Problems of special Children in developing countries
Enjoying initial moments & early days of a child have always been a dream of new married couple. All the movements and each change in development of a child is welcomed just like a pleasant fresh air for the whole family but what about the parents who come to know that their child is disabled.
Some mothers are informed soon after delivery and others come to know after weeks of birth about disability in kid. The disabilities vary from physical, Internal disorder, hearing, visual to mental retardation. Parents are forced to hear painful words both from doctors and society. Thus, all the dreams& plans get shattered and onwards a new life of struggle, challenges& non-ending problems is started.
The number of special children and disabled persons has increased all over the world in recent years because of many reasons but at the same time a lot has been done in developed countries to provide best possible facilities to special children & PWD.
In developing countries like Pakistan, no serious effort has ever been initiated to even gather details of number of existing children and persons with disability (PWD).
Data collected in Pakistan through National census in Year 1998 showed that 2.38%of the whole population was disabled. Next National census was conducted in
Year 2017 but despite all modern facilities the number was restricted to 0.48% of the whole population. It was highly unbelievable.
Year 2017 but despite all modern facilities the number was restricted to 0.48% of the whole population. It was highly unbelievable.
The whole process became controversial because of many reasons. That is why no concrete steps were taken and any improvement in life quality of PWD is visible.
Lack of will, vision and education of decision makers are other factors for non-availability of sufficient facilities.
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Like other countries December 3r
is celebrated every year to show solidarity and love with PWD but it is limited
to walks& some seminars in big cities, which is of course not enough.
Disability is still seen as stigma to society. Even today a section believes that disability in children/ persons as a punishment from Allah against sins or misdoings of their parents. Majority of PWD live an isolated life without playing an active role like abled persons. They are often seen with merciful and strange eyes which is uncomfortable and adds to their problems.
Parents having children with disability are also worried for the following:
a) Protection of children >>> PWDs and special children generally are abused, sexually harassed and face hatred, violence and are embarrassed in open places. These points were noted & highlighted in conference held In November 2017 under the banner of; UNICEF & National Organization of Persons with Disabilities (NOOIS); It was largely attended by representatives of state and civil society, Institutions, Decision makers, Parents, Associations & representatives of international organization.
b) Medical issues >> Medical Treatment of special children are another big issue. Doctors instead of diagnosing actual cause rely on multi vitamins, steroids, muscle relaxants or medicines with drowsiness. Generally, body language & approach of medical staff is more painful for parents and their behavior is like illiterates.
c) Suitable schooling environment >> In Pakistan there is lack of schooling for special children. The schools which are being operated are simply on profit earning basis without any modern techniques or knowing basic needs. There are no separate sections for visual impaired, hearing loss, physical disability or mental retarded. Children are simply divided in different class rooms on basis of ages without considering level of disability. Parents are often heard of complaining of children being given mild sleeping pills in schools by teachers to have an easy time.
d) confidence boosting measures >> Disability affects self-esteem, emotions & confidence which do not let proper development of personality.
e) Search of fellow children >> This is also another problem for parents as special children want environment and fellow children who can understand them in gaining but normal children feel ashamed to mix up.
f) Future career >> This is the main tension & worry for parents residing in developing countries. They are always in search of answer to How their children live a respectable life after their death? Although Govt has allocated small quota of PWD in each public department but that too is all in papers. Even the educated disabled persons are not able to get be share in quota. Private sector does not bother and feel their social responsibility. Worries of parents having disabled females are far high as neither they get a comfortable working environment nor get a proper match.
So, there are multiple problems of PWD in developing countries including Pakistan. Most of worries of parents having special children are genuine and need attention both from government and society.
Suggestive measures at Parents Level
In my view if parents of PWD take following measures then many of their problems can be solved & many of their worries be over with passage of time.
a) Parents of special children should try to have a contact with each other by taking advantage of different tools of social media. In this way they can share their problems, learn from each other’s experience and give some friendly environment to their children at some common place. During such interactions there would be absolutely no chances of violence, harassment, abuse or hatred. Parents will also be relaxed at such meeting points as they would not be facing any sort of embarrassment. Parents can share their feelings on daily activities, food, medical treatment being carried for their children through watts app groups. More & more parents will join with passage of time and will of course be quite fruitful.
