A.The role of organizations of disabled people

Disabled people are becoming involved in the development process in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. The self-help philosophy, which disabled groups have used in their own organizations, is now being carried over to their method of doing development. Most important to these groups is the building of self esteem, confidence and skills for use among their own membership. It is in essence a process of empowerment that is very necessary if disabled people are to participate in the process of change.

In the interest of such empowerment, Disabled People's International began a leadership training program in 1982. The seminars have brought together disabled leaders and potential leaders at least twice in each of the developing regions. In these seminars disabled people experienced in management, budgeting, fundraising, drafting proposals and structuring projects share their knowledge with those who are less experienced. The premise behind these training seminars is that every person has the potential to be a leader. Tony Wong, a former DPI World Council member from Jamaica, stated:

I think it is a myth that leaders have special qualities. A leader is only somebody who knows his or her purpose in life. We think we must have special leaders only because we do not take responsibility for our own lives. I think that if we try to create an environment in which people can learn to take control of their own lives, we will have a community of leaders.¹⁹

To possess leadership qualities is to be confident, independent and to accurately and calmly assess situations and make decisions.

The leadership training seminars have empowered disabled people in two ways. First, they provide disabled people with skills with which to begin new organizations. It is the belief of DPI that disabled people must first band together for mutual support before they can begin to contribute to the socio-economic and cultural activities of their communities. Secondly, the leadership training experience promotes solidarity among disabled people as was observed by some of the participants in the Asia region:

"I felt powerless before the convention but coming here, I feel I have now got some knowledge, skills, contacts and enthusiasm to work for a better deal." "It helped create power for the people." "Knowing that you are not on your own is a very empowering bit of knowledge. It gives you a strange sense of security and the will to create change."²⁰

B.Socio-economic projects and disabled persons

One way that people with disabilities have been asserting control over their lives is through starting their own income and employment-generating projects. Within the last five years businesses have been started in every region. These projects are started, managed and maintained by disabled persons.

Information sharing between groups has facilitated new growth. For instance, when disabled people from Guyana travelled to Barbados in 1985, they met people from Jamaica, heard about their project, and returned home inspired to start their own business. In 1986, the Guyana Coalition of Citizens with Disability initiated a chicken hatchery with start-up funds from the international community. It is hoped the project will provide employment, food and income for several hundred disabled persons.²¹

DEEDS Industries of Jamaica is a wood products factory which was founded in 1983 by the Combined Disabilities Association of Jamaica. It employs about 80 workers of whom 50 percent are persons with disabilities. This business challenges the workshop model by showing how disabled people can work competitively with non-disabled persons. It also supplies much needed jobs for disabled Jamaicans and now generates funds for the Combined Disabilities Association. In El Salvador, disabled people run a ceramics business and in Costa Rica a group makes ornaments from leather and wood.²²

In Africa, disabled persons work at a variety of their own agricultural and crafts projects. The National Council of Disabled persons in Zimbabwe has started small vegetable and animal farming in rural areas.²³ There are also projects starting in Asia, such as the woodworking business begun by the Thailand Association of the Deaf.

Overall, not only do these projects support disabled persons and their families, but they build artisan managerial skills and self confidence in their workers. It is disabled people helping themselves to justice, not charity.