“The only person who is handicapped is the one that is dead.” Freddy Makanda, star of Life Ring (Democratic Republic of Congo).

FOCUS ON ABILITY

Focus on Ability is an annual international film festival hosted by NOVA Employment. NOVA is an Australian based not-for-profit employment agency for people living with disabilities. This government-funded agency finds wage work and offers post-placement support to people living with intellectual, sensory and other disabilities. The basis of the film festival is to encourage filmmakers and people with disabilities to “focus on ability” and to tell their stories to the world. CEO of NOVA Employment, Martin Wren began the festival in 2009 with a belief in the abilities of the “disabled” and the recognition that film possesses the power to challenge beliefs and perceptions about the communities of people that they represent.

In 2019, 244 films were entered into the festival from twenty-six countries. Of these, four international short films and 20 international short documentaries were African submissions. Aspiring and established filmmakers from Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi and Uganda signed up for the opportunity to fight invisibility. Though none of the African entries won in any of the categories, it is not an exaggeration to say that all of the stories where somehow inspiring, educational or challenging to societal perceptions. More so, because Africa has featured embarrassingly low levels of acknowledgement, representation and integration of disabled persons into our communities.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

As of 1992, 3 December has been the day marked to observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). This year’s theme for IDPD is “Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership: taking action on the 2030 Development Agenda”. The 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) pledges to “leave no one behind” and thus promotes the active empowerment of persons living with disabilities to achieve inclusive and equitable sustainable development.

“Disability is not inability”

“The only person who is handicapped is the one that is dead.” When you hear these words coming from the insistent lips of a very energetic Congolese double amputee, doing a handstand amidst a crowd of curious onlookers; you have every right to be speechless. Freddy Makanda, star of the Life Ring documentary (DRC), lost both his legs after stepping on a bomb in 1996 and, unfortunately, lost both of his legs. Much like other stories captured in films for the Focus on Ability Short Film Festival, he insists that losing eyes or legs does not mean that one cannot work. Other stars of documentaries and short films in the Focus on Ability series like an electronics shop owner, Duncan Husain (Malawi) from Embrace the True Me, insists that people with disabilities should be able to access soft loans to help them start or scale their businesses. Joseph Tebandeke (Uganda) from Splash, Samuel Jethwa (Kenya) from Jethwa and Bill Kasanda (Kenya) from One Leg At A Time are fitness enthusiasts who continue to dance, hike, bike and do CrossFit despite the use of one or both legs. Then there are certifiable “Wonder women” like Uwamahoro Vastine (Rwanda) from Disability is Not Inability who lost the use of one leg as a result of an injury sustained during the 1994 genocide. Despite the injury and subsequent reliance on crutches, the mother of four is a very active agrarian and tailor as of 2011. All through the disciplined instruction of her parents who encouraged her to use what he has, instead of begging.

Many viewers of these short films and documentaries felt inspired by the displays of brazen determination and resolute grit. Another natural response has been to feel like one should be more grateful for what they have and savour every experience made possible by their abilities. What is clear, though, is the overwhelming sense that the festival and the IDPD are looking for people to ask themselves: what can I do to support and help integrate people with disabilities into society?