needs, as well as offering great opportunities which upgrade their life quality.
Alshafei pointed out that local experiences also occupy an importance in the forum, as. Aisha A. Miran, Assistant Secretary General of the Strategy Management Sector of the General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai will be addressing my Community's journey towards full inclusion in Dubai's vision for 2020.
Miran will also highlight corporate frameworks and strategic programs that will enable Dubai to achieve its ambitious vision of turning into an inclusive disability-friendly city by the year 2020.
One of the most important aspects of the forum is that it is comprised of six specialized technical workshops to identify and address the obstacles and challenges that stand in the way of full inclusive development in healthcare, education, social protection, employment, tourism and entertainment.
A group of renowned experts will lead the workshops to impart experience to the task forces newly established by various departments, agencies and ministries of the local and federal government, which are responsible for monitoring the implementation of the programmes, initiatives and projects in line with Dubai strategy for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities by 2020.
The forum complements "My Community... A City for Everyone" an initiative launched by Sheikh Hamdan.
The initiative aims at turning Dubai into an inclusive disability-friendly city by the year 2020. The initiative also aims to support the objectives of the Dubai Plan 2021 in creating a cohesive, coherent community, and to ensure that persons with disabilities can rely on themselves while being integrated into the community. The joint actions between all government authorities to support the development of strategic plans for Dubai will also contribute to empowering persons with disabilities, thus making Dubai a pioneering example for the world.
"My Community" is inclusive of all disabilities and stresses on equality for all people in the community. The initiative provides equal opportunities to persons with disabilities, through comprehensive policies and administrative procedures that go beyond the discriminating practices they face. Law No. (2) of 2014 "to protect the rights of people with disabilities in the Emirate of Dubai" was thus issued by Sheikh Mohammed in collaboration with various parties in Dubai, and provide health, education, employment and essential public services on an equal basis for everyone.
This forum comes in line with the Dubai 2021 goals and objectives to unleash Dubai's potential for diversity based on joint civil values that go beyond the relationships between a specific segment of society or cultural group.
This includes religious and spiritual values along with cultural traditions and customs. These values can help achieve social cohesion and economic dynamism, as well as strengthen innovation and cultural development.
The forum will discuss integrating persons with disabilities, in addition to translating the UNCRPD into local laws and policies.
The forum's main objective will be to take practical steps towards successful implementation.
The discussions will focus on assessing the current situation in order to integrate persons with disabilities into the community.
It will also address the quality of services provided to them, as this will help develop a comprehensive and equal environment for all. The forum will rely on successful international studies as criteria to determine Dubai's global role in empowering persons with disabilities.
The forum will witness participation from select spokesperson, academics, policy makers, researchers, government representatives and persons with disabilities, to concentrate and join their efforts to achieve a pioneer position in such areas.
The forum will be a unique platform to assess and guide local and international experts on this segment of society. This will help develop the necessary training programs to implement the best practices and policies to overcome discriminating practices against persons with disabilities.
It should be noted that persons with disabilities are also involved in doing business in Uganda in order to sustain their lives and the lives of their dependants. When the bread winner has a disability it not only affects him/her but even his/her family.
When a person with a disability is young, the impact to other family members may not be so big but when this person grows up and also gets his/her own family that is where the dilema is too big.
If this person is not empowered or supported to live independently as an adult, you will find that even his/her family members being dependent on him/her are classified as vulnerable. Hence when you look at adult persons with disabilities let us look at them wholesomely with their dependants.
The current economic / business environment has hit so hard the persons with disabilities. With the current cleansing and renovations of the capital city Kampala by the authorities, the PWDs as people who majorly operate on road-sides have been the first to be swept away to no one knows. The high taxes like space fees, different city enforcement charges have not left them in business too.
The high fuel prices that have led to over-pricing of the products they trade in hence has also led their business to collapse.
