May 6 - 8, 2002
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Providing Culturally Competent Disability Services
to Persons Born in other Countries May 6 - 8, 2002 |
Developing positive rehabilitation techniques: The African perspective
Matthew, S.
Sammino Internationals on Disability and Exchange (SIDE)
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Nigeria side-sial@justice.com
Abstract
Rehabilitation and development are integral partners in our search for progress; without them, institutions and civilization would be in chaos. Policymakers, service providers, researchers, donors and experts need to adopt positive rehabilitation and deve lopment techniques, to support goals with genuine objectives. Various development and rehabilitation programs, introduced in Africa to serve people with disabilities, have failed to achieve the desired goals. The establishment of manufacturing and industr ies, and its role in properly addressing the actual needs of Africans- affirmation of their socio-economic credibility- will be discussed. It is imperative to review past and present rehabilitation and development policies in Africa; the example of Nigeri a, in particular, will be described. To encourage the adoption of positive and stable rehabilitation techniques that will address the needs of African disabled community in its perspectives, Sammino Internationals on Disability and Exchange is engaged in collecting data on rehabilitation experiences, visiting key associations dedicated to serving people with disabilities, and interviewing the "street disabled".