8th ASEAN Para Games Team Nila COURTS 1

DisAbilities Awareness

by Mr David Tan

THE DISABILITIES LANDSCAPE

• Over a billion people, about 15% of the world's population, have some form of disability.

• Between 110 million and 190 million adults have significant difficulties in functioning.

• Rates of disability are increasing due to population ageing and increases in chronic health conditions, among other causes.

• People with disabilities have less access to health care services and therefore experience unmet health care needs.

Key Facts from WHO (Dec 2014)

• No central registry to capture statistics

• Estimated about 3% or 100,000 have some form of disabilities

• Of the 70,000 adult (>18 years) PWDs, about 6,000 are in employment

• Ageing population. By 2030, 1 in 5 residents will be age 65 and above. (Adding Life to Years – MCYS 2009)

…in Singapore

VALUES OF SPORTS IN THE LIVES OF PWDS and its rehabilitative influences

Sports…promotes positive outcomes • Resilience, • Instill integrity and tolerance • Self discipline, spirit of winning and losing • Excellence • …most importantly, it can be fun.

Sport can play a key role in the lives and communities of people

with disabilities, the same as it can for people without a disability.

Numerous studies have revealed that physical activity and sport

participation result in improved functional status and quality of life

among people with disabilities.

Additionally, sport and physical activity has been linked to

improvements in self-confidence, social awareness and

self-esteem

…and for PWDs

Integration and changing attitudes of and towards PWDs

While sport has value in everyone's life, it is even more important in the life of a person with a disability.

This is because of the rehabilitative influence sport can have

not only on the physical body but also on rehabilitating integrating people with a disability into society.

Rehabilitative Influences

UNDERSTANDING DISABILTY

Who is a person with disability?

Singapore’s definition…

“…those whose prospects of securing, retaining

places and advancing in education and training institutions,

employment and recreation as equal members of the

community are substantially reduced as a result of physical,

sensory, intellectual and developmental impairments”.

Enabling Master Plan 2007 – 2011, Chapter 1

Definition of ‘Disability’

WHAT IS A DISABILITY ?

Disability is NOT Inability

Disability is a result of impairments…

Sensory Disability

Hearing

• Partial

• Full hearing loss (i.e. profound deafness)

• Sometimes accompanied by speech impairment

Visual

• Blindness

< 3/60 (10/200) or corresponding visual field loss in better eye

• Low vision

< 6/18 (20/60) but equal or better than 3/60 in better eye

• Colour vision deficiencies

Down Syndrome

• Genetic condition

• Not a disease

Intellectual Quotient

• Mild intellectual disability IQ between 50 – 70

• Moderate to Severe intellectual disability IQ below 50

Intellectual Disability

Developmental Disability

Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Lifelong developmental disability

• 3 main areas of difficulty:

Language & Social

Communication

• Talk about own interest regardless of listener’s response

Social Interaction

• Unaware of others’ feelings and responses

Social Imagination (flexibility of

thoughts)

• Difficulty in accepting changes

Developmental Disability

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

• Generally considered a neurobiological disorder

• 3 types of characteristics:

Type I

• Combined characteristics of hyperactivity, impulsivity & inattention

Type II

• Inattention as primary characteristic

Type III

• Hyperactivity & impulsivity as primary characteristics

Physical Disability

Congenital / Hereditary

• Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

• Cerebral Palsy

• Spina Bifida

• Osteogebesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bones)

• Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Acquired

• Accidents Traffic, workplace/industrial

• Infections e.g. infection in limbs of person with diabetes

• Other Medical Conditions e.g. stroke

SPECTRUM

Degree of Disability

MILD Individual may require little or no support with specific activities

MODERATE Individual may require considerable support with some activities

SIGNIFICANT

Individual may require substantial support with day-to-day activities

BASIC DISABILITY ETIQUETTE

Avoid Using X

• Disabled Person

• Person suffering from…, victim of…

• Disabled children

• Autistic persons

• Physically disabled, crippled, invalid, lame

• Wheelchair bound

• Mentally retarded, intellectually disabled

• Spastic

• Deaf and dumb, deaf and mute

• Normal

Instead, Use

• Persons with disabilities

• Person who has

• Children with special needs

• Persons with autism

• Persons with physically disabilities

• Wheelchair user

• Persons with intellectual disabilities

• Persons with cerebral palsy

• Deaf, hard of hearing

• Persons without disabilities

Terminology Tips

Most of us are unsure how to act or help a person with disability…

Basic Disability Etiquette

Some Basics…

• Ask before you help

• Be sensitive about physical contact

• Think before you speak

• Avoid making assumptions

• Be age and gender appropriate

Basic Disability Etiquette

Basic pointers for interacting with a person using a wheelchair

• A wheelchair generally is considered part of the user's personal space; refrain from touching it without asking first.

• If you offer assistance, wait until the offer is accepted. Then listen or ask for instructions.

• Place yourself at eye level when speaking with someone in a wheelchair or on crutches.

Basic Disability Etiquette

Basic pointers for interacting with a blind person or a person who is visually impaired

• Identify yourself first before making any physical contact, offer your arm if they wanted to be guided rather than grabbing their arms.

• Offer to read written information.

• Give specific, non-visual information.

• If you need to leave a person who is blind, inform him and let him know where he is at that point in time. The middle of a room or road will seem like the middle of nowhere.

Basic Disability Etiquette

Basic pointers for interacting with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing

• Rephrase what you are saying rather than repeat. And if the person is using a sign -language interpreter, look directly at the person who is Deaf while you speak.

• One of the most annoying things for a Deaf person is when a hearing person responds immediately to sounds (like telephone or someone calling) while in conversation with the Deaf person.

