Accra Rehabilitation Center

Today we went to the Accra Rehabilitation Center and The Ghana Federation of the Disabled. Both of these places were powerful and inspiring. The ARC is a government institution that was established in 1962 as a training center for persons with disabilities. Categories served include those that are Blind, Deaf, MR, Physically Disabled and others. At the center persons with disabilities are training in skills such as tailoring, carpentry, shoe making, crafts and visual arts. The overall process for being admitted into the ARC can be long and costly...especially as time is money.... One must go to the dept. of social welfare where a report will be filled to the center and the potential client will come for an assessment where they will hopefully be admitted. Those admitted to the ARC live at the center and are provided 3 meals a day, in addition to the skills they will learn which ideally will allow for these people to have a skill that they can succeed and make a living teaching and doing.

The center serves adults only and could take several months to get accepted to... although there are only about 30 trainees right now. It seems that the center is not getting what they have expected from the social welfare agency in terms of sending those in need to the center... and there are many. The center is funded by the Ghanian government... which pays the teachers, room and board of the trainees, materials... everything. The amount they are given in 2013 was, I believe 300 cedis....(that is appx. $150USD. and it is also hardly, hardly enough!!) I am not sure how they keep the program running, but  I guess they do. They also get funding from donors, like NYU who gave a generous donation to the center out of the activity fee we students paid, which is very nice. 

It was an amazing place with an amazing purpose. Providing an opportunity for these disabled Ghanians to make a life for themselves on their own is not the norm, from what I have seen. One of the largest sources of income in Ghana is that of tourists and It seems to me that begging for cedis on the street is way easier and more lucrative than hustling at the market after learning a craft so its a pretty big deal what is happening at the center. We got to meet some of the teachers at the center, although the trainees were away on winter vacation. Moses, a talented textile clothing maker spoke with us and showed us some of the amazing shirts he made. We also got to see the paintings of a man who uses his residual limbs to hold the brush, which were beautiful and a few other individuals doing woodworking and carpentry, shoe and handbag making. 

All and all I felt very privileged for the opportunity to visit and learn about the ARC as it was a pretty unbelievable place. The feeling that I get, over and over each day is a mix of gratitude, passion, frustration, sadness, pride and joy. There is so much that is not done and so much need for the people of Ghana and those with disabilities but it is not NOTHING. The awareness is small and still feels like just a "kind of" conversation but at least there is one happening at all. I am grateful for what I am seeing, experiencing and learning, and also for the opportunity to be with a group of intelligent and inquisitive people who are able to have a real dialog about it. The issues we are discussing and conversations we are having are a big deal... the topic is a big deal... I'm going to bed feeling pretty positive because it's nice to be with a group of people who inspire me, and that's where I'm at. 

Peas.

Alex 

FIELD RESEARCH, DETOURS, CONVERSATIONS, NEW FRIENDS, MEASURING TAPE!!!

After getting more comfortable talking to shop keepers and Ghanians that I met here and there, I was able to get into discussions about disabled people and how they are viewed in the Ghanian culture. I had mixed feelings in terms of if people understood what I was asking, and if they were being honest or if they were telling me what they thought I wanted to hear…. Depending on who we talked to and seemingly their level of comfort with me and the girls I was exploring with we were able to get some honest answers. Overall, people do not know a lot of disabled individuals—they are here and there most mostly they are beggars or homeless…. Even when I would try to ask about a disabled person sometimes the person I was asking did not know what I was talking about and I had to be more specific (cripple, blind, cant walk, crutches and make physical refrences to get the point across).

How narrow is this sidewalk, how high is the curb ,can we all fit??? INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

While walking on the street towards the Post office and business district I was approached by 2 local men who ultimately led us AWAY from the post office even though we were clear about our intentions.  We did not realize until we were almost at the art market that we headed the wrong way because of course, they were trying to guide us towards where we could purchase goods from them (NOTE TO SELF: BE WARY OF PEOPLE ALWAYS TRYING TO SELL YOU STUFF AND BRING YOU TO THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS NO MATTER HOW FRIENDLY AND PERSISTANT THEY ARE). Regardless of the detour we were able to talk disabilities, mental health, notice and measure sidewalks and  think about transportation some more... the issue of getting around popped into my head often because of course, if you take the public trou-trou you would need help getting in and out and there are not lifts or wheelchair accessible options so when I asked how one would get around the answer was Taxi... 

