It's about attitudes!

It's not about resources; its about attitudes. Personal beliefs and attitudes have a direct effect on how one perceives a person with disabilities. Here in PNG, traditional, religious and medical/educational beliefs play a role in the development of a person's attitude. Traditionally in PNG culture some may believe that if a pregnant woman eats red fish from a certain area of the sea then her child will be born with a disability. Or if a woman goes into an area of the rainforest where the spirits have said is forbidden to pregnant women, then her child will have a disability. Some religious beliefs consider a disability as a punishment resulting from committing a sin. Although medical/education research have scientifically proven some causes of disabilities, the traditional and religious beliefs appear to be a contradiction. For these reasons, there are numerous misconceptions about people with disabilities. Awareness activities are essential to challenge ones beliefs and change their attitude towards providing persons with disabilities a barrier free society.

Along with awareness comes identification and early intervention.

In remote kindergarten schools, nurses target the country's most vulnerable children. At a recent training, I helped to empower the kindergarten teachers and spoke to them about the importance of early childhood education and identification.


In preparation for National Disability Day March 29th, we gave an awareness training for teachers. Desmond is a volunteer at the centre. Before he became blind he was a teacher in mainstream schools. Now he works with communities to promote the rights of persons with disabilities through awareness activities. He also provides home-based education for students with visual impairments in remote villages. Here, Desmond demonstrates Braille with teachers.
Desmond had a good laugh blindfolding teachers and sending them around the centre. In fact, by the end one teacher was begging to take the blindfold off and he said with his usual smile "I can't remove my blindfold, so neither can you."

Teachers experienced the daily struggles of persons with physical disabilities. While seated in a wheelchair they were asked to get a book off a shelf or put on a pair of pants.


When we reach out to teachers who express concerns about not having the right teaching aids or materials needed to help children with disabilities, we respond..."It's not about resources; It's about attitudes!" This is a lesson for us all around the world. I challenge those of you reading to reflect upon your personal attitudes and beliefs not only towards those with disabilities, but also those who are disadvantaged. How do you view the poor, those who have immigrated into your country, those with different religious or sexual views than your own, those who have nothing and live on the streets, the hungry, those who are forced to beg?

Mi wankain olsem you! We are the same! It's how we view one another that is different.