Disability Inclusion

Disability Inclusion, Braille, Sign Language, and Awareness Training.

Our Trainer
Deborah Tigere is a multi-award-winning Director, Thought Leader in
Disability Inclusive Development, Author and Life Coach. Deborah is the
Founder and Executive Director of Vision Ability Zimbabwe, a disability
Inclusive Development Organization. She has over 10 years’ experience in
leadership, advocacy, policy formulation, capacity development and
managing programmes. Deborah is a member of several national,
regional and international steering committees. She is the Zimbabwe
Country Representative for CBR Africa Network, an independent Non-
Governmental Organization that facilitates network and information
sharing on disability, Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) and
inclusive development in Africa.

Awards:

Zimbabwe CEO’s Network 2024 Outstanding Country Director in

Zimbabwe - Gold Winner
Business Connect 2023 Iconic and Pacesetter Award
Phoenix Publishing 2023 Book Awards, Leadership Colouration,
Personal Development Category
Megafest Holdings 2023 Outstanding Woman in Business of the Year
Institute of Directors Zimbabwe, 2020 Director of the Year- NGOs and
Civil Society
Institute of Directors Zimbabwe - 2020 Woman Director of the Year
People with disabilities, though
diverse in their experiences form a
significant and often
underrepresented demographic
globally.

In my presentation, I will make

reference to the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)
among other references. The
words people with disabilities or
persons with disabilities will be
used interchangeably.
Presentation Outline

Definition of Disability
Types of Impairment
Barriers to Disability Inclusion
Causes of Impairment
Models of Disability
The principle of Non-Discrimination
Accessibility
Reasonable Accommodation
Braille, & Sign Language
How to include Persons with Disabilities in LEO club activities and projects.
What is Disability?
The word disability is synonymous with the following words: impairment,
incapacity, limitation, inability, challenge, condition…

The definition according to UNCRPD is long term physical, mental,

intellectual or sensory impairment which in interaction with various
barriers may hinder the full and effective participation in society on an
equal basis with others. Therefore, the interaction between impairment
and barriers in society is disability, and that interaction prevents
participation on an equal basis with others. Disability is not homogeneous,
therefore the experiences of a girl, boy, men or woman with disabilities will
vary, taking into account the environment.

Therefore:
Impairment + barriers = disability
Impairment + accessible environment + non discrimination = inclusion
 Types of Impairment
Other disabilities that have not been
classified in the below categories :
albinism, epilepsy
Sensory Mental

Neurological disorder that affects the human brain A mental disorder characterized by a clinically
to process sensory information e.g. sight, hearing, significant disturbance in an individual’s
taste, touch, and smell. Examples are deafness, hard cognitive, emotional regulation or behavior.
of hearing, blindness, low vision, & speech Mental health conditions include anxiety,
impairment. depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia.

Physical Intellectual

Long term loss or impairment of part of a person’s Refers to difficulty in learning, understanding,
body function leading to a limitation of physical communicating or retaining information. Usually there is
functioning, mobility or stamina. An individual may significantly below average functioning of overall
experience challenges walking, sitting or standing, intelligence that exists in addition to deficits in adaptive
using their hands or muscle control. behavior, affecting educational performance.
Causes of Impairment

Complications during pregnancy

Injuries
Poverty and malnutrition
Disease and illness
Poor access to health care
Medicines and injections
Poor working conditions
 Barriers to Disability Inclusion

Physical and Environmental Barriers

Inaccessible buildings and infrastructure: Lack
of ramps, elevators, accessible bathrooms,
and signage in braille or other formats.
Transportation challenges: Public
transportation that isn’t wheelchair accessible
or doesn’t offer accommodations for people
with visual, hearing, or cognitive impairments.
Inaccessible technology: Websites,
applications , or devices that are not designed
for users with visual, auditory, or motor
impairments.
 Barriers to Disability Inclusion
Attitudinal Barriers
Stigma and prejudice: Negative
stereotypes, discrimination, or
misconceptions about people with
disabilities (e.g., assuming they are less
capable).
Ableism: The belief that able-bodied
people are superior, leading to unequal
treatment of people with disabilities.
Lack of awareness: People may not
understand the needs of individuals with
disabilities, leading to a lack of
accommodations.
 Barriers to Disability Inclusion
Communication Barrier
Lack of accessible
communication: Absence of sign
language interpreters, captioning,
or assistive technologies like
screen readers for people with
hearing, visual, or cognitive
impairments.
Complex language: Written or
spoken communication that is too
complex or not presented in an
accessible format for individuals
with cognitive disabilities.
 Barriers to Disability Inclusion
Systemic Barriers
Discriminatory policies: Laws, regulations,
or workplace policies that don’t support
equal access for people with disabilities.
Inadequate support services: Lack of
resources like personal assistance,
adaptive equipment, or vocational
rehabilitation services.
Lack of inclusive education: Schools and
universities that don’t provide
accommodations, resulting in limited
educational opportunities for students
with disabilities.
 Barriers to Disability Inclusion

Economic Barriers:
Employment discrimination: People with
disabilities often face higher
unemployment rates and difficulties in
accessing equal job opportunities.
Poverty: Disability can contribute to
economic hardship due to extra costs
associated with healthcare, assistive
devices, and accommodations, along
with limited job prospects
 Barriers to Disability Inclusion
Cultural Barriers:
Exclusion from community life: Cultural practices or societal norms may exclude
people with disabilities from participating in social, religious, or recreational
activities.
Underrepresentation in media: Lack of accurate and diverse representation of
people with disabilities in media and popular culture can perpetuate stereotypes
and exclusion.
Addressing these barriers requires systemic changes, increased awareness, and the
implementation of inclusive practices that ensure people with disabilities can
participate fully in society.
Equality and Non-discrimination
Article 5 of the CRPD

✍️All persons are equal before

and under the law and entitled
without any discrimination equal
protection and equal benefit of
the law.
✍️All discrimination on the basis
of disability shall be prohibited.
✍️The necessary steps shall be
taken to ensure reasonable
accommodation is provided.
 Common Models of Disability

Charity model Medical model

Views the person with a disability Focuses on the biological impairment which
as an object of pity. affects functionality, disability is seen as a
condition that requires medical treatment.