The access to market to especially for persons with mobility disability has been a big obstacle when it comes to competing with their able-bodied counterpart as they incur a lot of costs to move their products from place to place.
Having also very low capital worsened by lack of access to financing has made their businesses vulnerable leading to collapse.
Then who can really save the situation as persons with disabilities struggle to attain economic freedom. There are so many hardships they go through.
We still believe engaging ourselves into the field of work, it is when we shall attain an independent life without begging handouts to survive on a daily basis.; A life where we shall marry and get children; A life where we shall educate our children; A life where we shall also get better health care services; A life where we shall be involved in decision making.
Edrisa Muwanga
Tel. +256752549065
Disabled Entrepreneurs of Uganda
Businesses need to be able to get the most out of each
dollar spent. Sometimes it isn’t about getting services cheaper, but getting
more services for each dollar spent. In the long run, tricks like this will do
more for your bottom line than just eliminating expenses will.
You need to be cautious on where to cut your expenses. Some things are worth paying the extra money
on if they can save you money elsewhere.
Here are three examples of places you can get more bang from your buck.
Don’t just rent an office space.Rent an office, equipment, and staff all in
one. Full service office space gives small budget businesses the big budget
experience. Administrative services are included, saving you the expense of
hiring an office manager and receptionist. They are stocked with state of the art equipment,
which will increase your efficiency. The space is fully furnished, giving you
that sharp and professional look. They also provide you with comfortable and
stylish conference rooms, which will go a long way to making a good first
impression with potential clients. Officelist is a great place to go to find these services
Outsourcing some things may be more cost
effective.For instance, if you hire a
bookkeeping service that also provides tax services.This may be cheaper than employing a
bookkeeper and tax professional in house.Look around your community and see who is providing services bundled
like this.
Use online resources for things like simple
legal contracts or forming a LLC.Many
websites offer simple legal services, like Non Disclosure Agreements (NDA) and
LLC formation services.The legal forms are
usually very basic forms where the language can be broad enough to cover a wide
range of circumstances while still offering adequate legal protection.You will enter information like your company
name and the other party’s name, contact information, and other relevant
details like the date or the jurisdiction the contract will be governed by.Some allow you to upload a signature and send
it electronically to the other party.Unless
you have unique or specific needs, these sites can often save you the cost of
an attorney.This blog gives some good
examples of when you should and shouldn’t depend on online legal services; eyesonthedollar.
There are many ways you can combine services at discounted prices. Now that you know what to look for you will
find these opportunities everywhere.
Don’t just look at the price tag, but look at what you are getting for
your money. A good visual for comparing
services is to approach it as if you were buying a car. If you were buying a
car you would think $6000 for a Pinto is a rip off, and rightly so, but $6000 for
a brand new BMW and you would be sprinting into the sales office to sign the
paperwork. Do the same with your business services. Avoid overpriced Pintos and find that steal
on a BMW.
Let’s be honest, there’s no ‘one size fits all’ answer to this question. What someone going into an aircraft business needs to know is entirely different to what someone starting a restaurant needs to know. That said, we’re talking about more than industry-specific knowledge. We’re talking about lessons that hundreds of entrepreneurs had to learn before achieving success. Rather than let you figure it out as you go, or scour the internet looking for answers, we’ve turned to the experts for a few words of wisdom.
Learn from other people’s mistakes – Neil Patel
Neil Patel is the co-founder of Crazy Egg, Hello Bar and KISSmetrics. In a long list of the 15 things, Neil Patel wished he knew before starting up, learning from other people’s mistakes is number fourteen. It’s a good way to begin this post.
“Life is too short to expect that you can learn all the necessary lessons from your own mistakes. That’s why it’s essential you watch others and learn how not to repeat their mistakes. Average people learn from their mistakes. Smart people learn from other people’s mistakes.”
Neil’s advice? Get a mentor – someone older, wiser and more experienced. Learn all you can from the mistakes they made. Also, read about why businesses fail. There are so many founders and entrepreneurs that openly write about their own failures so learning from others is increasingly easy.
