Are we humans or are we dancers?

Most of you remember the song. This is the song which is probably going on continuously in the heads of those who are mentally and even physically disabled.

No one wants to be left behind; no one wants to be forgotten. They all have a story to tell, they all want to be heard. No one wants to be left alone.

Those who can, wonder, why them? And almost all of them do NOT have the answer. We cannot help them find the answer, that is true but we can sure help ease the pain.

Remember; attention, love and support are all the things a person needs to remember that he or she is human. That is exactly what they want.

To come to think of it, most of the times, it’s what WE crave for as well. Are we any different then?

If we don’t get left behind, why should they? Think about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfWXwymjzaM

Jenny- A Symbol of Patience

Jenny in a delighted mood
to meet new friends

 “Every year I wait for Christmas because this is the time when my family comes and takes me home.” This was the hope that Jenny shared with me at Dar-ul-Sukoon while looking towards the door anxiously. Life for her is just waiting for her family every year. Is it her fault that she is not mentally fit? Is it her fault she minds work slower than others of her age? Is it fair to throw someone out of home because he/she is not mentally fit? People do so as they are afraid of their so-called social status and position in front of others.

Jenny-a woman with the age of 50 years was told that she is a child and keeping her alone at home is dangerous for her. She might get kidnapped when her brother, father and sister-in-law are in office. It was the reason given to Jenny in order to get rid of her by sending to Dar-ul-Sukoon. Now, Life for Jenny is to wait for just one day every year so that she can go home and meet her relatives. She was aware of all the festivals going on across the country. She knew about Eid which were few days before our visit. Also, she was aware of the dewali date which was yet to come and referring to that she counted the number of days left for Christmas. It was evident that her mental state was not that worse to leave her at a place like Dar-ul-sukoon.

Well, everything happens for a good reason and if Jenny’s relatives left her at Dar-ul-Sukoon it was surely good for her. May be they were unaware of her worth and importance. She is not mentally challenged but a woman with special qualities and strong will. People at Dar-ul-Sukoon need love and attention to share their problems with others. They need people who can sit with them and listen to their sad stories. Let’s give them few hours of our lives to change their lives.


Nasim Gul Soomro
SZABIST

Do you know?

Today’s fast competing and ever changing circumstances in the society has enforced the individuals to understand the market dynamics and to study different dimensions of life. The abilities and potentials of mentally disabled children have not been recognized and fully explored which is a loss to the society, if discovered and properly channelized they can contribute to the development of society. Dar-ul-Sukun had so many people there of different ages and majority of them posses the capacity to do many things like we do as a normal human being. These children are given special care, many old women over there devote their time to these people, and hence, helped them in grooming themselves and to become a respectable and a well mannered person.

Many researches have been conducted on mentally disabled children. These researches have been conducted in various countries based on different criteria’s. According to the research done by Dr. Frank R. Wilson, assistant clinical professor of neurology at the University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, which stated that if a child learns to play a musical instrument it will help him to develop faster physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. He even concludes that this instrument helps to improve coordination, concentration, memory and improvement in eyesight and hearing as well. Lastly he states in his research that achievement in music performance allows mentally handicapped children to achieve well in other areas and helps to build in self-confidence.

Internationally a lot of steps are taken to cater to the needs of people and forums have been made where these people can speak and interact with the rest of the world. This makes them feel as a part of society and enhances their learning process. An initiative to create an African Disability Forum is made where it will provide the platform to speak with one voice, interact with others, improve rights protection and will be open for the entire economy not only for organizations in Africa. Another is the World Programme of Action which is for all the nations and is aimed at promoting effective measures for prevention of disability and making citizens realize the full participation of disabled persons in social life and development and emphasizing on equality between all the members of the nation.

Thus, Pakistan should adopt these measures and should implement them. In this way it will provide a platform for the disabled children to raise their voice and to interact with the rest of the world. We should learn what steps are taken for the disabled people internationally and follow in their footsteps.

Zubeda Rafiq
SZABIST