HAITI / SOWC

UNICEF highlights the challenge to provide access to education for children with disabilities in Haiti, as part of its State of the World’s Children 2013 report on the estimated tens of millions of children around the world who live with disabilities. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:33
• Production Date: 3 June 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES; EDUCATION; HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: HAITI
• MAMS Id: U130603c

Description

STORY: HAITI / SOWC
TRT: 02.33
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: CREOLE / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 2 MAY 2013, PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI

Shotlist

1. Med shot, boy walking through alley
2. Med shot, boy walks past corner toward metal fence
3. Close up, boy's hand pushes metal gate
4. Close up, boy points to prosthetic foot and where his leg was amputated
5. Medium shot, public taxi drives past on street
6. SOUNDBITE (HAITIAN CREOLE), Jean Saint-Phar:
"Only about three percent of buildings in Haiti are accessible to the disabled."
7. Wide shot, view from street looking up at uneven curb and students walking on sidewalk
8. Close up, man in wheelchair typing at computer
9. Med shot, man in wheelchair typing at computer
10. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), Gerald Oriol Jr, Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities:
"In Haiti, it is estimated that there are about 800,000 to 1,000,000 people with disabilities."
11. Med shot, woman with crutch walking along sidewalk
12. Med shot, man in wheelchair facing wall
13. Med shot, blind woman with cane walking in crowd
14. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), Gerald Oriol Jr, Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities:
"The vast majority live in abject poverty and situation, obviously, is very tough. Access to education remains a huge challenge. Access to job training programs is very difficult."
15. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), Gerald Oriol Jr, Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities:
"It's improving. A lot of efforts are being implemented. For instance, right now we're working with the Ministry of Public Works to ensure that accessibility is considered within the new construction norms. We are working with the Ministry of Education to ensure that new schools are accessible to children with disabilities and we are in the process of rehabilitating several schools as well in different departments to make sure that children with disabilities have access to these schools."
16. Med shot, boy sitting on bed reading
17. Close up, face of boy reading on bed
18. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), Gerald Oriol Jr, Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities:
"Children with disabilities, if given the opportunity, if they are able to go to school, if they are able to have access to education, like all children, then they can excel as well. And they can be fully active citizens that are able to contribute to the country's development as well."
19. Wide shot, school building
20. Med shot, view from curb/sidewalk looking up at students walking on sidewalk

Storyline

When the 2010 earthquake struck Haiti, Jean Saint-Phar was buried by the collapsing walls of his classroom, where he was studying engineering. Jean was trapped for so long, that when he was finally rescued, his crushed foot was infected with gangrene, and needed to be amputated. He was later fitted with a prosthetic foot.

He says the most difficult part of his life is taking public transportation.

SOUNDBITE (HAITIAN CREOLE), Jean Saint-Phar:
"Only about three percent of buildings in Haiti are accessible to the disabled."

Making matters worse, he says, are uneven streets and sidewalks, with many obstacles.

Gerald Oriol Junior knows those challenges all too well. He's been in a wheelchair since age six, with muscular dystrophy. He's also a Harvard graduate and Haiti's secretary of state for the integration of persons with disabilities.

SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), Gerald Oriol Jr, Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities:
"In Haiti, it is estimated that there are about 800,000 to 1,000,000 people with disabilities. The vast majority live in abject poverty and situation, obviously, is very tough. Access to education remains a huge challenge. Access to job training programs is very difficult. It's improving. A lot of efforts are being implemented. For instance, right now we're working with the Ministry of Public Works to ensure that accessibility is considered within the new construction norms. We are working with the Ministry of Education to ensure that new schools are accessible to children with disabilities and we are in the process of rehabilitating several schools as well in different departments to make sure that children with disabilities have access to these schools."

The Haitian government has also provided a number of small grants to students like Jean, to help them complete their education.

SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), Gerald Oriol Jr, Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities:
"Children with disabilities, if given the opportunity, if they are able to go to school, if they are able to have access to education, like all children, then they can excel as well. And they can be fully active citizens that are able to contribute to the country's development as well."

UNICEF shares Oriol's vision of protecting the rights of all children, especially the most marginalized.