Hi Anita..
I like your approach..
Henry
anitravi wrote:
> Hi
> I didn't imply that the programmes are a total failure. However I look at
> the population of 70 million disabled people with 30 million children in
> the age range of 3-14. The education is being received by a mere 2%. Most
> of the people are in the villages and tribal belts where none of the
> programmes have really made any impact. With legislation which is barely 3
> years old and is not even near implementation in a concrete way, I for one
> get extremely scared of what is going to happen to my fellow disabled in
> India. Any principal strategy has to move beyond medical treatment and ok
> for social rehabilitation which definitely has to be community based and
> supported by the community
> thanks
> Anita
>
> ----------
> | From: Laurence Bathurst <[log in to unmask]>
> | To: [log in to unmask]
> | Subject: Re: Dogmatic ravings:Blackmail by Institution Supporters
> | Date: Monday, June 21, 1999 6:44 AM
> |
> | Hi Anita
> |
> | Just a word to let you know that the School in which I work developed
> | a community rehabilitation project in India..Each year OT,
> | Physiotherapy and Leisure & Health students have been involved in
> | the program as part of their final professional practice placement and
> | have been travelling over for the last few years and are off again
> | soon.
> |
> |
> | > Hi Julie
> | > As a person from another developing country that is India, I agree with
> the
> | > sentiments you have expressed. However in my country, community based
> | > rehabilitation has not made much headway. I would therefore tend to
> agree
> | > with the suggestion that equal representation of individuals with
> | > disabilities has to be there in the decision making processes. There
> are
> | > times when I am totally baffled when I realise that even if intentions
> are
> | > there , the resources are just not available. So even though I will not
> | > really support institutionalisation, more so their quality is always
> | > problematic, I am quite unsure of what the appropriate solution can be.
> The
> | > socio-political and economic reality of developing countries is to be
> | > considered, before any models can be imported.
> | > Anita
> | >
> | > ----------
> | > | From: Julie Livingston <[log in to unmask]>
> | > | To: UK Disability-Research <[log in to unmask]>
> | > | Subject: Re: Dogmatic ravings:Blackmail by Institution Supporters
> | > | Date: Sunday, June 20, 1999 1:36 PM
> | > |
> | > | Hi-
> | > |
> | > | i just wanted to add my two cents onthis topic. While I agree with
> the
> | > | general argument put forth below -- I do want to break down what we
> mean
> | > | by institutions somewhat. Again we are talking aboutthe "developing
> | > | world" here -- which is, inmy limited experience in Africa, quite
> | > | lacking in institutional structures which help the disabled. I would
> | > | argue that the few institutions which are in existence are an
> important
> | > | part of the overarching "community service" program and that in fact
> we
> | > | do need more of them.
> | > |
> | > | I work in a "community based rehabilitation program" in Botswana --
> | > | which is the cornerstone of the national policy on disability and
> | > | assistance. But our CBR program which operates in 8 villages is
> linked
> | > | to a rehabilitation center -- yes an institution-- which has
> | > | physiotherapy, speech therapy /sign language instruction, and
> | > | occupational therapy services, and mainatains a residential program
> for
> | > | disabled children. It is however, quite different from a residential
> | > | program in a developed country. There is no chance at all here for
> any
> | > | person to be completely institutionalized -- I am not saying that the
> | > | ideas are so forward thinking but there simply aren't hte resources,
> and
> | > | I wouldhave to guess that there won't be any time in the forseeable
> | > | future.
> | > |
> | > | Instead, in my experience, residence in this instiution, is one of
> the
> | > | greatest possible pushes for independence and progress for teh
> disabled
> | > | in Botswana, becuase teh children are taught skills which their
> families
> | > | had often assumed them incapable of.
> | > |
> | > | When a child coems home from a year or two (the maximum possible
> time)
> | > | at teh center, able to feed, bathe, and dress themselves, for the
> first
> | > | time, or able to communicate in more sophisticated ways then before,
> or
> | > | able to write their name, or help weed the garden, it can change
> their
> | > | position within their family and their opportunitites for the future,
> it
> | > | is often teh first step towards "independent living" though of course
> it
> | > | must be followed up by better community services. When we are simply
> | > | working with our clients through CBR there are many cases in which
> the
> | > | teaching of these basic skills is extremely difficult or even
> | > | impossible, whether becuase of over protective family members who see
> | > | their relative as a "patient" and so fee obligated to do everything
> for
> | > | them, or simply because families are too overburdened with daily
> life,
> | > | which can be quite exhausting here (farming, carrying water,
> colelcting
> | > | firewood) , to take on anything they see as extra.
