Concept of Disability and Inclusive Education
Senior 2 · History
Concept of Disability and Inclusive Education
Lesson 2 of 4
20 min
Many impairments can be prevented, through vaccination, good care in pregnancy and at birth, safe roads and good nutrition. And many of the harmful consequences of disability can be prevented too, by removing barriers and discrimination. A good citizen works on both.
| When | Examples |
|---|---|
| Before birth | Genetic conditions; infections during pregnancy such as rubella; alcohol or drug use in pregnancy; poor nutrition, such as too little folic acid |
| During birth | Lack of oxygen during a difficult delivery; very premature birth; birth without skilled help |
| After birth | Diseases such as polio, meningitis, measles and cerebral malaria; untreated ear or eye infections; malnutrition (for example, lack of vitamin A can cause blindness); road, home and workplace accidents; violence and war; non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and stroke; ageing |
In Rwanda, many survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi live with physical and psychological injuries caused by violence.
For the person and family, disability can lead to exclusion from school, unemployment, poverty, stigma, low self-esteem, and greater risk of abuse. For society, it can mean lost talent and lost productivity. Most of these consequences come from barriers and discrimination, not from the impairment itself. When barriers fall, persons with disabilities study, work, lead and compete: Rwanda's sitting volleyball teams, for example, have represented the country at the Paralympic Games.
Preventing impairments never means treating persons with disabilities as problems. It means protecting health, while also removing barriers for everyone who already has an impairment.
Question: Explain how one cause of disability can be prevented.
Cause: polio, a viral infection that can paralyse the legs. How it happens: the virus spreads through contaminated food and water. Prevention: polio vaccination of every child, together with clean water and good hygiene. Mass vaccination is why polio cases have fallen by more than 99% worldwide since 1988.
Tip
Memory hook: "Before, During, After". Sort causes by when they happen: before birth, during birth, after birth. Then match each cause to a prevention measure.
Give one cause of impairment that happens before birth, one during birth, and one after birth.
Solution. Before: rubella infection in pregnancy. During: lack of oxygen in a difficult delivery. After: a road accident.
How does wearing a helmet on a moto prevent disability?
Solution. It protects the head in a crash, reducing brain injuries that can cause lasting physical or intellectual impairment.
"Unemployment among persons with disabilities is caused by their impairments." Correct this statement.
Solution. Unemployment is mainly caused by barriers: inaccessible workplaces, lack of education, and employers' prejudice. With these removed, many persons with disabilities work successfully.
Remember
Sources and credits
