USA - Mali
I searched around in Markala and found a group of about 200 handicapped people who belonged to a group called 'Jigiya'. They were excited at the opportunity to share and learn about lives of handicapped people in the USA. As of April 27, Jigiya convened a meeting to write a list of questions for SANYS and to have me take pictures to share with SANYS and others in the USA. In most of the pictures, the members of Jigiya chose poses to minimize their handicapps. In many cases, the people in the pictures look very physically normal. In one or two cases, that is true. In other cases, when the individual arose to walk, signficant physical handicapps became apparent.
Following is the list of questions.
JIG Q# 1. For handicapped teenagers, what kind of schooling and work do they do? How do they live? Do their parents take care of them, or does the government, or does no one take care of them? (Background: this was asked by a couple of handicapped teenagers in the group. In Mali, there is no government support for the handicapped. If their family is poor, some handicapped youth are left to fend for themselves. In Malian society, the handicapped are often considered not 'capable', and therefore find it VERY difficult to get work. One handicapped women said that she was never sent to school by her family because of her handicap, even though her siblings were allowed to go.)
SANYS A# 1: Most people go to puclic schools. Kids are schooled until the age of 21 and there is support out there beyond that> All kids in school have what is called an Individual Education Plan (IEP) that works toward certain goals. Many teenagers in school have an internship or trail job placement with a business in the community.
How do they live? Some live with families, with their moms and dads, and some live in alternative living arrangements. Some teenagers with disabilities go onto college. Many leave home and get their own apartments and homes. People learn about their options and have a broad range of choices.
Do their parents take care of them, or does the government, or does no one take care of them? Parents and the government. Parents get money from the government to support their childfren based on income. Some kids who can't be supported at home attend schools where they live.
JIG Q# 2. What type of work do handicapped people in the USA do? (Background: In Mali, many people in general are unemployed, and a very high percentage of handicapped people are unemployed or underemployed. In Jigiya, there is an electrician, a pancake vendor, a knitter, a hairdresser, and a vendor of clothes. It is safe to say that they are all very much UNDER employed, at best.)
SANYS A# 2: People here are trained to do the jobs they want to have, but the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is 75%, so that is very high. Some people with disabilities work in 'sheltered workshops' where they are underpaid for work in a segregated setting. Ths desire of people is to work in the community. Some people have jobs working for the government and others work in food service or offices.
JIG Q# 3. How do the handicapped people in the USA share their arts and talents? (Background: In Jigiya, there are dancers, singers, storytellers, and clowns. But, when they offer entertainment, people mock them and laugh at them. They are not taken seriously.)
SANYS A# 3: People put their talents on display and are sometimes paid for what they do, and perform like a local group of musicians with disabilities. There are a number of programs that support people to pursue their artistic and musical interests. Some people are very successful and make money and some do this as a hobby. In terms of mocking, we have public presentations and campaigns to teach people about disability awareness and sensitivity, that helps. One way we help people understand those of us with disabilities is to teach them to use people-first language, so we would say people with disabilities instead of 'handicapped'. We do that so community members will see us as people first and not our disabilities.
JIG Q# 4. Are there famous handicapped people in the USA, for example artists, teachers, or scientists?
SANYS A# 4: Yes, some famous people with disabilies include Stevie Wonder, Steven Hawking, Tom Cruise, Helen Keller, Michael J. Fox, and Chris Burke.
JIG Q# 5. How does the government help the handicapped in the USA?
SANYS A# 5: Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, and foodstamps are all service programs that benefit people with disabilities. There are a wide array of local, state, and federal services that people have access to.
Here are the links to other sets of Questions and Answers between Jigiya and SANYS:
- Aug 24 2006 Set