Failure is one of the best teachers – Sir James Dyson
Except if it involves hazardous chemicals…
Sir James Dyson is a British inventor, best known for founding the Dyson company and for creating the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner. Before he hit upon the right design, Dyson created 5,126 prototypes.
“But I learned from each [failure]… That’s how I came up with a solution. So I don’t mind failure. I’ve always thought that schoolchildren should be marked by the number of failures they’ve had. The child who tries strange things and experiences lots of failures to get there is probably more creative.” – from an interview with Fast Company
Today, Dyson has a net worth of over £3 billion. Maybe failure IS an option?
Listen to your customers – Noah Parsons
REALLY listen and connect. Don’t just pretend.
Starting a business isn’t just about picking an audience and targeting their desires, fears and weaknesses. It’s also about providing a solution to a problem, adapting when something isn’t working and listening to existing customers. In fact, customers are a core part of the success of any business. Not too long ago, Noah Parsons, the COO of Palo Alto Software, wrote about a restaurant business that had failed. The restaurant was located on the first floor of the building in which the company works and the closure, which happened seemingly overnight, served as an important lesson for all businesses.
Noah noted that while the restaurant had ample potential to succeed – they provided a solution to a problem that had a target market – they failed in one major area: they forgot that their customers were at the very center of their business. Even though Palo Alto Software (PAS) shared the same building with them, the restaurant employees made no attempt to build any sort of rapport with the company. As a result, the PAS staff felt as though they weren’t welcome and eventually stopped going. For the restaurant this meant lost business and a lost opportunity to learn about what was or wasn’t working.
The great thing about having customers that are also friends is they will provide you with feedback and ideas, as well as reviews. This isn’t just a clever way to market your business, it’s a great way to learn. In fact, it’s a necessity. The customers that are friends will also be far more likely to give youhonest feedback. Furthermore, when things aren’t going well, the best people to turn to are your customers. After all, who better to tell you how to serve their needs that the exact people you’re catering to?
Pursue your passions relentlessly – artists the world over
Even when the weather is miserable and you have no audience
Maybe the world doesn’t see your talent (yet) but if you feel it, if it fulfills you and if it consumes your every waking moment, you can probably find the right audience, figure out the right type of marketing, learn through failure or speak with the people who can help you turn your hobby into a business. Either way, not doing what you love, isn’t an option.
There are hundreds of artists who can attest to this including numerous authors who had their work rejected multiple times – Stephen King, J. K. Rowling, Dr. Seuss; actors that were told they would never succeed – Harrison Ford, Lucille Ball, Charlie Chaplin, Mariln Monroe; artists that only ‘made it’ after their death – Monet and Vincent Van Gogh; inventors and icons that failed for many years – Walt Disney, Ludwig van Beethoven, Mozart, Thomas Edison, Isaac Newton…the list is endless.
Most of these people only succeeded because they were committed to their work. They believed in themselves and they stuck their passions through despite negative feedback, failure and impoverished circumstances.
If there’s anything a soon-to-be entrepreneur can learn early on, it’s that you’ve got to be passionate about what you do and believe in yourself so that when you get told you are a failure, you don’t give up.
Listen to what your ego wants – Derek Lidow
Bring your submerged motivations to light. If someone put a gun to your head and asked you what REALLY motivated you, chances are you’d be able to answer. Figure that out.
Derek Lidow teaches entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity at Princeton. He’s also the founder and former CEO of iSuppli Corporation. Through listening to entrepreneurs speak about why they started their companies, Derek has learned to peel back the layers to discover the true motives that drive these leaders. He argues that only by truly understanding how motives are related to primal fears and desires, will a person be able to reach their true potential, thereby enabling their company to in turn reach its own true potential.
