THE PHAB MOVEMENT & YOUTH

Pauline Tong

PHAB & ITS HISTORY

PHAB stands for physically handicapped and able-bodied which means the integration of both groups in the community.  In the past, physically handicapped persons were usually segregated in institutions, hospitals, special schools, hostels and training centres.  In 1970, Wolfensberger’s “Normalisation*” principle found its way in all human service, work and profession, and most importantly to the socially detached people (deviants).  He supported the idea of taking handicapped persons from controlled environment and put them back into real-life situation where they are given the chance and opportunity to interact with the able-bodied.  Integration relates to areas such as education, vocational training, employment and social participation and is generally regarded as the ultimate goal of rehabilitation.  PHAB concept focuses mainly on social integration which of course plays a vital role in the overall rehabilitation of the handicapped persons.

It was in 1956 that the PHAB idea was born in the United Kingdom.  It came from the self-expressed need of a young physically handicapped person and the response to that need by the Council of the National Association of Youth Clubs (NAYC).  This young man wanted “opportunity not pity” and to share in a social life with his able-bodied counterparts.  “Opportunity not pity” has been accepted as the motto of the HK PHAB since its establishment in 1972.  Responding to his desire, a week’s residential training course was arranged in which equal number of physically handicapped and able-bodied young people came together to share in activities and social events, such as art, drama, outings and dances - all the things that young people would want to share.  All students paid the same fee and it was considered shared leisure and not voluntary service by one group or the other.  Naturally it turned out to be a great success and the whole idea attempted to break down the barrier which had existed between the disabled and able-bodied, preventing the development of relationship and friendship.

The project expanded in the year that followed and being not satisfied with once a year contact, they started to form PHAB clubs which were organized as ordinary youth clubs comprising of both physically handicapped and able-bodied persons.  These clubs offered new opportunities for continued learning about integration within the community.  At first, the PHAB movement aimed to cater for the social needs of youth between 16 & 25 but gradually the philosophy extended to older age groups who saw the need for continual support.  Therefore, nowadays PHAB applies to integration of the physically handicapped and the able-bodied of all age groups.

In general, the PHAB concept is based on the following beliefs:-

(1)     Physically handicapped persons have the right to share in the life of the community at all levels.

(2)     The physically handicapped persons share the common needs of wanting to love and be loved, to belong, to be needed and to make contribution.

(3)     Integration enriches the quality of life for both physically handicapped and able-bodied groups.

(4)     In all PHAB activities, the able-bodied will involve not as helpers but as equals, benefitting from and enjoying in them.  Physically support as required will be provided as an expression of friendship.  This care will be an addition to and not a substitute for the personal relationship which is at the heart of PHAB.  This is how PHAB volunteers are different from volunteers involving in other types of social service.

(5)     If integration is to happen, a situation needs to be created which is absolutely essential at the very beginning and which also involves breaking down the emotional barrier ie. fear, embarassment, apathy, over-protection, frustration and other attitudes and stigma that may hinder integration.  PHAB concern is therefore more on the emotional and personal barriers than the physical ones such as accessibility and mobility.

(6)     Clubs, programmes and courses make good social, educational and training provisions which promote contrived situation.  They serve too as a bridge to full integration into the community.  In the United Kingdom, PHAB is promoted through residential courses and clubs.  Residential experience is vital because shared living will present the real difficulties involving personal and physical care as well as social activities.  It is felt that within a club which only meets for only a few hours a week for both groups, it is easy to disguise their real feelings and inhibition and therefore real integration can never be achieved.  But, clubs are necessary as they help continue PHAB experience beyond the yearly contact offered by residential course.  Each club is an autonomous unit, with the freedom to express the philosophy in accordance with its own needs.  Their programmes vary, but usually involve cultural activity groups, shared sporting activities, visits of interests, film-shows, dances and social events.

THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN PHAB INTEGRATION

As we can all see that PHAB idea was first initiated to meet the needs of young physically handicapped people to help build up their self-esteem, confidence and finally to be part of the community with their able-bodied counterparts.  It is only natural to see that handicapped youth share the same desire of young people, to be treated as individual and to lead a life as normal as possible and not to be conspicuous because of their handicaps.  This desire is often the problem they need to face when reach their adolescence and it is therefore not difficult to see that able-bodied youth can play a very important role in helping them to overcome the unnecessary barrier which may jeopardize integration.  The reasons are:-

(1)    From both the rehabilitation workers’ and special educators’ points of view, integration is best at young age before inappropriate attitude from the able-bodied hardens and prejudice formed.  Both physically handicapped and able-bodied youth ought to be taught to accept each other and be accepted. This is now done of course in integrated schools when both groups are given chance to interact, learn and play together as equals.

(2)    Though nowadays integration is recommended to happen at very early age, yet many young physically handicapped children, especially in Hong Kong, are still being segregated in special schools till they reach twelve or even older.  Physically handicapped adolescents should therefore be given more opportunities in the natural environment to interact with their able-bodied peers.

(3)    All adolescents face frustration to seek their own identity in the society and so are the physically handicapped who unavoidably have to cope with more uncertainties.  When provided with the opportunity, able-bodied youth can be more empathetic and helpful to their physically handicapped peers who are going through the same experience as themselves.

(4)    Young people are active, energetic, enthusiastic, less stubborn and are generally more willing to accept people different from themselves.  Therefore it is considered best for this group to promote the PHAB movement among their peer groups.  Once the concept finds its root in the community, integration is achieved and the past stigma is removed.

