What is a Physical Impairment?
A set of conditions that results in difficulties in movement, holding/grasping, movement coordination and ability to perform physical activities.
It may include:
- Conditions that affect the limbs, bones, joints, muscles or a combination of these e.g., polio, club foot, among others
Loss of limb(s) e.g. through amputation - Conditions that affect growth e.g., short stature
- Depending on the type and level of severity of these conditions, some people with physical impairment will need to use wheelchairs, crutches, calipers etc.
How to refer someone with a physical impairment?
Avoid Using
- Handicapped
- Physically Challenged
- Deformed
- "Special "
- Midget
- Stunted
- Cripple
- Wheelchair-bound
- Gimp
- Spastic / Spaz
Instead Use
- Person with a physical impairment
- Peron with a mobility impairment
- Person of short stature (only if this applies)
- Wheelchair user
How to create an enabling environment for people with physical impairment?
- Address the person who has a physical impairment, not his or her companion/assistant.
- Try to place yourself at eye level with the person (i.e. sitting in a chair or kneeling down).
- Don’t lean on a wheelchair or other assistive device.
- Do not act in a condescending way to a person in a wheelchair by treating him or her childishly, such as patting on the head or shoulder.
- Ask if the person would like your assistance pushing their wheelchair.
- If a person is having a problem with opening a door, offer to assist.
- When telephoning a person, let the phone ring long enough to allow time to reach the phone.
- Do not avoid words like ‘run’ or ‘walk’: wheelchair users use them too.
- Do not remove people’s assistive devices (e.g. crutches, wheelchairs, artificial limbs) from where they have placed them. If you do temporarily, remember to return them to where the person has placed them initially.
- Most importantly, ask someone themselves how they want to be addressed, and how they want to be supported or treated.
Specific advice on including people with physical impairments in agriculture focused programming
- Include people with physical impairments in all stages of program planning to ensure accessibility
- Engage with local Organizations of People with Disabilities throughout the project cycle. They will have the best knowledge of specific accessibility challenges
- Ensure accessibility of meeting/training areas. This includes consideration of roads, meeting areas, toilets, and available transportation options
- Set up meeting/training areas so individuals using wheelchair, crutches, etc. can move as independently as possible.
- Allow time to rest periods in meetings/trainings (as needed).
- Find out what useful assistive devices are needed to carry out your activity: (Adapted farm equipment, accessible boar holes etc.)
- Allow additional time in trainings for participants to complete activities
- Ensure participants with physical impairments are part of all activities including, including those that may be physical
- Consider pairing or grouping ALL participants with others in program activities to support strengths and fill accessibility gaps
- Involve community members to support whenever possible, this will not only raise awareness, but also promote the social inclusion of people with physical impairments
