Disability Discrimination
According to the research done by the UN in 2005, the number of people with physical disabilities is growing every year. More than 500 million people are psychologically and bodily damaged, of which every disabled individual has the same right and chances in the society like any other individual. Lebanese society takes the disability issue in a different way since it discriminates and abuses the disabled people in an unusual ways. The real reasons why Lebanese people and its culture discriminate against the physically disadvantaged are that the government is not imposing the laws to protect the rights of the disabled, the private and public sectors are not providing the necessary utilities and facilities, and the …show more content…
Obstacle-free access and barrier free public transport are essential requirements for persons with disabilities. Some of the utilities that both sectors must provide are replacing steps with ramps, providing accessible toilet facilities for disabled people and widening doorways to allow a wheelchair to pass through easily. However all of these facilities are not provided in Lebanon unfortunately. According to Chahine (2004) many disabled people feel humiliated by having the “special handicapped identification card” and remember that they are different from the others. Lakkis, a physically disabled woman, tries to explain how it is hard to vote at the elections that take place in old schools at the second or third floor, which her friends must carry her to just vote where it is a simple duty as an citizen. The government does not think about the disabled people who really actually care about the country and want to vote. Lakkis also shares her story where she lived in Czech Republic and didn’t need any assistance to cross the street or go to a movie. Also, Chahine states that it needs six years to renew and build new buildings that are accessible for the disabled people, according to George Xantos. Once again, the government failed to …show more content…
We must agree that more than the half of the Lebanese people don’t know how to act and show respect for the disabled people because of absence of awareness campaigns. Campaigning is an important factor to provide the necessary information and lead to social change. Many people, especially the Lebanese change their minds after listening to awareness campaigns and see that other people are actually protecting the rights of the disabled. Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union (LPHU) is a non-governmental organization that is built by and for people with disabilities. This organization has its mission which is to provide equal opportunities and quality of life like just any other human being. The question is that how strong is this union to help and protect the rights of the disabled people in Lebanon?! We are observing that the Lebanese government doesn’t really care about the disabled people, and that it’s why the number of unions must increase to help each other and save, and by save I mean protect and demand their basic needs just to live in a relaxed environment. We monitor only one or two awareness campaigns for disabled people each year which is not enough at all. The unions must be more creative when organizing a campaign, to attract people and to show that we
According to the research done by the UN in 2005, the number of people with physical disabilities is growing every year. More than 500 million people are psychologically and bodily damaged, of which every disabled individual has the same right and chances in the society like any other individual. Lebanese society takes the disability issue in a different way since it discriminates and abuses the disabled people in an unusual ways. The real reasons why Lebanese people and its culture discriminate against the physically disadvantaged are that the government is not imposing the laws to protect the rights of the disabled, the private and public sectors are not providing the necessary utilities and facilities, and the …show more content…
Obstacle-free access and barrier free public transport are essential requirements for persons with disabilities. Some of the utilities that both sectors must provide are replacing steps with ramps, providing accessible toilet facilities for disabled people and widening doorways to allow a wheelchair to pass through easily. However all of these facilities are not provided in Lebanon unfortunately. According to Chahine (2004) many disabled people feel humiliated by having the “special handicapped identification card” and remember that they are different from the others. Lakkis, a physically disabled woman, tries to explain how it is hard to vote at the elections that take place in old schools at the second or third floor, which her friends must carry her to just vote where it is a simple duty as an citizen. The government does not think about the disabled people who really actually care about the country and want to vote. Lakkis also shares her story where she lived in Czech Republic and didn’t need any assistance to cross the street or go to a movie. Also, Chahine states that it needs six years to renew and build new buildings that are accessible for the disabled people, according to George Xantos. Once again, the government failed to …show more content…
We must agree that more than the half of the Lebanese people don’t know how to act and show respect for the disabled people because of absence of awareness campaigns. Campaigning is an important factor to provide the necessary information and lead to social change. Many people, especially the Lebanese change their minds after listening to awareness campaigns and see that other people are actually protecting the rights of the disabled. Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union (LPHU) is a non-governmental organization that is built by and for people with disabilities. This organization has its mission which is to provide equal opportunities and quality of life like just any other human being. The question is that how strong is this union to help and protect the rights of the disabled people in Lebanon?! We are observing that the Lebanese government doesn’t really care about the disabled people, and that it’s why the number of unions must increase to help each other and save, and by save I mean protect and demand their basic needs just to live in a relaxed environment. We monitor only one or two awareness campaigns for disabled people each year which is not enough at all. The unions must be more creative when organizing a campaign, to attract people and to show that we