Leprosy Mailing List – December 3rd, 2007
Ref.:
Proposed
Amendments to Persons with Disabilities Act, India
From:
Ryan T., Oxford, UK
Dear Salvatore,
I note Doug (LML November 18th,
2007) has had no comment on The Disability Act document he sent
you. At the risk of
writing too much on the same theme I will respond.
The language of Disability, Impairment and
Handicap developed in part to recognize common denominators and to
develop a language which is dissimilar to the grading system used in
leprosy. I pointed this
out at a WHO MDT panel meeting a decade ago and Dr Noordeen brought in
a spokesman from WHO to inform us of the further developments in the
language. Of course it
made no difference to how Leprosy experts think.
Doug is correct to emphasize the poverty of the
language used which omits the handicap of being unwelcome and does
little to legislate for fear and isolation of the disabled and their
inhumane treatment not just when they have disability grade 2 but
when they are 'thought' to have leprosy.
It is actually Skin Failure, and loss of
communication skills using the skin, which needs emphasis. It is a disability shared by
all who are disfigured. Leprosy
may be the prototype but it is in the minority. Nevertheless it has the power
to influence the field, more than any other disease, and should use
its weight for the benefit of all who seek to feel good by looking
good. It does not cost
much to relieve the fear and shame of looking different or having the
potential to look different. Doug
I s right to challenge legislation that is so outdated.
Terence Ryan
