Accessibility and Human Rights

This video is about the fundamental human rights of disabled people to access education, hospitals, courts and other vital services non disabled take for granted.

HIV/AIDS and Disability in Uganda

Many disabled people are HIV positive.

There is a myth that disabled people do not have sexual intercourse. The reality is that persons with disabilities (PWDs) are often in relationships without emotional commitment, the relationship is not long lasting. PWDs often have multiple partners. Another myth is that if you sleep with a PWD you will cure your HIV.

The following points were made:

• PWDs with HIV/AIDS have a double stigma. 
• The services PWDs need to access are often in places that are difficult to reach.
• The deaf fear that their translators will not keep their health status confidential.
• PWDs are often unaware of their rights.
• Uganda has very good disability rights law.

There are 3 organisations working to inform both PWDs of their rights and health service providers of their responsibilities.

Children With Disabilities (CWDs)

I am researching about people with disabilities (PWDS) in Uganda. Today I was discussing the plight of children with disabilities (CWDs) with a friend. I was told that families often hide their disabled children.

To follow up our talk I did some research. It didn't take me long to find the following information:

people with disabilities are not treated very well in Uganda, (they are) often neglected and severely malnourished. Jackson Kayak Blog

It is tough for parents bringing up disabled children. I was shocked by the opening sentence of this paragraph. I think it is terrible to be surprised that the care that is a right is an exception. 

There are some surprising cases of parents taking really wonderful care of their disabled children even with no knowledge of how best to care for them, however this is the exception not the rule. Jackson Kayak Blog

 It is tragic that ignorance carries so much weight.

Some parents think their children have been cursed, some parents are ashamed of their children and some parents think they have done something wrong to end up with a disabled child.  Jackson Kayak Blog

 Disability Support Uganda (DiSU) works at grassroots challenging ignorance.
Children With Disabilities Uganda

Challenges of the Disabled

Disabled people face all kinds of challenges. This woman who was rejected by her family because she is blind. The article reads:

Ms Florence Faith Lagum uses the white cane to make her way around Gulu Town recently. Her relatives chased her from home over her blindness.

From: From Patriots in Uganda

It is common for disabled people to be chased away from their homes in Uganda.

DISU Exists to fight for the rights of disabled people and educate about issues affecting PWDs.