Isi and new Ghanian friends who facilitated some conversations and chatted with us for a bit about disabilities 

Oh Hi Christina and Sheila... meet our new friend lets all take a picture!! 

Our new friend walks us ALLLLLL the way back to the bus even when we insisted he really did not need to come with us... :)

That ramp at the vodaphone store surely is not long enough for the steepness... is it just for show and who is enforcing the laws regarding proper access... oh yea... no one..........ALSO THE SECURITY GUARD PROMPTLY KICKED US OFF THE PROPERTY WHEN HE SAW US SNOOPING AND MEASURING, WHOOPS

...And what if you can not afford a taxi or can not get in and fit your chair etc etc, I asked... well, then you don't go out or someone must wheel you and put you into one I guess?...it never became clear what the solution was.. this because a common theme (not getting a direct answer which means there probably isn't one) anyways, it all sounds pretty difficult, discouraging and unempowering to me... 

Our friend insisted on taking a picture of Darci and I in front of our magic school bus after the one we took of him 

OH YEA.... There was a nice older woman in a wheelchair on the sidewalk heading to the marker who we spoke to for a bit which heading to the Post Office... well actually one of the men we were with spoke to her and translated for us. This was nice because without him there she would not have spoken to us at all. She is a seamstress but her hands have arthritis now and she is not able to do the work she once was able to do. She is trying to start a business and work in an office even still but she became uncomfertable with the questions after a while and we thanked her gave her a few cedis and parted ways.... She was being pushed on the sidewalk by her daughter and indicated that her daughter must always help her to get around. She also seemed to have the financial means to get around and take care of herself, which of course makes a huge difference. 

More observations in the market, with the locals and my friend, Gaddafi

Some more information about what I discovered and felt in the market after some more reflection.... 

Teeny Tiny fabric stall at Makola Market that was hot and cramped and full of amazing prints.. Hi to our fearless leader Anita Perr  making an excellent purchase

*****This was the stall that gave me a price of 45 cedes which is a fair price for fabric (appx. 20$), while the other stalls were giving me the price of 75 cedes, 90 cedes and 65 cedis... It was because Abigal, our Ghanian NYU guide negotiated the price. The general overcharging of White people (Obronis) or foreigners was frustrating and caused heated verbal interactions on many occasions.... (YOU MUST BARGAIN FOR EVERYTHING IN GHANA BESIDES IN BRICK AND MORTER ESTABLISHED RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS)*****

Two men I became friendly with that taught drumming and made paintings said that there is one person in a wheelchair at the market and when I asked how he functioned in the market and got around they told me that they help him, sometimes lift him but they also said that he has ways of getting over doorways and raised areas in the market by turning his wheelchair, which I thought was cool. In order to work in the market you have to hustle, which is something I touched on in my previous blog and also it seems that all of the shop keepers have a crew that they roll with and sell with---- so I think if people have a network of individuals helping them then it is easier to survive, but ultimately if you are not carrying your weight and contributing to earning $$--- then I think you would not be worth helping.

Friendly Ghanians Henry and Peter teaching me drumming..of course selling me 5 after 

The idea of charity and service is different here because it is so hard to make ends meat that I would think helping out a brother would not take precedence. 

One man, Gaddafi who I met was very willing and glad to speak with me and a couple girls I was exploring with. We spoke with him for a while, and he told us his story. He lost his leg due to polio but decided to be an example rather than resort to begging on the street, even though that would be easier. He said that he believed that he was there to inspire the youth and serve as a example of someone who is strong… and he is very strong. He works hard in the market and he actually did not try to use his disability to guilt us into buying good from him, which I was actually surprised about because I developed a bad taste in my mouth from EVERYONE trying to get me to buy things I did not want or need. Gaddafi had an inspiring story and a strong presence… I really took to him and found myself invested in his journey. He wanted a prosthetic leg very badly and he is working to get one but finds the logistics of working with doctors challenging. He gave me his email and his password in order to research an email correspondence with an American association offering to bring him to the United States and give him the prosthetic he so badly desires. I was happy to offer any assistance I could and am starting to sift through his emails and piece together his story.

