Research shows that people with disabilities have always been largely excluded and marginalised in societies across the world.
Over time, the language used to describe disability has generally become more positive and inclusive. Many activists advocate for the use of “people/persons with disabilities” and not the “handicapped” or “disabled”. But this language remains negative for many Indigenous people around the world. To them the word “disability” is stigmatising because they don’t have such a term in their vocabulary. It’s also a misrepresentation of their traditional beliefs regarding impairments.
In traditional village life, the Xhosa community of AmaBomvane in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa do not see disability in a person. Their rituals do not allow people to discriminate – their worldview is based on collectivism and ubuntu. Ubuntu is an African philosophy that promotes the common good of society and includes humaneness; each person is an integral part of society.