“I personally could not have succeeded as an entrepreneur had I not realized, with the help of an executive coach, that I had a powerful motivation of “needing to be needed.” This unrealized motivation had led me to exhibit behaviors that made me a poor team player when others did not ask for my input and advice. Once I realized my core motivation it changed my life, driving me to be an entrepreneur in an area where my expertise and advice were highly regarded. At my startup, iSuppli, I created an organization structure that revolved around weekly status meetings and quarterly business reviews that allowed me to feel clued in and integral to every part of the business, without micromanaging or holding back our growth. This one insight was central in my creating a company whose valuation had topped $100 million when it was bought in 2010.”
Do it. Start now – Oliver Emberton, Richard Branson and Tim Berry (oh, and Nike)
There’s no time like today to get started.
Oliver Emberton is the founder of Silktide, a successful British software company founded in 2001. If you want to start a business, just do it, Oliver says.
“Every single person – from my family to my closest friends – ultimately doubted that [Silktide] was a good idea. (Many started being supportive, and changed their minds when times got harder). If you feel compelled to do it, don’t let anyone stop you, and don’t expect anyone to support you either.”
It might be tough to begin with – Oliver only turned over £200 in profit in his first year of business – but the reward in the long-term is personal fulfillment and hopefully greater profits. Today, Silktide’s flagship product is Sitebeam, a tool that lets users test and report on websites. Prior to Sitebeam, for 10 years, Silktide was a web design agency. In 2011, Oliver again took a plunge and killed off half of their original business in order to focus on Sitebeam, one of Silktide’s products. Within one year, they experienced 3x the growth of their original web agency model.
If Oliver hadn’t taken the plunge the first time he might still be working for a video gaming company, being told not to aspire to greatness. And, if he hadn’t made the bold move the second time, his business might have continued to do only moderately well.
In fact, starting now and planning as you go is the exact approach that Tim Berry, founder and chairman of Palo Alto Software takes when it comes to advising others on starting a business: “if you’re thinking about it, then plan quickly and carefully…and do it.” This is counter-intuitive to how most people think about business planning. The idea that you’ve got to have a structured and set-in-stone plan before you get started is absolutely false. Rather, get started with your plan and adapt as you go.
Richard Branson is another example of an entrepreneur who got started before he felt ready. In fact, the name of the entire Virgin business empire is down to Branson and his partners feeling they were ‘virgins’ at doing business. Considering the number of businesses Branson has since started, it’s almost unimaginable to think he ever felt this way. In this mogul’s own wise words, “The best way of learning anything is by doing.” and the best way to do it? “Just do it.”
Imphal, December 15 2013: No matter he is a differently abled person, a young man from Kwakta Sandong Makha Leikai has showed the way to many disabled persons to face the challenges in life. Read more
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was celebrated in Saskatoon Tuesday with some inspiring stories from people who, against all odds, have become successful entrepreneurs.
Brett Francis, 24, has struggled with a number of disabilities most of her life including Turrets Syndrome and ADHD.
“You do get judged and you do get discrimination, I mean I was teased and bullied all throughout high school,” said Francis.
Exercise often. Get plenty of exercise in any way that you can. If you're in a
Don't be ashamed if you can't exercise the way other people do. Exercises are designed for people with standard bodies and a full set of normal abilities. Don't measure your progress against other people's. Judge your progress realistically in relation to your own past efforts and results. Stop if it hurts, especially with back injury and disability, bad knees and any other condition that can cause sports injury.
Remember that the Special Olympics has it right - everyone's a winner. If you manage any exercise at all, or any improvement in physical function, you've won something. Effort does count a lot more than it would for someone abled. Don't expect your results to be the same as someone who's abled and decides to change a sedentary lifestyle.
Finding activities appropriate and enjoyable for the elderly and disabled can be frustrating. This is a guide about activities for the elderly and disabled.
There are so many small craft projects, with assistance that the elderly, handicapped and disabled can do! My most important suggestion is not to involve them in a lengthy project, but one they can accomplish in a short time frame.