Gaddafi with the ladies 

UPDATE…..: It seems to me that Gaddafi actually did not lose his leg from Polio--- he had polio as a child and this caused the deformity in his legs but it was a surgery gone wrong that caused him to have an amputation and this was only a couple years ago. It seems that there are only 3 doctors in Ghana who are able to do the type of surgery that Gaddafi got and the surgery went badly, he got an infection and did not get the proper medical care and ultimately had to have his leg amputated above the knee….

Gaddafi after surgery with the infection that caused him to lose his leg (lack of proper medical attention) 

He is a fighter though and I hope he will continue to inspire the youth and the country as to how capable those with disabilities are and he will remain an example of hard work and perserverence because he is very, very capable smart and an all around cool dude!! 

Markets and Meetings and Meals, OH MY!!

So I'm officially in Ghana, which I actually have been for a couple days exploring on my own. The rest of the NYU crew is here and we have started class and our itinerary... Our first site visit is to the Makola Market and the Art Center.... both of these places are crazy. They are crowded and hectic and disorganized... a sensory overload and anxiety inducing environment to say the least.

I found Makola Market less intense than the art center, even though it was much, much bigger, hotter and cramped. The people in the Makola Market were not as intrusive and overbearing then the people in the Art Center. I had been to the Art Center 2 days ago before the rest of the NYU team got here and so it seemed to me that I was already a "regular". I went to the market with a local who I was traveling with set up by a friend from NYC and he helped to guide me in buying and bargaining with the shop owners. Although he was there and helped me, it was difficult to know what to say and how to handle situations where you were not interested in purchasing an item and you just wanted to be left alone. The Ghanians are very nice, but they are also very persistant and intense, atleast when it comes to buying goods. I picked up some good items including sandals... which I forgot at home... some bracelets and drums. It is a strange experience being here as a White Person... or OBRONI as we are called (which means white person in Twi) We stick out like a soar thumb and the merchants run up to us to guide us to their stalls. It became VERY clear to me that you need to set serious boundaries at these markets in order to have a good experience.

By the end of the market trips I was glad to be out of there!! There are so many stalls, both large and small and so, so many people. Everyone you walk by wants you to come to their stall and some make try to make you feel guilty. For me it brought up issues of guilt because of course in America we have certain social norms that we abide by, and they are of course different in a different culture. I began to pick up the right lingo that would signal the shop keeps to chill out on bugging me but even still it was really difficult.

In terms of disability--- I only met one man name who was disabled in the market. I was suprised at the lack of disabled people that I saw in the markets, especially as the facts and figures say that there are 2 million disabled Ghanians in Ghana.. Where are they living and working? An important issue to note is the lack of accessability for those with mobility, sensory and mental disabilities. It would be incredibly challanging for someone to maneuver the markets as a consumer if they were disabled and also as a merchant. The merchants run back and forth to find you what you are looking for and they are hustling hard... a person with a disability is at a large disadvantage if they can not keep up with the hustle.

cracks, breaks, holes, gaps

Oh, excuse me American women I need to get by and there is not enough room for 2 people next to eachother let alone me to pass so I will need to step off the curb into the street. 

I am starting to understand very quickly how difficult it would be for a disabled person to function in the Ghanian society... and why we are not seeing disabled people around. The sidewalks are cracked, uneven and filled with huge holes and gaps. There are HUGE roadside drainage...moats?....if you will.... on the street that you need to almost jump over and the sidewalks are narrow. If you have a wheelchair or crutches it is extremely difficult to share the sidewalk. As for ramps... forget it. There are a few ramps here and there but none of them meet the standard for what a ramp should be, which is 1 foot of ramp for 1 inch of height....

\

THIS RAMP IS TINY AND ALSO USELESS DUE TO IT BEING NARROW AND BLOCKED 

BOOK: The Broken Cord

One of the required assignments in preparing for our trip to Ghana was to read one of two books. The one I chose was called THE BROKEN CORD by Michael Dorris. It is the story of a single father, who adopts a child named Adam who eventually he finds out has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. At the time that the story took place there was very little information out there about FAS and it took a lot of time for Mr. Dorris to realize the reason why Adam was struggling so much and not improving. Mr. Dorris is one of those people that inspires the rest of us to be better--- he is a dreamer and a believer but some things dreams cannot overcome and education and prevention is the only answer. Education is the constant in everything I am reading about before this trip and it seems to always be the answer…. I did not need to read this book to know that but it just reminds how important it is to create a dialog and educate the world. It is a never ending battle.