Social model Human rights

Emphasizes that disability is created Promotes meaningful participation of

by societal barriers. Encourages people with disabilities, emphasizing
society to change their attitudes, inherent dignity for all.
perceptions and practices that hinder
participation of people with disabilities.
Accessibility: Article 9 of the CRPD

✍️Appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure persons with

disabilities live independently and participate fully in all aspects
of life on an equal basis as others;
✍️Ensure access to the physical environment, transportation,
information and communication, technologies and systems.
✍️Identify and eliminate obstacles, barriers to accessibility.
✍️Private and public facilities and services should take into
account aspects of accessibility.
✍️Provide training to stakeholders on accessibility and issues
facing persons with disabilities.

Forms of accessibility include:

Public signage in braille, accessibility into buildings such as
ramps, grab rails, lifts, accessible information in easy to read
format …..
Reasonable Accommodation
The CRPD defines reasonable accommodation as appropriate
modifications and adjustments that ensure persons with
disabilities get enjoyment on an equal basis as others all
human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Types of reasonable accommodation vary with the individual,
examples include: Assistive technology, sign language
interpreter, personal assistants, adapted sports, flexible time
in work environments, additional time provided during an
exam….
Reasonable accommodation plays a key role in facilitating
accessibility. The difference between reasonable
accommodation and accessibility is that reasonable
accommodation is specific to an individual and tailored to the
specific needs while accessibility includes all people ensuring
that environments, services, products and services are used
by all to the greatest extent possible.
Sign Language
Sign languages vary significantly from country to country, just as
spoken languages do. Each country (and sometimes regions within
a country) tends to have its own distinct sign language, with its own
grammar, syntax, and vocabulary.
Most of us are familiar with the finger spelling.
Fingerspelling: Most sign languages incorporate some form of
fingerspelling for names and specific terms, but the alphabet and
style of fingerspelling can vary. i.e American Sign Language uses a
one-handed alphabet, while British Sign Language uses two hands.
Cultural and Regional Variations: Even within one country, regional
dialects exist in sign language, influenced by local cultures and
communities. Signers from different regions or schools may use
slightly different signs for the same concepts.
Non-Manual Signals: Non-manual markers like facial expressions,
head movements, and body language also vary. These play a
crucial role in expressing tone, questions, negation, & more and their
use can differ between sign languages.
These differences mean that a signer fluent in one sign language
might not easily understand another, just like with spoken
languages.
 HOW TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
IN LEO PROJECTS AND CLUB ACTIVITIES
Accessibility
Physical Access: Ensure meeting locations
are physically accessible (ramps,
elevators, accessible bathrooms, etc.).
Digital Access: Provide accessible digital
platforms (such as websites and
documents compatible with screen
readers, captions in videos, and
alternative text for images).
Communication: Use clear, simple
language and consider providing
materials in multiple formats (e.g., large
print, braille, or audio).
 HOW TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
IN LEO PROJECTS AND CLUB ACTIVITIES
Adaptations and Accommodations

Offer reasonable accommodations

tailored to the needs of individuals
with disabilities, such as flexible
schedules, alternative participation
methods (e.g., online), or assistive
technologies.
Provide sign language interpreters,
captioning, or other communication
support as needed.
 HOW TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN
LEO PROJECTS AND CLUB ACTIVITIES

Inclusive Practices

Invite Feedback: Regularly ask for

feedback from people with disabilities
about how inclusive the environment
is and how it can improve.
Representation: Actively involve
people with disabilities in decision-
making processes and leadership
roles to ensure their voices are heard.
Tailored Roles: Consider the unique
strengths of individuals with
disabilities and create roles that
leverage these skills.
 HOW TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
IN LEO PROJECTS AND CLUB ACTIVITIES
Awareness and Sensitivity Training

Educate members about disabilities to

break down stereotypes and
misconceptions. Offer training on disability
awareness, language, and etiquette.

Foster a Culture of Respect and Inclusion

Promote a culture that values diversity and

inclusion. Encourage open dialogue and
discourage discrimination or exclusionary
behavior.
Focus on abilities and contributions rather
than limitations.
 HOW TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
IN LEO PROJECTS AND CLUB ACTIVITIES
Organizations like Gross Care International import and
supply braille consumables locally. We can recruit
them via Organizations of Persons with Disabilities or
their Federations for more partnerships.
Zimbabwe has a National Disability Policy that was
launched in 2021 and will be enacted into law through
the Disability Bill that is now at an advanced stage.
Several strategies have been developed eg. National
Assistive Technology Strategy etc. The focus, however,
should be beyond policy but rather practice.
Understanding the disability language is important. If
you are not sure, always ask the person with a
disability. However, we use persons with disabilities or
people with disabilities. Avoid saying people living with
disabilities.
Compiled by the D412A LEOs Global Service Team