b) Parents of such children can collectively contact some Clinical Psychologist for sessions of behavior therapy. This platform can also be used for inviting Researchers & Thesis writers to assess hidden abilities &highlight problems of children. They would be delighted to have different types of cases under one roof. Their reports & articles will help in awakening `NGOs, private sector interested to do some work on humanity grounds, Sports organizations & Public sector.
c) This group of parents can contact different sports organizations to provide some facilities and train their children for sports as per physical & mental abilities. Sports activities even at small scale helps in improving apparent look & physical condition of children.
d) This joint voice of parents and writings of Researchers can one day shake business community to work and invest in items useful like instruments, sports equipment, hearing aids, special glasses for visual impaired, and different mobile apps keeping in view modern techniques at affordable rates.
e) This club of parents can play a role in adjusting their children in suitable educational institutions and to convince the management for environment improvement
f) Social media should be used to create awareness in society about needs of PWD, love & kind words needed by them.
g) Parents should try to train their children for self-employment. Information Technology (IT) can be one of the sectors where PWD can earn a respectable living without exposing themselves. In this regard disabled males / females having knowledge of computer& IT cannot only be helpful for others by teaching but can also earn for a respectable life.
h) There is quite possibility that an effort started by a dejected parent will at some later stage force government machinery to start thinking for PWD in a developing country also like Pakistan. This will only be possible after a moral pressure on public representatives sitting in Parliaments is built.
All the above suggestive measures when started by some parents from their homes will solve some of their problems soon while many of their worries be over with passage of time. All these efforts by some parents will surely play an important role in building a new environment and a society just like in developed countries.
Suggestive measures at Public Sector
Concrete measures at government level are required on war basis. Due to deficiency of resources the desired results cannot be achieved without support and cooperation of private sector, NGO, media and civil society Government should create awareness in society about PWDs through national & social media. In my view following decisions& steps should be immediately taken by government.
a) All big private schools in both urban & rural areas having sufficient area be ordered to have separate section in each campus for at least one type of special children. For this purpose, Govt should recruit both males & females in low cadre as well as faculty staff having experience of special education. These government employees should be posted in different private schools. This public private partnership will not only give relief to parents, give quality education in better environment and will also build confidence of special children
b) Private sector should be encouraged and financed to open model schools for disabled children.
c) Training courses should be conducted for both male & female qualified persons having experience in special education.
d) Arrangements should be done to train PWDs in fields as per their aptitude and qualification so that they can either be self-employed or get some job.
e) Encouragement of small based institutes or offices to train special youngsters in I (Information Technology) and online jobs & business. This will help PWDs to earn sufficient money without exposing themselves.
f) Private Sector business community should be rewarded by government for giving on job training and employing under some specific quota This will help in solving financial problems of many PWDs.
g) New construction of all buildings whether in public or private should not be allowed unless provision of special lifts & bathrooms is not made available
h) Short public service messages should be run on National network to create awareness about role and needs of PWDs in society. In this regard services of religious scholars should be taken
i) Health coverage policy should be introduced for PWDs and for families having special children. In this regard present PTI government has taken some measures. As per a report of The Dawn dated August 18,2019 Prime Minister Imran Khan announced issuance of Seat Sahulat cards to PWDs and their families on priority basis. The amount of health coverage under this card should be enhanced for PWDs and special children. This card policy should be made a part of constitution so that any next government may not discontinue it.
j) Monthly income plan for PWDs and children should be introduced by government under some Insurance policy program. As per Tr
k) bone report dated December 3, 2020 PTI government announced monthly stipend of Rs2000/per month for unemployed disabled persons but it is not sufficient. It is just like playing with their sentiments.
l) Different plans of monthly income program can be given like
1) For parents who can afford and pay the premium till they are alive. Monthly stipend to start after parent’s death and continue in their life. 2) Plans can be offered to PWDs who are employed to cover later days of their life. 3) Plans for the private sector who employ PWDs to cover the time when they fell sick or have no job due to disability.
m) NGO should have morale boosting, counselling & confidence building programs for parents of PWDs.
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All the above are my suggestions which are available on ground and are being practiced in many developed countries for the benefit of special children and PWDs. These facilities have not only given better status to disabled persons in those countries but also improved quality of life. These changes in Pakistan would surely be not an easy task and would only be possible through proper legislation in parliament. Educated youth through social media can play its role and put pressure on establishment, bureaucracy and their representatives sitting in both provincial& National Assemblies.
