Disability Not Inability

  “Disability is not inability” was the closing statement of the team’s first active guided learning session, which was centred on the importance of equal rights and opportunities for those who are disabled as well as disability acceptance in Ghana.

Our team of volunteers from Ghana and UK working to provide business support to local enterprises took time off normal work schedule to interact with pupils of Bagabaga Primary School, Tamale, and encouraged accepting people with disability as a shared responsibility. The team delivered a presentation which explored three extraordinary people whom had all achieved great things in history. One by one, we read each of their brief biographies, informing the children of each individual’s achievements.

Volunteers explaining presentations to pupils

Our first individual was Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32^nd and longest serving President of the United States of America who is regarded a great role model and leader by the American people. Facts were told of his life as the President of the United States, through the struggle of the great depression and his successes in power. Each member of the group then went onto explain some of those successes and the children were highly impressed.

Next, was Stephen Hawking, a physics genius from Oxford, England. Just like with Roosevelt’s bio, the team shared some facts about Hawkins’ life, discussing his early years as a student and young physics protégé. The children were also told the long list of prestigious awards and recognition Hawking’s received throughout his life from all over the globe and, once again, the children were most impressed.

Finally, the team told the story of an individual from right here in Ghana. This man, considered an integral pillar of the community, is Henry Siedu Daanaa. Daanaa is a lawyer and the Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs of Ghana and once again the volunteers explored his successes in life and his ability to rise to assume such position despite all odds.

“Can anybody tell us what these individuals all have in common?” we asked the class.

Student enthusiastically making a point 

All of the individuals, at some point of their lives, experienced a disability. Roosevelt experienced Polio in his later life, Hawkings developed ALS as a young man which gradually disabled his nervous system and finally Daanaa was visually impaired and became the first blind Ghanaian lawyer. The team decided to leave these facts out of each profile, not to shock the children that people with disabilities can succeed, but more that each of these individuals achieved the things they did because of disability rights and public acceptance and support. Without that acceptance, or with the absence of simple human rights and equal opportunities, the World would have been deprived of a leader, a genius and a lawyer who never let his disability affect his dream.

Volunteers keeping students engaged

The team feel that we made a positive impact on the children of Bagabaga Primary School and sensitised them on what disability actually means. There is no time to marginalise and stigmatise people based on appearances in this day and age and we feel that through sessions like this, we can get this message heard.

“My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn’t prevent you doing well, and don’t regret the things it interferes with. Don’t be disabled in spirit as well as physically.” -Stephen Hawking