Madagascar Launches Social Integration for Mentally Disabled Children
By Fela Razafinjato (fela.csm@netclub.mg)
Everywhere in the world, it is difficult to be "different". The impairments of people with disabilities makes them different from others, they carry the gaze of the other.
Nonetheless, their rights and their dignity must be recognized, as they must for everyone who lives in this world.
Madagascar makes no exception to the rule which says that all differences must be perceived as an attack on normality, and that everything which is not within the norm must be rejected.
People with disabilities in Madagascar live separate from others, and each day is a struggle to live through. Two major obstacles challenge them on a daily basis:
- Prejudice and discrimination: they are not quite overt, but the simple gesture, the look, the indifference of others are expressive signs. It is not surprising that many people with disabilities become frustrated, lack self-confidence and lose the desire to be seen.
- Inaccessibility of many types: lack of financial and geographical access to services and care related to their disability, lack of physical access to buildings and public places, lack of access to information for deaf and blind people.
One cannot help noticing that among people with disabilities, the mentally disabled are the most excluded because sometimes they scare others (they are often confused with mental patients). They are an estimated 3% of the population of Madagascar, or 450,000 people averaging 12 to 16 years of age.
Since the year 2000, Handicap International has focused to a large extent on the recognition of the rights of mentally handicapped children, and has put in place sensitivity programs both for the parents of mentally handicapped children and for the general public. These efforts have led to:
- An increase in the number of organizations that provide care to children with mental impairments. Today, there are 17 special education centers (day centers) half of which are in Tananarivo city.
- The opening of an integrated class in some private schools.
The integrated class is a class made up exclusively of mentally handicapped children, and placed among the various classes of the school. The goal is to familiarize the non-handicapped students with the world of disability and vice-versa, so that both parties may understand each other, communicate with each other, and even help each other.
One hardly needs to point out that many people have voiced their hesitations and their skepticism at the idea that mentally handicapped children should come out of the shadows and live among other children. In addition, disability is perceived as a curse in Malagasy society, especially in the rural areas. Dissuading people from their orthodox practice seems no small task, but since the associations of parents are determined to mobilize to advocate for the rights of their mentally handicapped children, things are slowly evolving in the right direction.
Today, there are 8 private denominational schools with an integrated class: 2 in Ambositra, 1 in Manakara, 1 in Monrondava, 2 in Antsirabe, 1 in Antsiranana and 1 in Tananarivo city. Supposing that a class has 10 students on average, 80 children with a mental handicap out of the 450,000 are now in contact with the ordinary school environment, and they are happy to be making friends.
It is also encouraging that the financial backers have embraced the cause of people with disabilities, and are supporting efforts to better include them in society.
One recent example is the collaboration between the association "La Source" and the Japanese embassy. The latter granted a 323-million Malagasy Franc ($45,000) subsidy to open a multi-purpose integration center. "La Source" then built an 8-room building housing:
- preschool classes for non-handicapped children
- integrated classes for mentally handicapped children
- a computer workshop for youth
The inauguration of the center took place on March 19, 2004, and the association "La Source" as well as the other associations in attendance called for the state, the political decision-makers, the economic decision-makers, and members of civil society to work together to implement article 6 of decree n?2001-162:
"Persons with disabilities shall fully enjoy their citizen's rights in their relations with other members of society."
The present reality is certainly far from satisfying, but it is the first step that counts. Much remains to be done with regard to the social inclusion of mentally handicapped persons, and the associations are conscious of this fact. This is why they are coming together in a federation called FEPAPHAM-Madagascar (Pan-African Federation of Mentally Handicapped People), which is very active in advocating and sensitizing, because in our numbers lies our strength.
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