Basic Disability Etiquette

Basic pointers for interacting with a person who has an intellectual disablity

• Don't talk down to them.

• Maintain eye contact.

• Speak directly to the person and not the care-giver.

• Consult the person instead of making decisions on his/her behalf.

• Consider the information you are trying to convey, if it's too complicated, break down the message and use clear language.

SOCIAL BARRIERS

Disability does not only lie in individuals’ impairment but occurs

as well as a result of social barriers, which include

discriminatory provisions;

People are disabled by society, not just by their bodies

Social barriers

Simply put:

Social barriers or restrictions preventing PWDs from

having equal opportunities to participate…

Social barriers

Social barriers can be grouped into 4 categories:

• Physical • Attitudinal • Information and communication • Systematic

Social barriers

• Physical

• Attitudinal

• Information & Communication

• Systematic

Social barriers

Physical Barriers

• Not applying universal designs

• Staircases, Grab Bars…

• Narrow & Cluttered Pathways

• Poor Lightings

• Wet & Slippery Floors

• Inadequate Signages, Tactiles, Colour Contrast

• Lack of Visual Alarms

Social barriers

Attitudinal Barriers

• Ignorance Assume PWDs are not able to undertake certain tasks

• Pity PWDs do not want charity or pity, they want equal opportunities

• Fear Avoid interacting with PWDs for fear of saying or doing the wrong things

Social barriers

Information & Communication Barriers

• Audio announcement without visual cues; videos without subtitles

• Print and digital materials not available on/for screen reader

Social barriers

Systematic (Organisational) Barriers

• …Systems & processes that exclude PWDs, in terms of policies, procedures and practices

TIPS ON INTERACTING WITH PWDS

…with physical or mobility disabilities

• When talking at length to a person who uses a wheelchair or crutches, sit in a chair, whenever possible, in order to put yourself at the person’s eye level to facilitate conversation.

• Do not speak loudly and slowly to an individual in a wheelchair unless you know that doing so is necessary to communicate.

• Be considerate of people’s assistive equipment. Some people with disabilities may use various equipment (e.g., canes, wheelchairs, speech synthesizers) for assistance. Do not touch or operate the equipment without the owner’s prior consent or instructions, as such behavior is disrespectful and shows careless regard for the owner’s personal property or space.

• When introduced to a person with a disability, it is appropriate to offer to shake hands. People with limited hand use or who wear an artificial limb can usually shake hands. (Shaking hands with the left hand is an acceptable greeting.)

• Treat adults as adults. Address people who have disabilities by their first names only when extending the same familiarity to all others. Never patronize people who use wheelchairs by patting them on the head or shoulder.

…with an intellectual or developmental disability

• Speak directly to the person and respect their expressed preferences as to choices or decisions.

• For some individuals, if you are in a public area with many distractions, consider moving to a quiet or private location.

• Be aware of the possible need to speak to the person in clear and short sentences. Repeat your information and your questions, as needed. Use concrete words and visual aids or color-based cues.

• It may be helpful to offer assistance completing forms or understanding written instructions, and provide extra time for decision-making. Wait for the individual to accept the offer of assistance; do not "over-assist" or be patronizing.

…with a non-apparent disability

• A person’s disability may not be readily apparent. For example, people with brain injury, epilepsy, mental illness, autism, or developmental disability are often misunderstood because their behaviors or ways of communicating may appear “unusual.”

• Be cautious about interpreting behavior. For example, the actions of people with cerebral palsy or epilepsy have been mistaken for drunkenness.

• What seems like unusual behavior could be the result of the person’s hearing loss, or it could be the person’s lack of understanding or fear.

• Allow extra time for the person to process what you are saying and to respond.

• Be very cautious about seeking the assistance of the person’s companion, caregiver, or personal assistant. While this individual may be able to assist you with communication and interpreting the person’s meaning and/or responding to behaviors, it is easy to make an incorrect assumption and fail to communicate directly with the individual.

…who are blind

• When approaching a person who is blind, address them by name (if you know) or gently touch the forearm as you speak. This will indicate that you are directing your conversation towards her/him.

• It is common to shake hands when you first meet someone. Reaching out to take or grab a person’s hand can be uncomfortable and awkard. A more comfortable and dignified way is to simply ask “May I shake your hand”.

• Remember to inform a person who is blind that you will be leaving or away should you need to step away. Don’t leave them talking to thin air or the middle of nowhere. Ensure that they are left in contact with a tangible object as a reference point within their environment.

• When approaching a doorway, tell the person which direction the door opens. For example, “the door opens to the left and swings in towards us”.

• Pause or stop at the top or bottom landing of the stairs and verbalise “last step”.

…who are blind

• Never use an escalator or moving sidewalk without first determining whether the person is comfortable using these.

• Alert the blind person about curbs, whether stepping up or down. Also when approaching irregularities in the terrain, i.e. stepping from concrete to grass, concrete to gravel or contoured sidewalk due to tree roads.

• Always push chairs into a table; keep doors entirely opened or closed, never half ajar; Keep cupboard and cabinet doors closed.

• Once you have oriented the person with the surroundings, do not shift tables, chairs, dustbins and other objects around.

• It is very helpful and important to describe the surroundings to a person who is blind when you walking or travelling with them; describe the layout of a room, whether it is square or narrow, how many tables are there and how they are arranged. Just remember not to point, nods and shrugs, using phrases such as “over there” or “right there” as these are useless forms of communication.

…who are blind

REMEMBER THIS….people who are blind

think, feel and make decisions just as we do.

A person who is blind is an individual who has usually lost

only one sense

– the sense of sight.

Be natural and enjoy one another.