Welcome...

Hi there,

Welcome to the maiden edition of my blog Duchess discusses Disability. I hope you enjoy reading...

First, let’s take care of some housekeeping issues in the form of a few questions which I’m sure people will want answers to when they see this blog. 

1.      What is it about? It’s a blog where I’m going to be describing my experience as a woman with a disability; especially living in a ‘disability-unfriendly’ country like Nigeria. I’m going to be sharing deep stuff, silly stuff, funny stuff, ‘how-to’ guides, statistics, real life experience, legal/policy issues, etc. All mostly my take on the disability environment in the country, and comparing it to the situation in other countries of the world, so in essence this is going to be much like a self-styled ‘Diary of a passionate woman living with a disability’, please note that ‘passionate’ here refers to zeal/enthusiasm not the other kind of ‘passionate’, lol… and those of you who know me well can be sure that this blog will be incomplete without a healthy dose of HUMOR and SARCASM! I'm a music lover so I'll also be dropping some good (especially old school) jams here a lot!

2.      Blog Name: Everyone calls me Duchess so when I decided to start this blog I thought to myself, hey! why not make the Duchess-nickname into the Duchess-brand name, so here we are with a blog called Duchess Discusses Disability. However for the avoidance of doubt as to who I am, my real name(s) is/are (whichever suits you) Irene Ojiugo Patrick-Ogbogu.

3.      Vocabulary: Thirdly, don’t laugh, snigger or whatever when I use words like wanna, gonna , worreva, etc,… it’s the American in me trying to come out but I’ll try to keep her in check. I’m also prone to using exclamations like Kai! Chei! Eh! Damn! So bear that in mind too… Don’t fret! I also speak very good English and will do so when the need arises. I also use the word HOT to describe persons I think are really good-looking… That’s about it for ‘vocabs to expect’.

4.      Another thing is the WHY behind this blog. Well I must say that in Nigeria, the knowledge of needs, challenges and potentials of PWDs is really low even among the educated elite. By the way, wherever you see PWD it means Person with Disability, and WWD means woman with disability. As I was saying, I feel challenged seeing PWDs live unfulfilling lives and helplessly grappling with enormous challenges simply because we have an insensitive government and ignorant society. I have spent the last 17 years of my life in the non-profit sector advocating for human rights and better health and social conditions for vulnerable and marginalized groups. 2 years ago, I made the decision to use my knowledge, skills and experience as an advocate to bring better conditions to MY CONSTITUENCY…PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. Through this blog, I will keep you all updated on my personal and professional endeavors and successes/challenges, it is my hope that by reading this blog, you will become a passionate ADVOCATE too, not because you ‘pity’ the PWDs but because it is the RIGHT thing to do and because of that one basic fact of life which I always tell everyone..it takes a split second for an able bodied person to become a person with a disability! 

A quote I particularly love sharing with people is this…the moment we stop fighting for each other, that’s the moment we lose our humanity.

5.      I know there’s one more housekeeping thing but I can’t remember now, damn!

OK with that out of the way I have decided to start my maiden edition by educating the public on MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH DISABILITY. I chose this because, for me its important that people understand certain basic things about disability which will equip them with the right mindset for a re-orientation and position them for action. In a world where everybody is fighting some kind of stereotype, people with disabilities are no exception. The difference is that barriers PWDs face begin with people's attitudes — attitudes often rooted in misinformation and misunderstandings about what it's like to live with a disability. So here goes… after each myth statement, the fact of the matter is stated. Happy reading…

6.      Oh yea… now I remember the last housekeeping issue: your comments are very welcome, in fact I’m begging for them, but… PLS PLS PLS no insults or stupidity…I don’t react well to those…try your best to be respectful and sensitive to everyone you interact with here...

DISABILITY MYTHS AND CORRESPONDING FACTS

Myth 1: Disability is a devastating personal tragedy. 

Fact: The lives of disabled people are not tragic. What often disables people is the attitudes they encounter and the environment in which they live and work. 

Myth 2: All persons who use wheelchairs are chronically ill or sickly.

Fact: The association between wheelchair use and illness may have evolved through hospitals using wheelchairs to transport sick people. A person may use a wheelchair for a variety of reasons, none of which may have anything to do with lingering illness.

Myth 3: Wheelchair use is confining; people who use wheelchairs are "wheelchair-bound."

Fact: A wheelchair, like a bicycle or an automobile, is a personal assistive device that enables someone to get around.

Myth 4: All persons with hearing disabilities can read lips.

Fact: Lip-reading skills vary among people who use them and are never entirely reliable. For clear and efficient communication many deaf people will need services such as sign language interpreters, lip readers, lip speakers and speech to text.

Myth 5: People who are blind acquire a "sixth sense." 

Fact: Although most people who are blind develop their remaining senses more fully, they do not have a "sixth sense."

Myth 6: People with disabilities are more comfortable with "their own kind."

Fact: In the past, grouping people with disabilities in separate schools and institutions reinforced this misconception. Today, many people with disabilities take advantage of new opportunities to join mainstream society.

Myth 7: Non-disabled people are obligated to "take care of" people with disabilities. 

Fact: Anyone may offer assistance, but most people with disabilities prefer to be responsible for themselves.

Myth 8: Curious children should never ask people about their disabilities.

Fact: Many children have a natural, uninhibited curiosity and may ask questions that some adults consider embarrassing. But scolding curious children may make them think having a disability is "wrong" or "bad." Most people with disabilities won't mind answering a child's question.

Myth 9: The lives of people with disabilities are totally different than the lives of people without disabilities.

Fact: People with disabilities go to school, get married, work, have families, do laundry, grocery shop, laugh, cry, pay taxes, get angry, have prejudices, vote, plan and dream like everyone else.

Myth 10: It is all right for people without disabilities to park in accessible parking spaces, if only for a few minutes.

Fact: Because accessible parking spaces are designed and situated to meet the needs of people who have disabilities, these spaces should only be used by people who need them.

Myth 11: Most people with disabilities cannot have sexual relationships. 

Fact: Anyone can have a sexual relationship by adapting the sexual activity. People with disabilities can have children naturally or through adoption. People with disabilities, like other people, are sexual beings.

Myth 12: People with disabilities always need help.

Fact: Many people with disabilities are independent and capable of giving help. If you would like to help someone with a disability, ask if he or she needs it before you act.

Myth 13: There are disabled people who are 'uneducable'.

Fact: Disabled people reflect the same range of academic ability as non-disabled people, with some achieving high qualifications and undertaking high level jobs.

Myth 14: There is nothing one person can do to help eliminate the barriers confronting people with disabilities. 

Fact: Everyone can contribute to change. You can help remove barriers by:

·         Understanding the need for accessible parking and leaving it for those who need it

·         Encouraging participation of people with disabilities in community activities by using accessible meeting and event sites

·         Understanding children's curiosity about disabilities and people who have them

·         Advocating a barrier-free environment

·         Speaking up when negative words or phrases are used about disability

·         Writing producers and editors a note of support when they portray someone with a disability as a "regular person" in the media

·   Accepting people with disabilities as individuals capable of the same needs and feelings as yourself, and hiring qualified disabled persons whenever possible