Here are a few ideas, but use your imagination as there are a lot of brilliant members on Thrifty Fun!
Take a photo of this person, assist them to draw around their face on the photo by using a cup centered and an ink pen. Assist or cut out with scissors or pinking sheers. Use a hole punch to make 2 holes an inch apart. using Tacky glue, add a trim piece of lace around the edge of the photo, make a small bow and glue that on the top or bottom but, not to overpower or interfere with their photo. Use a large safety pin between the two holes, allow to dry. Voila! They can wear a pin with their own photo that they helped to create!
Another easy project is to allow them to look at pictures in magazines to see what draws their interest. Ask them to point, smile, or discuss if they see something they like or has a fond memory for them. Mark these items and also things that you feel the person would like. Cut these out, glue all of these items onto a poster board as a collage! Use a Glitter Pen to put their name at the top! This is a sure hit! Allow them to assist as much as they can! A lace trim glued to the outer edge makes it a tad more fancy!
Refrigerator magnets are also a hit made from photos, left over craft items, etc. They stick to metal wheel chairs and walkers, you know! Most of all, use your imagination for them for projects!
I have not come across one person who would not like to help make a homemade card! Left over craft items, paper stock, colored markers and glue! It can be for any occasion of just because!
Cookie decorating is fun for all!
I guarantee these projects will be a hit and very rewarding, both ways! Their motor skills and abilities may be impaired but, with your help, the possibilities are limitless! Please add your own creative ideas to this! Thank you!
The cultural understanding of the concept 'disability' is central to the determination of the position or status that the disabled individuals are given in a specific society. Cultural understanding is also shaped by the meanings attached to the concepts of human being or personhood, by the social and economic organization of a given society, or by other internal and external cultural dynamics.
Ingstad and Whyte (p. 8) note that the conceptions of disability are formed by the conceptions of the person in a culture. The 'person' refers to the evaluation of others as opposed to self-evaluation. Large and small scale societies perceive the concept of disability differently. According to Scheer and Groce (1988, pp. 331-32), in small-scale societies close interactions between individual members are the norm, and each individual may have extended and multi-strand relationships with other members of the society. Individuals may interact in the course of economic production, during leisure time, or while participating in the arts or ceremonies. The social identity of the person in these small-scale societies is based on family clan and other characteristics and not on how the individual looks. Natural integration of the disabled into family life and community activities is the norm in many small-scale societies. The disabled, as we will see in the course of this paper, are viewed as unique individuals and not as persons with disabilities.
In large-scale societies, on the other hand, where social relations and contexts are more impersonal, individuals are not directly related to each other in varied contexts. For example, relationships that begin at work often end at work. Based on the concepts of equality and individual rights, there is a general assumption that people are not different: difference is treated as invisible. Large-scale societies' conceptions of disability are, therefore, formed not from within the general society and the social processes, but "in the context of the centralist state that imposes a universal code through legislation" (Ingstad & Whyte, p. 8). Legislation determines the existence and recognition of the disabled by defining what it means to be disabled, establishing criteria, and determining the classification of the disabled. Legislation also determines the establishment of medical and paramedical institutions as well as educational services. In this way, people with infirmities become a marked group; they are given social identity; as citizens who have the same rights as others and should be integrated like ordinary people. Disability, therefore, in Europe and North America exists within and is created by a framework of state, legal, economic, and biomedical institutions. The concepts of personhood are also inevitably shaped by those institutions. This situation is not helped by the mass media, which according to Ferguson et. al. (1992, p.229), tend to portray the disabled negatively. They note, for example, that stories, be they fairy tales or movies, tend to portray the villain as associated with abnormality, whether physical, psychological, or mental. They also note that there are usually very few positive images of the disabled in the media. The positive images displayed are mainly of disabled children and very rarely adults. This tends to give the impression that the disabled are like children.
What is your view or what happens in your culture?
