WORK
Disabled villagers can become skilled in a wide variety of manual skills. Here we list
some skills that are taught in different rehabilitation programs, training programs, and
special workshops.
509
□□* skills marked with a star are sometimes taught to blind persons
skills marked with a box are sometimes taught to mentally slow persons
leatherwork ⎕
sandal and shoe making and repair
metal work of a wide variety
welding
radio and television repair
electrical and mechanical repairs
weaving of cloth, blankets, etc.*
sewing and clothes making ⎕
toymaking *
basketweaving * ⎕
dollmaking ⎕
carpentry * ⎕
cabinet and furniture making *
hospital equipment making
making rehabilitation equipment
and aids
wheelchair making
prosthetic limb making
drawing, painting, sculpture and
design, wood or ivory carving
production of simple marketplace
gadgets, cages, utensils and
knicknacks (see p. 510)
designing and making greeting cards
printing and silk-screening
pottery making *
broom making * ⎕
chalk making * ⎕
candle making *
artificial flower making ⎕
typing and secretarial skills
bookkeeping, accounting
bee keeping
knife, scissor, and saw sharpening ⎕
gardening and vegetable raising * ⎕
animal raising (chickens, ducks, goats,
rabbits, pigs, fish) * ⎕
managing a small store or street shop *
cooking and restaurant management
health work
jewelry making
rope and string making * ⎕
landscaping, grounds maintenance ⎕
janitorial service (cleaning and
maintenance) ⎕
fish net making and repair *
teaching *
playing music *
laundry work, pressing
hair cutting, dressing
dental work
A blind boy in the Philippines plants
a vegetable garden. (Photo by Robert
Jaekle lor Helen Keller International)
This young villager in Sri Lanka
became quadriplegic at age 14.
The Sarvodaya CBR program helped
him set up this small store in
front of his home.
The above list includes only a few of the activities that disabled persons have learned
in order to run their own small business or set up shop in their home. As much as is
possible, let the disabled person decide what skill or skills she wants to learn. Choices
that are possible will depend on the person’s combination of disability, abilities, and
interest as well as on the local situation, resources, market, training opportunities, and
other local factors.
disabled village children