Disability to Ability - Case Diary from Bangladeshh

To demonstrate interventions taken up by LCD-South Asia Office and the impact of our work we are regularly tracking the case story of “Esar Uddin and his family”. This family has been recently identified as clients by a SARO supported programme.

LCD-SARO has partnered with Centre for Disability in Development (CDD), a disability organisation in Bangladesh, to implement a programme on Inclusive Education and Employment Rights of Persons with Disabilities. CDD has chosen local partners to support them in implementation of this programme; one among them is Gono Unnayan Sangstha (GUK), a community development organisation working in remote, backward and disaster prone areas of Gaibandha district.

In the last issue, we mentioned that Esar Uddin, 45, lost his land in floods and works as a bicycle mechanic. He and his wife, Mini Begum, live with their two daughters Ranu, 15 and Laboni, 9 in Pulbandhi village. GUK staff had conducted a needs assessment exercise to understand how the family could be supported.

Esar Uddin's income is not sufficient to meet the family's needs. Therefore, in the future, GUK plans to give an interest-free loan to the family, so that Esar Uddin can buy equipment to start a repair shop.  The project staff have also initiated a discussion with the Directorate of Social Services to get education and disability allowances for Ranu and Laboni.

To ensure that Ranu utilises her time effectively, GUK's disability rehabilitation worker (DRW) counselled Mini Begum to involve Ranu in household activities. Today, following the DRW's encouragement, Ranu helps her mother in household chores.

During discussion with the family, it was found that the neighbours made fun of Ranu and teased her quite often.  Therefore, GUK's disability rehabilitation worker (DRW) and social communicator organised disability awareness meetings in the community. Since then, the neighbours and community members are more caring towards Ranu.

Laboni, 9, has been trained by the DRW on orientation and mobility techniques. Now, with the help of a white cane given by the project Laboni can move around the house on her own. She was also trained on 'sighted guide technique', where a visually impaired person moves around with guidance from a person with sight. Her mother, Mini Begum, has been trained to act as her guide. Laboni is also learning Activities of Daily Living. As part of this, she can now identify various ingredients used in cooking, perform household chores like making bed, sweeping the floor etc.

In the next quarter, Laboni would be taught Braille and encouraged to further improve her tactile skills. All these, would prepare her for enrollment into a primary school in January 2009. GUK staff have already discussed Laboni's enrollment with the principals of two government primary schools near her house. Both the principals who had attended a training on “Mainstream Education for Children with Disabilities” conducted by CDD in 2008, are willing to enroll Laboni into their school.

Mini Begum actively participates in social communication meetings on disability issues, organised by GUK to bring about awareness in the community.

Esar Uddin is quite happy with the changes seen in Laboni and Ranu in the last three months. The family looks forward to the next quarter, which promises to bring in further positive change in their lives.

Contributed by
Ms Anjum Nahid Chowdhury
On Behalf of
Gana Unnayan Kendra (GUK)
Gaibandha, Bangladesh.