Judging from the above, I firmly believe that the united effort of both youth groups is the main driving force which will help push the integration concept into the community at large.  This belief is endorsed by the data collected by our PHAB Record & Evaluation Officer which shows that youth group constitutes around half of our total membership and has always been the most active, regular and devoted participants of all our PHAB programmes and activities.  Obviously they are PHAB supporters.  We hope this situation will be maintained and hopefully be expanded so that more young people are aware of the physically handicapped who have the same needs as themselves.

HOW ARE PROGRAMMES PREPARED AND DESIGNED TO MEET PHAB OBJECTIVE

The Association carries out its integration objective through programmes and activities organized by its four PHAB centres and a PHAB Camp.  The following are some preparatory work required in order to attain our ultimate goal for PHAB integration:-

(1)   All programme staff are required to undergo special in-service training in order to prepare themselves in working with physically handicapped members. Training areas include all general aspects on disabilities, their limitations, their physical and emotional needs etc.

(2)   For publicity and educational purposes, training courses, especially on the PHAB concept and volunteerism are regularly conducted for able-bodied persons.

(3)   Programmes or games are specially selected and sometimes modified to suit physically handicapped participants and which will retain the enjoyment and fun to both groups.

(4)   Basic provisions are made available in order to facilitate the physically handicapped to participate in all activities.  These includes transportation, accessibility, public utilities and physical assistance.

(5)   Creating a contrived environment and opportunity conducive to integration is thought to be necessary during the initial period.  Once integration is achieved, the physically handicapped are ready to jump out of the controlled environment to the world outside.  In this respect, the potential and limitations of both the physically handicapped and the able-bodied have to be carefully considered.

(6)   We encourage the formation of PHAB clubs in which both groups are given the chance to work for their own welfare and for the welfare of the society which they all belong and responsible to.  There will be no discrimination against the minority group and will see themselves as equals.

Whilst the ultimate aim of PHAB is full participation by the disabled in play and leisure, evidence has shown that a contrived situation is needed if the gap between segregation and full integration is to be bridged.  As recommended by Miss Mary Robinson, founder member of the UK PHAB, and further endorsed by our own experience, PHAB programmes must include the following elements:-

(1)    Individuality – It must be borne in mind that the disabled are not a group of identical people but are as varied as the able-bodied in personality, in taste, in habits etc. and should therefore be treated as an individual.  Each individual, both physically handicapped and able-bodied must face up to their motives, feelings and reactions within the leisure programme and be willing to share them with others.

(2)    Involvement – This is an essential ingredient of the PHAB experience.  Participation involves more than attendance, therefore passive entertainment such as lectures, films should not be over-emphasised.  Involvement includes management, responsibilities and of course providing physical care.  This is manifested in PHAB clubs where members are responsible for their own financial, administrative and operational matters.

(3)    Developing personal relationship – Experience shows that one to one approach is the best way to overcome attitude barrier as PHAB aims to create a situation where such relationship can be developed irrespective of disabilities.  Often barriers between people have more to do with personality than with disability.

(4)    Decision making – Opportunity must be offered for both groups to make decisions relating to programme, finance, and friendship etc.  For some, especially the handicapped, this freedom and opportunity may be new and challenging but will certainly help train leadership among themselves.

(5)    Learning – PHAB experience is a long experience.  Apart from learning new skills, both groups are provided the opportunity to learn more about themselves and about other people.

(6)    Enjoyment – PHAB experience provides not only opportunities but enjoyment.  Members work not for one another but with one another.  It is also about people enjoying themselves, and essential part of leisure and play.  Integration is not achieved if people are miserable and not enjoying.

SOME IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS FACING PHAB

Our Association has been working very hard to promote the PHAB movement during the last 17 years and it is very comforting to see that not only has our service area been expanded, our membership increased, but integrated programmes and activities are being conducted on PHAB basis in various other rehabilitation agencies.  However, we are not entirely free of hindrances which are obstructing our way towards the integration goal.  Some of our identified problems are:-

(1)   the not unusual psychological barrier which may have stopped many physically handicapped persons to come forward to join us.

(2)   the physical barriers which are still existing in many parts of Hong Kong and are restricting our activities.

(3)   the lack of public education and the reluctance of the community to accept physically handicapped persons have slowed down our work.  Hong Kong people still need to be educated on accepting the minority groups and it is an essential step if the PHAB movement is to grow.

CONCLUSION

PHAB’s great strength is that it developed from youth movement rather than the disabled groups.  Its link with the youth is vital and will certainly be maintained and strengthened.  It is hoped to encourage Youth Clubs and Youth Groups to receive the disabled, who so desire, as full members within the existing membership.  We anticipate this will give a new dimension to integration beyong the contrived situation.  In fact, following this direction, our Association is making a new attempt to run a PHAB C&Y Centre in early 1990. This new centre will be operated like a normal C&Y with only the very basic modifications in programmes and facilities to meet the special needs of physically handicapped members.  This aims again to take our disabled young people from the contrived PHAB situation to community involvement.

NOTES

* Wolfensberger defines normalisation as “the use of cultural normative means in order to enable disabled persons, life conditions to be at least as good as that of average citizens and to enhance or support their behaviour, appearances, experiences, status and reputation.”

Original Source: International Conference on Youth Proceedings: A Caring Community for Young People (Hong Kong Council of Social Service,1990). 

The author is the Executive Director of Hong Kong PHAB Association.