- Misconceptions about disabilities can indeed perpetuate discrimination and hinder social inclusion. In South Asia, where cultural norms and awareness levels vary, addressing these misconceptions becomes even more critical. Some reading this article may have these misconceptions, but as a DPO we have to raise awareness of personal individual development in Gilgit Baltistan.
- Presenting here are the misconceptions with facts. Some of the headings are loosely translated from Urdu to English.
Poor fellow can not read or write or listen
- The typical social discourse when anyone sees a disabled person is that they are not able to read or write.
- Remember that stereotypes are not always accurate representations of individuals or the complex realities of the modern world.
Consider the cases of Shah Zuhaib, Muhammad Rafi and Mustafa Kamal, who belong to the Ghizer and Diamer regions of Gilgit Baltistan.
Shah Zuhaib, the individual next to Farhan and Ali Ahmed has now joined KIU and has started taking Speical Education classes which in turn will help shape future policy of the Speical Education Dept in KIU campuses across Gilgit Baltistan.
Muhammad Rafi seen in the image below is now close to graduating in Sociology due to Goodwill Skills. Dr Zubair then HOD Sociology at KIU Praised the efforts of Gilgit Baltistan’s Goodwill Movement in not just motivating Rafi but also developing a pathway for the new batch of disabled students in KIU Gilgit Campus.
Mustafa Kamal has joined our Goodwill team (seen below), advancing the rights of disabled persons across Gilgit Baltistan. He is dedicated to Goodwill and particularly to the Ghizer region where he wants further development for PWDs.
What about women – Surely Disabled women are excluded from your project
The short anwser is no. Disabled women get equal treatment as disabled men in the centre. As a matter of fact our two female students, Khushan and Mehnaz have graduated from the centre and have found opporunities in freelancing and the Speical Education Complex of Gilgit Baltistan.
