M. Miles

Disability in an Eastern Religious Context: historical perspectives

Disability in the past of eastern religions has attracted little formal or comparative scrutiny. A range is sketched here of historical data, viewpoints and attitudes on disability in Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam, which continue to influence the thoughts of half the worlds population. Approaches for more detailed studies are suggested, moving towards such global measures for understanding, remediating and accommodating disability as would be more appropriate and acceptable to the non-western majority. Popular notions associated with disabilities in these religions are discussed.

Concepts of Mental Retardation in Pakistan: Toward Cross-cultural and Historical Perspectives

ABSTRACT This paper reviews concepts of mental retardation in Pakistan against an historical Asian and Islamic background, and discusses some hazards of Western cultural hegemony in this field. Evidence is presented from official documents, attitude surveys, a service development project and experiences in teacher training and family counselling. Families presenting their ‘different’ child usually offer comments on appearance, behaviour, capacity to learn, developmental progress and etiology. Since most family relationships and structures in Pakistan differ substantially from norms in Western countries, Western notions of ‘independent living’ and ‘self-advocacy’ are of questionable relevance. The socio-cultural construction of mental retardation is considered in the light of Pakistans high national rate of non-literacy.

Community, Individual or Information Development? Dilemmas of concept and culture in South Asian disability planning

From the 1820s to the present, disability planning in South Asia has faced hard choices, compounded by the submersion of indigenous concepts in well-intentioned western exports of welfare ideologies and eurocentric social sciences. Cultural imperialism continues, with western evangelists insisting that South Asian disability development be seen in terms of human rights and community-based rehabilitation, regardless of the actual strengths and weaknesses of communities. Reconceptualisation of disability planning, focusing on information factors of concept, knowledge, skills, design and feedback, has been suggested as an alternative approach. However, the associated information media, while offering hope to millions, will again divide those who gain access from the hundred-millions who remain info-poor. Western information concepts risk overwhelming indigenous knowledge and diminishing the cultural confidence needed for South Asians to find their own appropriate solutions. To counteract this tendency, a str...

Some Influences of Religions on Attitudes Towards Disabilities and People with Disabilities

Abstract The paper reviews some significant moments or texts relating to disability in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, as they might impinge on the work of counsellors or community-based therapists in a modern city. Some scientific and philosophical positions are also reviewed.

Development of Community Based Rehabilitation in Pakistan: Bringing Mental Handicap into Focus.

Abstract Integration of children with disabilities in ordinary schools and extension of basic health care to rural areas developed slowly during the past 130 years in British India and then Pakistan, along with the rise of urban disability service centres. In the 1980s many centres experimented with outreach projects and varieties of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR), but mental handicap (or intellectual disability) has had low priority in these efforts. Projects continued to be dominated by professionals and to undervalue latent family and community knowledge and capacities for management of mental handicap. More critical evaluation, analysis, and reflection have now begun. Strategies are suggested that start with the existing realities and strengths of families and communities, using professional knowledge to enhance rather than replace them. Promising examples from Bangladesh for enlisting formal and informal education and social welfare infrastructure to benefit children with mental handicap are de...

Disabled Learners in South Asia: lessons from the past for educational exporters

Abstract South Asias historical heritage of ideas and practices for educating children with special needs contains many of the approaches that western teachers discovered independently in the past 150 years. These include close observation of childrens current abilities, adjusting the curriculum to individual needs, valuing the social benefits even where intellectual progress is weak, allowing more time for learning, using specially designed materials, educating children with disabilities in ordinary schools, and providing role models of adult achievers who have disabilities. These approaches are here illustrated with stories from ancient India and educational documents from the British Raj. The cultural heritage has largely been ignored during the inflow of western educational ideas to South Asia. Some of the simpler approaches were displaced by the growing professionalisation of special education in the late 19th century. Casual integration of children with mild and moderate disabilities is still obsc...

Disability and Afghan Reconstruction: Some Policy Issues

ABSTRACT Conflicts within Afghanistan have severely disrupted the few formal rehabilitation services for disabled Afghans. The unsettled situation, together with prevailing socio-economic underdevelopment, poses massive problems for reconstruction. Realistically, Afghans with disabilities will have to manage their lives largely with traditional skills and community resources for many years to come. Their indigenous resources may be supplemented with modern rehabilitation information (skills and knowledge) using an ‘information-based’ approach to planning. Some implications of this approach are examined, with examples of information systems in practice.

Information-based rehabilitation for third world disability

Rehabilitation and special education are usually conceived in terms of methods, gadgets, locations and professions. Generalist planners often have difficulty grasping the essentials of the field, while resource constraints in Third World countries severely limit the extent to which these four features may become widely available. Reconceptualization of the field as information-based rehabilitation opens new, low-cost possibilities for empowering disabled people and their families and communities. A basic approach is described from Pakistan, for methodical dissemination of appropriate information, with feedback, evaluation and on-going information systems. Some comparative merits of various media are discussed, together with the values inherent in information and some constraints on information-based rehabilitation.

Disability in an Eastern Religious Context

Abstract Disability and ‘difference’ in the histories of eastern religions have attracted little formal or comparative scrutiny. A range is sketched here of historical data, viewpoints and attitudes on disability and physiognomic difference in historical Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim texts, which continue to influence the thoughts of half the worlds population. Approaches for more detailed studies are suggested, moving towards such global measures for understanding, remediating and accommodating disability as might be more appropriate and acceptable to the non-western majority. Popular notions associated with disability in these religions are discussed.

Formal and informal disability resources for Afghan reconstruction

After 23 years of turbulence the number of disabled Afghans is unknown and formal services are minimal. The great majority live with whatever resources they find in themselves and their families, the normal pattern throughout history. Informal help and some cultural resources of Afghan history and Muslim teaching are noted in this paper, together with some common negative views. UN agencies and NGOs have made efforts to promote an adapted Community Based Rehabilitation in Afghanistan from the 1980s to the present and to transfer rehabilitation knowledge and skills to families with disabled members. Some local resource centres and community disability organisations have developed and can be a useful basis for disability planning in the anticipated national reconstruction. Emphasis should be given to the participation of disabled people as beneficiaries and employees in all reconstruction programmes, which should proceed in consultation with families and disabled individuals.