• RCCI Speech and Language Therapist Nayanalie Dassanayake on society’s integral role in creating an inclusive space for PWDs

 A total of 1.6 million persons live with disabilities in Sri Lanka. In a report released in 2016, UNICEF Sri Lanka noted that 86% of that population aged 20 to 24 are not engaged in educational or vocational activity.

The Rehabilitation Centre for the Communication Impaired (RCCI) is a non-profit that was initiated in 1993, and is a day-care for children and adults with special needs. The difference in this centre is integration, where Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are trained in life skills, engaging them to be a part of the family and the community, and primarily to be independent.

The centre is run by volunteers and appreciates assistance of any kind, but most importantly in creating awareness about engaging with PWDs and how they can contribute to society effectively and independently.

On Kaleidoscope this week was RCCI Speech and Language Therapist Nayanalie Dassanayake, who explained the social misconceptions surrounding PWDs and how society needs to think and act differently.

Following are excerpts:

 It has been 29 years since the RCCI was established as Sri Lanka’s first dedicated rehabilitation centre for those with communication impairments. In that time, what have you learned?

When Shiranee Joseph-de Saram established the centre almost 30 years ago, there was little or no provision for special education, and very little was discussed about employment for people with intellectual disability. However, within those years, the concept of inclusion has changed and opportunities children have for education has also changed.

As an institution, the main learning point doesn’t just focus on impairment, but on ability and what PWDs want for themselves. It’s about their own goals, and supporting them to develop those goals as transferable skills that will last throughout their lifespan.

How practical will it be to achieve these goals?

 Everyone has dreams and goals. Our focus is in supporting someone with a communication impairment and intellectual disability to work towards achieving realistic goals. At times, we agree that the environment or the task needs to be adapted. But this is the role of institutions such as ours. It’s also in educating society and providing the support that facilitates someone with difficulties.

Just as making physical access possible to a building or an environment for someone with a physical disability, we want to promote access for people with intellectual disabilities in areas they are often left out.

Making information accessible and easy to understand, supporting people to develop functional literacy, supporting people with functional skills to make them more independent, and above all, educating caregivers and teachers to understand that without their support and understanding none of these goals can be achieved.

What are common misconceptions about those with communication impairments?

 Primarily, it is that if someone can’t communicate, they’re incapable of everything else; in actual fact, communication is only one part of a person and what they’re able to do. It’s about supporting somebody to make a meaningful contribution. We often forget that. We also forget that providing an opportunity is what we need to do.

Communication impairments are a vast range. People can have difficulties with understanding language, using language, communicating effectively using speech, or difficulties specifically in the area of literacy. Communication impairment can be congenital or acquired therefore it can affect all of us at some stage of our lives.

Our society is totally ignorant that the support we establish for people with developmental communication impairments will also support our older population and the elderly who may benefit from these strategies. For example, a wheelchair ramp would support a range of people – from mums with prams to anyone who has a mobility issue!

So society doesn’t think beyond the usual?

 Our society is often less tolerant of those who cannot fit in. It is often assumed that a person with communication difficulties cannot make any decisions for themselves. This is because they rely on others to speak on their behalf and can’t advocate for themselves.

The result is that the person with the communication impairment has to depend and experience a decision made by someone else on their behalf, which may totally restrict the person even though it may come from a well-meaning parent for example.

How do we add a more inclusive approach in integrating them into society?

 Inclusion is not a tick-box exercise, it’s an attitude. As long as we forget there is a person filled with dreams, goals, and abilities behind the person with the communication impairment, we are far from being an inclusive society. As long as we perceive communication impairment as a disease, we are far away from inclusion. Inclusion is about providing people with opportunities to make meaningful contributions.

Do we understand that each of us needs to actively play a role in making our society an inclusive one? A progressive society is one that is understanding and all-embracing, including all members of society in the journey ahead.

Let’s reflect on how much we have done to include people who are less able to participate in society. Is our transport accessible? What about financial independence? Can employers think of ways to employ a person with a communication impairment a chance to work for them? Have we stopped to think about what skills they may have? Are we able to give them more time? Has anyone asked a PWD what they like to do and what their interests are?

By educating ourselves and becoming more aware, we can bridge these gaps and break barriers that society has in place.

What do you want us – society – to do?

 Inclusion is an attitude. It’s not about sympathy. It’s about giving opportunities, understanding someone’s ability and understanding their disability, while offering the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution. It’s about giving someone an educational space, an adult with intellectual disability supported employment, offering a job, buying their products; it’s about giving them a chance, skills and supporting them throughout their lifespan.

Remember that communication impairments are often lifelong disabilities and supporting someone to make the most of the skills they possess. Give them alternative ways to communicate or participate in something happening around them, adapt the environment or teach them to improve their functional skills. Sometimes the contribution may be very small, but it makes a huge difference to the person and the family.

Don’t let a person’s disability define them. They may be trying to tell you something; it may not be that obvious but if you give them the time and listen, you can figure it out.

(Savithri Rodrigo is the host, director, and co-producer of weekly digital programme ‘Kaleidoscope with Savithri Rodrigo,’ which can be viewed on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. She has over three decades of experience in print, electronic, and social media)