-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Jan.25, 1996
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------
The First International Conference on the Rights of Peoples with Disabilities in the Process of their Social Integration was held here Dec. 26-29. Some 300 Cuban and international delegates, the overwhelming majority of the people with physical disabilities, attended the forum at the "Solidarity with Panama" Special School.
The Association of Cubans with Physical and Motor Disabilities (ACLIFIM) sponsored this historic forum. International delegations came from Latin America, the Caribbean, the United States, Spain and the former Soviet Union.
The Cubans have expanded the special-education system to address individual needs and make jobs available when the disabled people graduate. "Traveling teachers" reach out to young students in their homes.
Wheelchairs are provided according to need. People with motor impairments have highest priority in obtaining an automobile.
Representatives from the highest levels of the Cuban government--including the ministers of education, public health, employment and social security, and the assistant minister of foreign affairs--addressed the conference.
These high-level officials demonstrated the Cuban state's willingness to work closely with ACLIFIM on the conference and to candidly answer questions posed by both Cuban and international delegates.
This cooperative attitude contrasts sharply with that of U.S. government officials toward domestic disability-rights organizations. Before they could get anyone from the Department of Health and Human Services to speak with them, U.S. activists from ADAPT had to blockade HHS headquarters with wheelchairs. They followed two successive HHS secretaries with protests for six years before one met with disability-rights leaders.
These officials wouldn't even say the words "personal assistance services" in public.
ACLIFIM members and cadres--all people with disabilities-- planned, organized and executed the conference. Associate members--who don't have disabilities--and the Cuban government provided logistical assistance.
The organizers met the needs of every delegate and every international delegation in a knowledgeable, sensitive manner. The conference schedule proceeded smoothly.
Anyone who meets and speaks with the members and cadres of ACLIFIM--especially the youths and women in its ranks and leadership--will come away with confidence in the future of the Cuban Revolution and socialism.
Sandra Hidalgo Negret, born with cerebral palsy and once labeled "mentally retarded," now at age 21 is presenting papers at international conferences on the educational needs of young women with disabilities. This young Cuban aspires to be a writer, journalist or teacher. She is getting a chance to fulfill her potential.
Aracely Rodriguez, another young revolutionary woman, has orthopedic impairments that required many surgeries while she was growing up. Now she is studying to be a lawyer or a diplomat. She is near the top of her class at law school.
These young companeras are just two examples of the talent, skill and leadership that is made available to Cuban society because of the Revolution's commitment to educate people with disabilities.
Doctors from the Julito Diaz Rehabilitation Hospital explained how the U.S. blockade hurts Cubans with disabilities.
They told Workers World this short-term-rehabilitation facility for post-injury or post-surgery treatment of people with a variety of physical disabilities is treating many more serious decubitus ulcers or pressure sores in people with spinal-cord injuries. This care often requires extensive skin grafting and repair to damaged bones.
The main contributor to this increase in serious skin breakdown is the lack of proper cushioning needed by people seated in armchairs for a long period of times.
With cheers and chants of "Cuba si, bloqueo no," the delegates passed a resolution--authored by Workers World and introduced by the U.S. delegation--denouncing the criminal U.S. blockade of Cuba as part of the U.S. government's campaign to destabilize the Cuban Revolution.
The resolution contrasted Cuba's commitment to its people with disabilities despite the blockade with the Contract with America's attacks on people with disabilities in the United States.
One of the highlights of the conference was visiting various Committees for the Defense of the Revolution around Havana. The CDRs are neighborhood groups that do everything from organizing play areas for neighborhood children to organizing block watches.
Delegations to the conference from Barbados, Jamaica and the United States were welcomed by the Julio Antonio Mella CDR in Havana City, named for a founder of the Young Communist League.
The CDR's president thanked the U.S. delegation for its resolution condemning the blockade. He emphasized that Cubans know the difference between the U.S. government and the people.
He also made it clear, "Fidel is our leader."
During the conference's closing ceremonies, Catalina Ledesma of Argentina spoke for her country's delegation saying: "I am proud to be from the land which gave Che Guevara to Cuba and to the world. In visiting Cuba, I can now see the kind of society Che fought for."
ACLIFIM is planning the Second International Conference for January or February 1997, and will be organizing jointly with the National Organization of Deaf Cubans and the national organization of the blind and visually impaired.
[The writer is a leading disabled activist.]
- END -
(Copyright Workers World Service: Permission to reprint granted if source is cited. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: ww@wwpublish.com. For subscription info send message to: ww-info@wwpublish.com.)