Disability Organizations
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Selected quotes and information from disability organization leaders
General idea- people believe that the government has provided all for free to persons with disabilities, while these organizations claim much more ownership of their development. This has led to a mismatch between virtual social identities and actual social identities of persons with disabilities (Goffman). The virtual social identity is the one constructed through the misconception of persons with disabilities as beggars who receive handouts from the government in all aspects of life. The actual social identity would be the reality of the situation, a much more complex situation in which persons with disabilities have much more control and agency over the resources they provide for themselves. The discrepancy between these two identities is key to the social development of persons with disability in Makeni.
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The government is doing its best to see how disability issues are addressed. They have launched the disability commission, and an act, but it is all in theory and not in practice. But they have launched the commission and set up commissioners in the provinces. We are pushing, and people are starting to listen. The act is starting to be in practice now with the commission. We have commissioners all over the country now, which means it has started. They have made a strategic plan. But when you start it, you must start with all seriousness. When it comes to disability commissions, it is just less. The chief commissioner doesn’t even have a car. He had to bring his own car from the US. He’s paying his own driver. Whereas other commissions have everything from the government. So we are a bit jealous! It will happen in time, but for now we are not so happy. These are not things that we can finance. If they start it, they need to do it right!- Disability organization leader
In this interview, the leader argued against the idea that the government gives everything to persons with disabilities. Though he appreciates the legal actions currently in progress, he is not altogether impressed with the actual implementation. He disagrees that the government gives all to those with disabilities, and that disability is in fact low on the priorities of the government in general. Instead, he claimed that much of the progress has been made by groups like his that have taken more actions without as many false promises.