Changing Attitudes to Disability in Uganda

This is a short film about the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Uganda. It discusses the work of lawyers that are fighting to make buildings accessible, and also get TV channels to have sign language for important news bulletins. The film asks: What is the value of a PWD? What are the rights of PWDs?

This is a joint project of the Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA) and the Open Society's Disability Rights Initiative (DRI). The Disability Rights Initiative promotes national implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Transforming the Lives of Deaf People in Uganda

As I learn about disability in Uganda, I begin to see many common themes. Today I am reading about deafness. 

The Borgen Project describes all too familiar cultural attitudes that "contribute to the lack of urgency when it comes to deaf children’s education." The article continues describing harmful stereotypes that are associated with deafness. Where deafness is often seen 

as an act of fate or a sign of God’s punishment. Deaf children are often hidden because they are considered a source of familial shame. They may also be pitied and seen as burdensome and helpless, which can result in abuse such as sexual violence towards deaf women.
These negative attitudes generally increase the isolation of deaf children and feed into the stigmatization of deafness. Governmental policies that fail to protect the Deaf from discrimination, as well as derogatory language similar to the English phrase “deaf and dumb”, are manifestations of this stigmatization. 

There is little doubt that deaf people in Uganda are poorly understood and heavily stigmatized. SignHealth sums up the issues:

Discrimination and victimisation: In Uganda, deafness is little understood by society. Deaf people face significant discrimination and victimisation. Stigma and cultural taboos surrounding deafness mean that deaf people are among the most marginalised and disadvantaged groups in the developing world.
Isolation: Many deaf children are not taught signing skills, a language they can understand. As a result, they are unable to communicate with or understand the world around them. They are isolated, even from their loved ones, and are often abandoned by their families and communities.
Lack of education: 65% of deaf children in Uganda do not attend school or receive a basic education.
Poor health: Communication difficulties and discrimination mean that deaf people living in impoverished regions of Uganda are unable to access services to meet even their most basic needs. Lack of healthcare, for example, can have devastating consequences for vulnerable people. Abuse, victimisation and isolation can lead to behavioural and mental health issues.

Whilst these attitudes are all too familiar and rather depressing, I found this video on YouTube which cheered me up.Take some time to watch this video about a boy that has never been taught sign language and is unable to communicate with people around hin. See how being able to communicate can transform a life.