> | > |
> | > | Likewise with disabled adults who enter teh Red Cross rehabilitation
> | > | center where tehy live for up to two years learning a trade, it is
> often
> | > | teh first time in this largely rural environment where they meet and
> | > | interact with other disabled adults, increasing their social and
> | > | political consciousness. or with teh center for the blind which is
> the
> | > | only place in the country to learn braile, or to train for possible
> | > | employment. There is a long waiting list to get a spot in any of the
> | > | centers in teh country.
> | > |
> | > | I am not suggesting that these institutions and programs are without
> | > | problems, in fact they strike me as riddled with problems, but I am
> | > | saying that they are not necessarily bad, nor are they exactly the
> same
> | > | as teh institutions in the west. And more importantly neither is the
> | > | context.
> | > |
> | > | We cannot wholly export our institutional models or our culture of
> | > | giving, and likewise we cannot simply export our critiques to another
> | > | political, economic, social, cultural environment without a nuanced
> | > | understanding of that other place.
> | > |
> | > | i would advocate that what is necesary is not merely a shift away
> from
> | > | institutions but a policy of inclusion of local disabled people
> | > | themselves in the planning and critique of such programs,
> institutions,
> | > | and policies. I would imagine that one of the best ways for teh
> | > | disbaled community in the west to help that in a place like Botswana
> | > | would be to foster some sort of dialogue between teh two and to help
> | > | develop the nascent political rumblings of the very quiet voice of
> the
> | > | disabled here.
> | > |
> | > | it is not simply that we don't need institutions and only need
> community
> | > | based programs -- here as I see it we need both, but they need to be
> | > | coordinated and conceived with community based services as their
> | > | organizing principle.
> | > |
> | > | Perhaps the situation is quite different in other "developing"
> | > | countries, at present i can only speak for teh situation as I see it
> in
> | > | Botswana.
> | > |
> | > | I'd be interested in other opinions,
> | > |
> | > | best,
> | > |
> | > | Julie
> | > |
> | > | Julie Livingston
> | > | National Institute of Research
> | > | University of Botswana
> | > | P Bag 00708
> | > | Gaborone, Botswana
> | > |
> | > |
> | > |
> | > |
> | > | -----Original Message-----
> | > | From: Frank Hall-Bentick <[log in to unmask]>
> | > | To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; OZAdvocacy
> | > | <[log in to unmask]>; OZMad
> <[log in to unmask]>;
> | > | UK Disability-Research <[log in to unmask]>;
> USDisabled
> | > | List <[log in to unmask]>
> | > | Date: Sunday, June 20, 1999 3:32 AM
> | > | Subject: Re: Dogmatic ravings:Blackmail by Institution Supporters
> | > |
> | > |
> | > | The following is an article on Supporters for Institutions. The
> funding
> | > | of
> | > | Institutions is a global problem in both North and South Countries.
> It
> | > | seems
> | > | that it's easier to get funds for disability services through
> | > | Institutions
> | > | as this provides the funders and politians which the bricks and motar
> on
> | > | which to stick the plaque of recognition.
> | > |
> | > | Community services aren't as grand as buildings.
> | > |
> | > | We need to ensure that we don't export these outmoded Institutions to
> | > | developing countries, so we must share our independent living models
> | > | with
> | > | our disabled brothers and sisters in these countries. We need to
> | > | increase
> | > | our influence on our politicians, bureaucrats and Non-government
> | > | organisations who provide funds to overseas disability projects and
> | > | services
> | > | that they fund local community services and not intitutional bricks
> and
> | > | mortar.
> | > |
> | > | This is an ongoing battle in which we must all speak out against
> | > | Institutions in favour of local Community Services.
> | > |
> | > | Frank HB
> | > | Australia
> | > |
> | > | "PatrickWm. Connally" wrote:
> | > |
> | > | > Dogmatic ravings: Blackmail by Institution Supporters-The Neo
> | > | Stalinists
> | > | > are up to their tricks
> | > | >
> | > | > Please follow the logic of the neo Stalinists in their propaganda
> war
> | > | to
> | > | > label people neo Reganites who support closing institutions for
> | > | people
> | > | > with disabilities.
