Child with Intellectual disability- not a burden but a future reliance
Parents, siblings and close relatives almost always think that the child with intellectual disability is a curse for them. In most of the families, the members with intellectual disability are felt burdens by other family members. They feel that child with intellectual disability requires more time, attention, medicines, expenses etc. Sometimes the family members become annoyed to their fate and that child having that condition. Till today most of spouses blame each other for the birth of a child with intellectual disability. Mothers of child with intellectual disability either compel to quit their job or voluntarily resign due to lack of care facilities. They also try to keep their child with intellectual disability out of sight of the society, although social exposure is highly essential to improve the adaptive ability of these children. They also feel scared about their child being abused by any perpetrator. A large number of people are reluctant to get marry with siblings or close relatives of a person with disability.
General physicians, neurologists and psychiatrists usually advise psychotropic medicines based on their symptoms and gestures and some times taking case history from the parents. It is already identified in the DSM-IV TR version and this is a condition not a mental disorder. They are not subject to provide any psychotropic drug without proper assessment. It is also unethical to increase dose of the drugs without any pathological tests. J.D. Robertson in his book titled ‘Malpractices in Psychiatry’ (1988) discouraged to provide any psychotropic medicines without following and maintaining client’s clinical chart.
It is evident that mild and moderate child with intellectual disability never require personal care. They only require education and training during their development period like other family members. Only getting appropriate education they can involve them in income generating activities.
From social point of view persons having average or superior intelligence usually leave their home town to get education or to get involved in income generating activities. On the other hand, persons with intellectual disability do not usually leave their parents or family members. Whereas they take care their parents, relatives and neighbours during older ages. They even help their older family members during emergency.
They do not require any sympathy from any one, rather they can contribute to their family, society as well as country if they are educated and trained addressing special requirements. On the time when people get support from the persons with intellectual disabilities they realize their contribution to the family and society.
In reality they get little attention, time, nutrition, cost, affection, special need education, suitable training from educational or training institutes. They never demand to their family, society or the country for more food, extra care, education etc. It is commonly observed that they are subject to disparity, discrimination and the society does not get equitable opportunities, which are main barriers to inclusion.
It is evident that if these persons with intellectual disabilities were entitled to get education, training and some other rehabilitation facilities they could easily contribute to their family, society and the country. There is no reason to feel ashamed having a family member with intellectual disability. They should understand about the exact condition and needs of the family members with ID in consultation with professional psychologist, clinical psychologist, or special educators.
Some families attempt all out efforts for their wards with intellectual disability to make him or her competent for either employment on their own or from specialized organisation. Since late 1970s some attempts have been made in Bangladesh after forming a parental organization named Bangladesh Institute of Mental Retardation in 1977, which was later renamed as Society for the Care and Education of the Mentally Retarded, Bangladesh (SCEMR,B) and presently named as Society for the Welfare of the Intellectually Disabled, Bangladesh (SWID,B). Bangladesh Protibandhi Foundation (BPF) another organization has also been providing education and care support for persons with intellectual disabilities since 1984. SIVUS Institute has also been providing technical support for other organizations and academicians through conducting cross cultural research and home based care support for persons with intellectual disabilities in some selected areas of Bangladesh. Member organizations of NFOWD and partners of Centre for Disability have community based rehabilitation programmes for promoting rights of persons with intellectual disability. Very insignificant percentage of persons with mild intellectual disabilities usually participate in mainstream government or private run schools and some NGO run inclusive education programmes.
Department of Social Services of Government of Bangladesh under the social safety net programme has been providing monthly allowances for the persons with disabilities (after providing an ID card). Some micro credit organizations and GoB are also providing loans for the family members of persons with disabilities. Jatio Pratibondhi Unnayan Foundation (JPUF) or NFDDP has also taken initiatives to improve the overall quality of life of persons with disabilities in Bangladesh.
After participating education and training some are engaging them in income generating activities of different development organizations. Although the rate is very insignificant, it is assumed that they could contribute in mainstream socio-economic activities if they got the opportunity.
It is also a hope for the persons with disabilities and their family that GoB has signed, ratified UNCRPD and also signed the optional protocol. This convention has become an international law since 2008. It is an obligation of state party to protect the rights of persons with all types of disabilities. Government, NGOs, private sectors are in obligation to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities globally without any disparity.
Parents need not to be worried about their wards with intellectual disability. They have to claim their rights to concerned authority as mentioned in UNCRPD, national policy on disability (1995) and national disability welfare act (2001). They can feel that these members are not their headache any more. They should be treated as a dignified citizen in any country. They have equitable rights to avail all support from the state party. None should feel that these people are burden for family, society or a country rather they are resilience of the family and society.
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