INTEGRATING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES INTO DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES: SOME LESSONS FROM OXFAM-GB, BANGLADESH

Oxfam-GB in Bangladesh is involved in promoting community development initiatives and disaster relief programmes in the country, as part of Oxfam's global mandate of working with poor and vulnerable groups of people. Oxfam had also been supporting a few disability initiatives in Bangladesh since the last two decades, primarily through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working directly with disabled persons. In 1994, at a meeting of partner organisations involved in community development, the issue of including disability issues in development programmes was discussed. All the partners agreed that disability was not a welfare issue, and that it should be considered as part of the development agenda. It was also agreed that disabled people had the same right to participate in the development process, as others in the community. The partner organisations then decided that disabled people should be integrated into their on-going programmes. In order to do this successfully, there was the need to train all levels of workers from the partner organisations on disability issues.

Subsequently, in 1995, Oxfam organised three workshops for the partner organisations involved in community development activities, on the theme of 'integrating disability issues into on-going development activities without additional financial support'. In 1997, a training manual based on the proceedings of the workshops was developed, called "The Training of Trainers Manual on Integrating Disabilities into Development", and translated into the local language. At the beginning of 1998, two training courses were organised for trainers from the partner organisations, using the manual. After the training, 25 out of the 45 partner organisations started to integrate disabled persons into their activities. Some of the changes are a result of these efforts are briefly described below.

The partner organisations have started to conduct surveys and have identified 22356 persons with disabilities in their different areas. Those organisations that are running non-formal primary education schools in rural areas have integrated 431 disabled children in these schools. A few partner organisations have established functional education centres for adults, into which 246 women with disabilities have been included. These initiatives have provided access to literacy by disabled children and women, and has also helped to create awareness and increase acceptance of disabled persons in the community.

In Bangladesh, NGOs work with the poor by organising and forming groups. The partner organisations have included 2730 disabled people in the existing groups. 2384 of these disabled persons have started their savings, which in turn has helped to create their own capital for income generating activities. The acceptance of disabled people in the community has increased because of their membership in the groups. Since the groups meet once a week, it has helped to increase the mobility of disabled people outside their homes. The development workers meet with the groups regularly, to discuss various issues such as primary health and hygiene, causes of poverty, problems of the poor and how to solve them, responsibilities of the community towards disabled persons, gender issues and so on. Through this process, both disabled and non-disabled group members are becoming aware of their roles and responsibilities. The partner organisations have given credit support to 699 disabled people to involve them in income generating activities, based on their experiences, knowledge, skills and interest. This is helping to build up the confidence of persons with disabilities, and to reduce their dependency on the family. The family members are also made happy in the process.

Most of the Oxfam partner organisations have primary health education programmes, and a few have clinical support facilities including mobile clinics. Due to lack of mobility, disabled people are unable to access clinical services. After identifying persons with disabilities and their location, the mobile clinics have been providing services to disabled persons at their door step. In this manner, primary health services have been provided to 1283 disabled people.

It is often observed that disabled people tend to get exploited by their family and by the community members. Oxfam partner organisations have the provision to provide legal support to such persons, especially women. The partner organisations have provided legal support to 122 persons with disabilities in their areas. Such support is helping to promote the rights of disabled persons in the family and community. At the same time, the families and the community are beginning to learn that persons with disabilities are not helpless.

The partner organisations are also trying to develop the capacity of persons with disabilities, by involving them in various training programmes such as leadership development, primary health care, group management and gender awareness. In addition, disabled persons are encouraged to become members of existing village committees such as disaster committees, village development committees, health committees, salish (local dispute mitigation) committees and so on. 571 persons with disabilities have been trained on various human and skills development issues, and 65 disabled people are included in the different committees in the areas of operation of the partner organisations. These initiatives have helped to increase their mobility and acceptance in the community. It has also helped to improve their ability to contribute to community development activities.

Bangladesh went through a very major flood in 1998. All of Oxfam's partners were aware about the damages caused and the vulnerabilities of the different groups of people, including disabled people. People with disabilities were given special attention during this time by the partner organisations, and 3403 affected disabled people were provided with food, shelter and other relief materials. A number of disabled people also got housing support and employment during the relief and rehabilitation work.

The Bangladesh office of Oxfam-GB has recruited two disabled staff members in the last 4 years. The partner organisations have also started to employ disabled persons after the initial training and orientation. 25 persons with disabilities are working as secretaries, computer operators, accountants, school teachers and community development workers in the different partner organisations.

The learning process regarding integration of disabled persons into development activities is continuing in the Oxfam Bangladesh office and its partner organisations. A number of problems and new needs have been encountered by the partner organisations, such as lack of mobility aids, lack of accessibility, lack of awareness among family and community, lack of skilled workers, absence of physiotherapy facilities and need for policies favouring disabled persons. In the coming years, Oxfam hopes to consolidate and strengthen the process of integration of disabled persons into development initiatives.

Title:
ASIA PACIFIC DISABILITY REHABILITATION JOURNAL Vol. 11 @ No. 1 @ 2000

Produced by:
Shree Ramana Maharishi Academy for the Blind, 3rd Cross, 3rd Phase, J.P. Nagar, Bangalore - 560 078, India.
Tel : 91-80-6631076, Fax : 91-80-6638045

Printed at:
National Printing Press, 580, K.R. Garden, Koramangala, Bangalore - 560 095, India. Tel : 91-80-5710658