> | > | >
> | > | > The Neo Stalinists argument runs like this: There is the huge chunk
> of
> | > | > money that can be spent on institutions. If you are not for
> spending
> | > | on
> | > | > institutions then you are for abandoning vulnerable people on the
> | > | street
> | > | > just like Ronald Regan did when he was Governor. Regan's policy
> was
> | > | to
> | > | > close institutions and not provide community services. He
> literally
> | > | > dumped people from the mental health institution out on the street.
> | > | > (Many were immediately institutionalized in the criminal justice
> | > | system
> | > | > at increased cost to everyone.) Therefore if you want to close
> | > | > institutions you want to dump people on the street. Pro
> Institution
> | > | > people ask "Where are they suppose to go?" Never asked is where
> did
> | > | > people come from and how do we get them back.
> | > | >
> | > | > So these compassionate people are saying that the only thing money
> can
> | > | > be spent on is institutions. Billions of public dollars are
> available
> | > | > for institutions with their building and ongoing support, so much
> | > | money
> | > | > that we could buy the institutionalized population a condo with a
> room
> | > | > for a live-in attendant, pay the live-in attendant and visiting
> | > | nurses
> | > | > and leave more than $30+ a month in spending money the
> | > | institutionalized
> | > | > disabled person receives from their monthly SSI check. (Most of
> the
> | > | > benefit check the institution keeps for board and care.)
> | > | >
> | > | > Academic studies and media exposi's from Willow Brook scandal of
> over
> | > | > twenty years ago until today have shown that people get better
> | > | services,
> | > | > better protection, and a better quality of life with resources
> spent
> | > | in
> | > | > the community. Yet the pro institution people tell us public money
> | > | can
> | > | > only be spent on institutions?
> | > | >
> | > | > This is blackmail. The idea that you either go along with
> | > | institutions
> | > | > for people with disabilities or you get nothing!
> | > | >
> | > | > Why are policy makes suddenly buying into "the state will take care
> of
> | > | > you." Especially after they saved us from "communist or socialized
> | > | > medicine." Us who receive the brunt of disability policy know the
> | > | state
> | > | > can facilitate its "choice." What choice do people have when beds
> in
> | > | a
> | > | > government institution need to be filled and justified. What
> choice
> | > | is
> | > | > there when there is no money for attendant wages and benefits yet
> | > | > hundreds of millions for institutions?
> | > | >
> | > | > Do we make it easy to fill institutional beds or do we make it easy
> | > | for
> | > | > people to stay in their homes with their families and communities.
> Do
> | > | > we tell our children, that at a point in the life cycle when you
> | > | become
> | > | > too disabled, you will be uprooted and shut away. What do we tell
> | > | them
> | > | > of life and their culture when we say, "A lot of those places are
> bad
> | > | > and I hated to do it but it was the only choice I had. It seemed
> like
> | > | > there were nice people there."
> | > | >
> | > | > Laguna Honda the public institution in San Francisco, California is
> | > | > tenure for a professional and managerial class along with job
> | > | security
> | > | > for the maintenance staff and groundskeepers. It is a fundraiser
> and
> | > | an
> | > | > artificial ghetto environment. It is an investment in a show piece
> | > | and
> | > | > not dealing with the real issues of disability policy like
> | > | > transportation, housing, employment, adaptive equipment, and
> | > | > healthcare. The money spent on the bond would buy a whale of
> | > | community
> | > | > services, but the Neo Stalinist have framed the issue as their way
> or
> | > | no
> | > | > way.
> | > | >
> | > | > Policy makers can always get by with saying "look at Laguna Honda,
> see
> | > | > all the money we are spending." The community based hands on
> workers
> | > | in
> | > | > California's Developmental Disabilities System have been hearing
> this
> | > | > for years and are paid poorly. Institutional workers in the system
> | > | are
> | > | > paid better. What a great system for everyone if community
> programs
> | > | > were reimbursed comparable to institutions.
> | > | >
> | > | > I guess people think the poor house model of service delivery was a
> | > | > success in Victorian England.
> | > |
> | > |
> |
> |
> | Best regards
> |
> | Laurence Bathurst
> | School of Occupation and Leisure Sciences
> | Faculty of Health Sciences
> | University of Sydney
> | P.O. Box 170
> | Lidcombe NSW 2141
> | Australia
> |
> | Phone: (62 1) 9351 9509
> | Fax: (62 1) 9351 9166
> | e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> |
> | Please visit the School's interim web site at
> | http://www.ot.cchs.usyd.edu.au
> | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> | Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious
> |
> | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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