Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to explore how individuals with disabilities within
the context of the Wa West District in the Upper West Region cope with human
rights abuses. A case study design was used for the study. The sample size was
22. These comprised 12 people with disabilities and 10 non-disabled persons,
which include caregivers of PWDs, government officials who work with PWDs
and NGOs who work with PWDs in the Wa West District. The method for data
collection was semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling technique was
used to select the sample size. Data was analyzed thematically. Results from the
study showed that most people with disabilities use several coping mechanisms,
which include seeking counselling, encouragement from family members and
through prayers. The study concluded that coping with human rights abuses
among people with disabilities was partial due to some governmental policies
and self-perceptions of people with disabilities and the non-disabled in the
community. Challenges faced by PWDs were stigmatization and illiteracy and
resource constraints. The study recommends that there should be a follow up of
government incentives to encourage employers to employ people with
disabilities, public awareness creation to sensitize the general public on the need
to accept and involve PWDs. Also, it is it is imperative for the government and
all stakeholders to address attitudinal, informational, physical and institutional
barriers that may challenge PWDs in getting employment.
Description:
A thesis in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Center for Human Rights,
Conflict and Peace Studies, submitted to the
School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Arts
(Human Rights, Conflict and Peace Studies)
in the University of Education, Winneba
