I need some help, pleas give me some ideas.

[sabaidii]

I am in Asia and know lots of families with disabled children. I have been helping one in particular for a while now.

If you are disable here, you are rejected by society. There is no help for many of these failies and its hard to make progress.

I need a way, prvately, to make local schools, employers and other members of the community aware of what disabled children and adults can do.

Would anyone be willing to send me an email telling about your child and what he or she has achieved and can do. I think if they see what's happening in the west, they might realise that these people aren't outcasts who aren't able to do anything.

Please send things, if you would like to, to [email protected]

Does anyone have any further suggestions? I cannot do a big lecture in front of a lot of people or set up an exhibit. This isn't allowed here.

[yurt1]

Sorry I don't send personal stories about my very vulnerable child (or my other 2 for that matter) to people on the internet that I don't know. We have had some problems in the past in this section of people making things up (big sob stories) and then asking rather strange questions about our children and I'm not sure it's wise to ask people to share things with a stranger.

[needmorecoffee]

I thought you had 9 disabled children of your own Sabaidii?
Which Asian country are you in again? When I travelled in SE Asia in my wheelchair I met with nothing but kindness, especially from buddhists.
I also don't email privately but it really is no good someone telling you about there child as all kids are completely different. Some disabled children have no cognitive function at all, others are very able. Its too vast to generalise.
And surely its not for you to be dealing with schools but the Govt?

[2shoes]

what a strange idea. i hardly think people are going to feel comfortable telling a complete stranger private details about their child. contact scope or a large charity.
(think i will stop posting about dd in sn now)

[TotalChaos]

I'm a bit puzzled as well, surely you would be better off looking at a charity website and/or contacting them.

[sabaidii]

Very tough dealing with the government in these countries.

I used to come on originall and help sabaidi, who does have kids with sn. It got a bit frustrating for her though since her english isn't very good. She's improving though, so she'll be able to explain things soon enough. This site is addictive though.

there is a BIG difference between coming here on holiday and living here. You don't know the culture, the language, you don't go to the locals' houses or go to remote areas of the country. Some people think they know Laos.... They stay in a 5 star hotel.

yurt1, how would you know what life is like in a communist country? Ask anyone who has worked in one and you'll get a "sob story." You have an easy life in the UK, believe me.

I need to do something to raise public awareness in the remote parts of this country. I can't go to the government, they are too corrupt to do anything for those who need the most help.

I'm trying to find some brave disabled people who would come here and talk to these people. I'm not sure it would work though. You're not coming here any time soon are you?

Some of the kids here (down's syndrome, physically handicapped, deaf) could work, but no one wants to employ them.

It's the same for the sick and the poor, btw.

I'd love to do a project like KOTO in Vietnam, but I don't know where I could do this. I'm looking for an easy job right now, as this place has worn me down and I need time to think.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

"I need a way, prvately, to make local schools, employers and other members of the community aware of what disabled children and adults can do".

As a sole individual there is nothing you can do. Its a bit like bailing out the sea. You are up against vast cultural differences and prejudice in that country towards both you and disabled people and you have previously written of indifference amongst those whom you are trying to help. I have read your previous postings on similar subjects and hope that you found a charitable organisation to work for in Laos (I believe this is where you are now). You cannot do this on your own, corruption is too powerful a force for one individual to counter against.

[sabaidii]

I'm not asking for "personal stuff." People here need to know just basic stuff (i.e. things that show that they are bright and capable.)

People here think like someone from the early 1900s. They need to see how capable these kids and young adults are.

[sabaidii]

I did find a charity here to do some things with. I'm actually planning on working with poor children, not kids with sn.

I really would like to do something to show that they are human beings though.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

"They need to see how capable these kids and young adults are".

But who are "they"?. Again you are up against vast cultural differnces as well as deeply held prejudice against such individuals within their community. They could think that such people were previously cursed to have such a disability and a burden, hence their little life chances. Deeply ingrained attitudes are not going to change if ever. Its unfair most certainly but you alone are not going to change the world.

I therefore think its somewhat unfair to call your respondents' thinking something from the 1900s.

Are UNICEF in Laos, why not offer your services to them?. They (unlike your good self) do carry some degree of clout.

[aefondkiss]

maybe you could get int touch with charities and groups over here that might be able to give you more practical advice?

sorry I can't make recommendations... I can't think of any at the moment.

[sabaidii]

I would imagine they are in Laos, Attila.

Its very difficult to watch what goes on here...

[willow]

Who is I sabaidi?

You say you used to come on originall and help sabaidi - is there another poster with a very similar name to yours? OR did you just forget to change your name?

[sabaidii]

It's also quite hard to give a westerner who has never lived here an idea of what life is like, especailly for minrities, women.

[sabaidii]

I'm too lazy to change the name I m helping a family here and the mum ad never been on a computer before. She loved the computer, but she fund it difficult to be on here because her English is quite limited. When she can write better, she'll kick me off I'm sure.

[sabaidii]

Besides, sabaidii is a totally unique nickname and it's beautiful.

It's a greeting in Laos.

You pronounce, sa-buy-dee

[willow]

Oh, did she post as Sabaidi then?

[2shoes]

i am confused. why are you asking about dc's with sn if you are not going to be woking with sn?

[sabaidii]

Attila, where did you live in Asia?

[coppertop]

I'm confused too. Why do you need info about SN if you aren't working with children with SN? And whst happened to those 9 children with SN you had?

[sabaidii]

Read what Attila wrote, 2shoes. It's obvius you've never lived here.

[sabaidii]

Right ladies, I'm done explaining myself.

Thanks attila, I'll check about UNICEF.

[ninedragons]

Really, Sabaidii, your combative attitude might be at least part of the reason you are facing such vast problems in Laos. Please don't be rude to people like 2shoes.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

I've not in Asia but many corrupt countries operate along very similar lines to the detriment of their whole population, not just women and children.

Am I right in thinking that you are working with one individual family whose Mum has nine children with special needs?.

[yurt1]

Why do you need stories about disabled children if you're working with the poor? The achievements will depend on the disability. Some of the biggest achievements for an individual child may look very small to people who don't know the child. Especially if you factor in cultural differences.

You should talk to globetrotterinvietnam - she seemed to have - well - identical- aspirations.

[Peachy]

My son put his socks on today, there you go- an achievement.

And the older one hasn't smacked me yet today which is rpetty good aas well.

maybe thsi would be more relevant and useful to you? www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/disability/dfid-and-disability.pdf