In my internship setting we have one student who has FAS and also HIV from birth. He too was adopted and struggles academically, socially and behaviorally, but is higher functioning than Adam. In reading the book I found myself frustrated and saddened, Of course it is not Adam’s fault or Mr. Dorris’s that he suffered the way he did and we always hope for a happy ending and unfortunately that is not the way it goes all the time. In my own work I have been faced with challenges of patience and empathy, as well as expectation. We just want to be able to help, fix, make a difference. All of us who are in a helping or teaching profession went into it because we wanted to make a difference and we believed we could but I cant help but think about being jaded and giving up. My students all have so much potential and goodnees inside of them but almost all of them will not end up graduating high school or making a life for themselves in an independent way. They most likely will end up on SSI, Disability, Section 8, Food Stamps or some combination of the above. I guess you can’t win them all and even if you help one person you have made a big difference. I know that remaining optimistic and passionate despite the challenges of the work you are doing is essential to 1. Any success and, 2. Resisting burn out and ultimately quitting. The turnover in mental health and work at psychiatric facilities is very large, and it is understandable.

What comes up for me though, is how do you stop a cycle of negativity? I think about Adam, and I think about my patients in terms of lineage and cultural practices. The norm where I work is to rely on the system, to be born into a culture where there is rarely 2 parents in the home and adequate nurturing in terms of financial, emotional, educational and psychological well being. The school systems are not as good, there is not enough money to go around and everyone has to work like a dog to make ends meet. There is a lot of abuse, substance and otherwise and it is what it is. Who am I to make judgements and tell other people how to run their families, the issue goes so much further than a blog post. It is like Emmanuel, it start with one person, one voice and you must stand up and say something. Also, who is to blame? Should the parents be punished, sterilized, imprisoned? These are issues brought up in the book and they are important to talk about. How do you control a population that is free to do what they please and the legal drinking age is 21… there is no law, as far as I know, about drinking while pregnant so what do we do? How do we control drugs and marijuana now that it is becoming legal even though it is PROVEN that cannabis can onset Schizophrenia that otherwise would never exist?

 I am not saying to put blame on one community or person, but it certainly is real and there is blame to be had. Issues of class, race and gender all come into play and inevitably if these issues were addressed educationally it would help to reduce the struggles that I see everyday but you can’t change everyone or everything and you do what you can and hopefully it helps you sleep at night knowing you try. Disability is a complicated subject--- some disabilities can be prevented and some cannot. Some disabilities can be opportunities for education and information to flourish and changes to be made, but others don’t and they are nothing but a tragedy. The only way to make a difference is to do just that…start to make a difference. The book wasn’t my favorite but it was an important read—it touched on some very real issues that resonated with me and that I am sure will be thought about and talked about in greater detail in the weeks to come. I look forward to discussing the issues that the book brought up with my collegues at the hospital where I work in the near future. 

Nerves

            (Yes, those are sequin pants) 

So... It is noon on Wednesday, New Year's Day and my flight to Madrid takes off in 5 hours. The apartment is a disaster my suitcase is approaching full although who knows what actually ended up In there? 

Nerves are weird... I hate getting nervous, although who doesn't? As I embark on a 3 week journey across the world to Africa and Spain I cannot help but have mixed feelings. I am thrilled and excited to explore and have an adventure. I am also excited to learn and grow through the course I will take in Ghana. I have so Much adventure bursting inside of me... But I'm also a creature of comfort and someone who gets nervous and anxious. 

I seem to be completely normal as I reflect on this post... I'm also a little cray-cray and finding any excuse to avoid finishing packing and cleaning this disaster of an apartment. 

Side note: I ate whip cream for breakfast and want to drown my nerves In a huge. Pizza and order of Chinese spareribs... So that's my plan.

Thanks for reading this weirdo post. Keeping it real. 

See you on the flip side

Alex