Handicap International experience in Afghanistan - CBM

Figure 53: Distribution of Persons with Disability According to Reasons ofNon-Participation in Ceremonies by Types of Disability504540• Physical Disability• Mental Disability• Epilepsy and Forms of Seizures• Sensorial Disability• Associated Disabilities35302520151050I was notInvitedTransportor AccessProblemI am tooAshamed toParticipateTheCeremonywas BoringBecause itDisappointsMeNobodyWould TakeMeOther/Don’tKnowPersons with disability face a larger variety of problems. The 11.2% that stated that they were not invitedcan be considered together with 17.4% who state that nobody would take them. Many answers show thereis a certain effect of non-acceptance that leads to a feeling of shame in being with others: 9.5% declaredopenly that they were ashamed to participate, another 10.7% that it disappoints them and 7.0% that theygot bored. In other words, they did not feel at ease with other people. Not being fully accepted, 55.8% ofthem feel shunned in one way or another.Looking at the breakdown by types of disability as shown in Figure 53, the main problem for persons withphysical difficulties is access to or at the venue (45.5%). Transport is also stated as the main problem for42.6% of persons with sensorial disability. Persons with mental disability state that either they were notinvited or nobody would take them to the celebration. These latter reasons are also stated by persons havingepilepsy or seizures.It is difficult to completely grasp what participating in these ceremonies clearly implies in terms of acceptanceand inclusion. On one hand participating in these celebrations is related to having certain visibility within thefamily and the community. However, apart from problems of physical access and transport (which is sharedby the non-disabled as well) there is a certain level of ‘exclusion’ of the mentally disabled. Nevertheless,whatever is the reason for it, the absence from major ceremonies that are inherent to Afghan social life is asign of ostracism and isolation.Whatever is thereason for it, theabsence frommajor ceremoniesthat are inherentto Afghan sociallife is a sign ofostracism andisolationFigure 54: Distribution of Persons with Disability and Non-Disabled According toPerception of the Future by Sex, Areas of Living and Causes of Disability8070605040• Women with Disability• Non-Disabled Women• Men with Disability• Non-Disabled Men8070605040• Rural Area Persons withDisability• Urban Area Persons withDisability• Rural Area Non-Disabled• Urban Area Non-Disabled3030202010100The Sameas TodayBetter thanTodayWorsethan TodayDon’tKnow0The sameas TodayBetter thanTodayWorsethan TodayDon’tKnowSocial Participation and Future Prospects69