‘Welcome to My Life!’ Photovoice: Needs Assessment of, and by, Persons with Physical Disabilities in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Breaking the Barriers: Ghanaians’ Perspectives about the Social Model

“…Findings regarding the association of discrimination with exclusion from the labour market are consistent with findings in other studies (MESW, 2000;Kassah, 2008;Naami, 2010;Tijm et al, 2011;Naami & Hayashi, 2012;Naami, 2013).…”

“…It is evident that inaccessible transportation and architectural barriers hinder the mobility of persons with disability and impinge on their participation in mainstream society. This validates other studies (Naami, 2010;Tijm et al, 2011). Accessible environment is important because it is likely to increase the effective participation and social inclusion of persons with disabilities, as well as benefit the entire population (e.g., parents with small children, the elderly, cyclists, pregnant women).…”

“…Attitudinal barriers include negative socio-cultural norms and practices that stigmatise them, negative preconceptions, stereotypes, and discrimination. Several studies indicate that attitudinal barriers are the primary obstacles to the employment of persons with disabilities in Ghana (Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare [MESW], 2000;Kassah, 2008;Naami, 2010;Tijm et al, 2011;Naami & Liese, 2012;Naami, 2013). A very recent study by Naami (2013), which investigated the employment situation of persons with disabilities in Northern Ghana, cited discrimination as the key barrier to employment as well as a challenge to those who were employed.…”

“…Studies by Naami (2010) and Tijm et al (2011) emphasise the daily struggles of persons with disabilities in Ghana as a result of these challenges (inaccessible buildings, lack of sidewalks, ramps, elevators, curb cuts). Although transportation is essential for everyone, there is no single accessible public transportation system in Ghana.…”

1000 Voices: Reflective online multimodal narrative inquiry as a research methodology for disability research

“…A relatively small number of disability narrative studies have used methodologies such as 'photovoice' narratives and digital stories to connect peoples' lived experience with decision makers (see for example, Jokinen et al, 2009;Kaylor, 2007;Manning, 2010;Tijm et al, 2011). Despite advances toward multimodality in narrative theory and methodology generally (see for example, Ashby, 2011;Doloughan, 2011), disability researchers have not yet widely tested the relevance or applicability of 'multimodal' and 'intertextual' storytelling techniques to match participants' diverse abilities and preferences.…”