Accra, Day 5: Rehab center and skype!

Today was the day where not only did I start to feel extremely comfortable in Ghana but I also felt a strong connection to our lecturers and the topics they were speaking about. In the morning we went to Accra Rehab and it was amazing. Our guide (I wish I could remember his name!) told is the intake process (a lot like the process in the US actually, with doctors referring patients to social welfare and social welfare finding placements for the patients) and what the center does for people. They have 30 students to 20 teachers and learn skills like tailoring/sewing, woodworking, shoemaking, and other craft skills that could lead them to get jobs. 

Inside the tailor shop. There was a man there making clothes and sold some to my classmates!

Mehir modeling the shirt he bought!

A painting done a man without hands or forearms. He brings his elbows together and paints that way. 

Making shoes. 

A welcome mat that a student made 

This is recycled paper (actually written in Braile) that the students were using to practice their skills on so they wouldn't have to use materials. I thought it was very resourceful!)

The really sad about being there was hearing how little money they get from the government. The government is supposed to pay 300 Cedis a year (around 126 USD) and they didn't get their 2013 aid until December. They provide housing and 3 meals a day for their students as well as the materials to teach the students their skills. It was amazing what they do but sad that they receive so little help from thegovernment. 

After our tour (and ordering shoes to be made by them!) we were able to talk to two representatives of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled. It was really refreshing to hear from people who are disabled and living in Ghana rather than an objective view from a lecture. In fact, it was the first time I heard the word 'discrimination' being spoken when talking about a disability. There is a lot of aspects to the culture (people thinking disability is a curse) that leads to such discrimination and stigma. Only last year Ghana passed a law to protect the rights of people with disabilities. And they had said that the laws were not totally affective and that there was a lot of gray area to them. It surprised them to hear that in America it is similar and people with disabilities might not be aware of their rights just like in Ghana. They had this perception that America was this wonderful, accepting place, but in fact, a lot of the same things have been happening! It was a very good discussion and it was refreshing to hear about advocacy. 

After the rehab center, we went to a stationary store to buy school supplies for the schools we wil visit! We were split into 4 groups and given 100 Cedis for each group. My group was all the early childhood/special ed people, plus speech pathology and OT. We choose a school that focused on disabilities and I was surprised by how fast the 100 Cedis went. We wanted to get more sensory things like play doh, stickers, tactile objects, etc. We were able to get some molding clay, some play doh (well not real play doh) with cut outs, markers, crayons, oil pastels, pencils and sponge pads. It didn't seem like a lot but I'm sure the kids will love it! 

Then we had lunch at Papaye's which is fast food, but so delicious! I had fried chicked and French Fries and it was so good! We then went back to class and got to Skype with Emmanuel Yebroah who's documentary, 'Emmanuel's Gift' was something we had to watch before the course started. Emmanuel was born with one leg deformed. He was told that the only profession he would ever have was to be a beggar. Well he ended up working, buying his own things and eventually rode a bike accross Ghana. With one leg. So he was a boss and proved all the haters wrong. But he was actually in San Diego when we were Skyping which was kind of ironic since I was just in San Diego. He was able to talk about what he has been doing and take our questions. Again, he talked a lot about advocacy and it was really nice to hear. I asked him what the main difference between living with a disability in Ghana was versus in the Unites States (he lives between the two). He said the United States was more accepting and in Ghana you are looked down upon. He said that people will kill the babies born with disabilities and nobody would care but in the US that person would be procucited and go to jail. I thought it was interesting to draw such a dramatic comparison but that is how it is in Ghana. I'm really glad that we were able to talk to him and hear such great advocacy for the people who have disabilities in Ghana. 

We then had dinner at Tante Marie and headed back to the hotel! We had to be up early the next morning for our trip to Cape Coast!