Open(ing) Doors

THE LINGUISTIC GYMNASTS ARE BUSY AT WORK.
We have noted that over the years they have made subtle and profound changes to the vocabulary used
when addressing members of our communities with physical and other challenges making them different
from the rest of us.
The word smiths have moved us from a medical model of describing our challenged friends and
neighbours which rendered them as a group of dependents to the social model reminding us that it is our
prejudice, discrimination, and inaccessible environments which are the disabling factors, and not the
medical conditions of those persons.
However, the medical model is stubborn and has not fully gone away.
Take for example how we refer to those who are able-bodied among us.
They have their daily exercises, workouts, and have their personal fitness trainers. However, less able-
bodied persons must have rehab, get therapy, and look forward to visits from their physiotherapists.
Children of the able-bodied get music lessons, but children with disabilities must receive music therapy.
While children of those with strong healthy bodies are privileged to get swimming lessons, children with
disabilities get hydrotherapy.
You get the message.
DESPITE THE SUBTLE WORKINGS OF THE MEDICAL MODEL, there is still a sweeping
global wind influencing radical linguistic changes in the way we refer to persons with disabilities
and thankfully its powerful current is rustling the leaves of the minds of Guyanese.
“In Guyana people are gaining a better understanding of disability. Their knowledge is
improving as they are better able to recognize disability that occurs when a person's functional
needs are not addressed in his/her physical and social environment. We are no longer seeing

disability as a personal deficit or as a shortcoming but thinking of it as a social responsibility in
which all people can be supported to live independent and full lives,” Dr Ariane Mangar, a
Director at the National Vocational Training Centre popularly called the Open-Door Centre,
declared.
At the recent graduation ceremony of students of the Centre, Dr. Mangar paid homage to the
resilience of their charges, who, despite insurmountable challenges, crossed the finish line.
Successfully.
“Everyone of us faces difficulties at some point in our lives…but for people with disabilities,
barriers can be more frequent or have a greater impact. Often, they are multiple barriers that can
be extremely difficult or even impossible for persons with disabilities to function.,” Dr Mangar
said.

“Some of the common barriers that we know are attitudinal, communication,
physical, policy, programmatic, social and even transportation,” Mangar said highlighting the
daily struggles faced by the group.
“More often than not our students are faced with one or more or sometimes all of these barriers
at a time. It takes a village to raise a disable person because we often don’t realize what really
goes on so the parents, the caregivers, you all, graduands because if it wasn’t for them, we would
not be here today,” Mangar noted.
But they pushed through to achieve one of their life’s goals.
“Today is a day for reflection and from here you move on to something new. Its pleasing to see
that they have come this far and they are ready to move on to new heights,” Mangar told
graduates of the 20-year-old institution.
Guyana has come a far way from the days when persons with disability were called
‘handicapped,’ a ‘cripple’ ‘victim’ ‘retarded’ ‘pagalee’ and other viciously degrading terms.

The wind of change has caused this nation too, to view them as they truly are: PERSONS. So
that we have begun using the ‘person-first’ language when referring to them. They are persons
living with disabilities.
We agree that their individual disability does not characterise their whole persons.
Specialists in the field of linguistics suggest that when referring to persons in the group we use
her/his name, find the appropriate verb then name the specific disability. So, it is Eric with
autism, instead of describing Eric as ‘an autistic person’.
Other experts challenge this position, preferring to name their disability first.
At Open Doors provides their charges, between 16 and 45 years old, with training in Information
Technology (IT); carpentry; garment and craft, and beauty care to help enhance and improve
their lives.  What is more needed now is greater public awareness, policy backing and
appropriate legislation enacted in a timely manner.
“Hopefully as we progress, we would be able to recognise and addresses the challenges that all
people including those with disability experience especially as we scale up the different policies,
awareness and enact legislation to protect persons with disabilities,” Dr Mangar declared
The health ministry, through its minister, permanent secretary (PS) and directors, has been
steadily in the vanguard of championing the causes of persons with disability in Guyana.
“The open door will strive to being able to open more doors for more young persons with
disabilities in Guyana,” Mangar said.