Exploring the comparative experiences of African immigrants with disabilities in Winnipeg, Canada
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Date
2020-06
Authors
Badu-Boateng, Charles
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Abstract
The study aimed at exploring the experiences of African immigrants with disabilities in
Winnipeg, Canada. It focused on how cultural beliefs and personal perceptions about disability shape such experiences. The social model of disability studies was employed since the model describes disability and associated issues within a social and attitudinal context. It holds that societal structure and characteristics, particularly attitude, often present significant barriers and challenges that militate against the complete integration of persons with disabilities (PWDs) into society. Through consultations with the disability groups in Winnipeg (e.g., Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, six (6) African immigrants living with disabilities were selected and interviewed. All research protocols were observed to ensure originality and reliability of data. Findings revealed that various beliefs about disabilities exist among African countries, which are not necessarily different from society to society. Core among them is the attribution of disabilities to curses from gods and ancestral spirits. Disability is overwhelmingly seen as punitive in the African society, accounting for the stigmatization and discrimination of PWDs. Sometimes, persons with disabilities (PWDs) are sent to native doctors and witch camps in an attempt to “cure” them; others are abandoned to die in forests after some rituals. The study showed that PWDs do not accept their labeling as “disabled or incapacitated”. To them impairments do not imply incapacitation. There exist wide gaps between the manner in which PWDs are treated in Canada and African countries. Comparison of these experiences proved that their present society, has achieved a lot regarding their comfort, although a few challenges still prevail. The Canadian society is welcoming and inclusive. It tends to seek the social integration of all persons; inclusion runs through employment, education and healthcare. The study further revealed that several adaptive and assistive devices that aid PWDs have been developed, making life easier. Among the challenges are legal representations for PWDs coupled with their exorbitant legal fees, and affordability of houses with assistive devices. Again, in winter, the movement of PWDs may become restricted due to the inaccessibility of roads by Transit Plus.
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Keywords
Persons with disabilities, African immigrants, Cultural beliefs, Perceptions