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jleving
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Disabilities International
An anthropology professor once told me that in some rural communities in Zambia, having a disability such as autism or deaf-muteness has no stigma -- it's thought of as one more thing that makes people unique, the same way some people are tall and some are short.
What are the traditional attitudes toward disabilities in your home community? Are there special schools or educational models? How does being disabled affect someone's social standing in the community? Can they still get married and start a family? Does the community come together to support them, or are they isolated and shunned?
I would love to start a discussion of how disabled people are perceived worldwide, especially in the developing world. I think the Western world could learn a lot from the holistic acceptance of disabled people in certain small communities. Furthermore, I think it would be useful to get a global forum going for people to share programs and network about how to help disabled people internationally.
