"New world report shows more than 1 billion people with disabilities face substantial barriers in their daily lives
Governments should step up efforts to enable access to mainstream services and to invest in specialized programmes to unlock the vast potential of people with disabilities
News release
9 June 2011 | New York - WHO and the World Bank today revealed new global estimates that more than one billion people experience some form of disability. They urged governments to step up efforts to enable access to mainstream services and to invest in specialized programmes to unlock the vast potential of people with disabilities.
World report on disability provides global estimates
The first-ever World report on disability provides the first global estimates of persons with disabilities in 40 years and an overview of the status of disability in the world. New research shows that almost one-fifth of the estimated global total of persons living with disabilities, or between 110-190 million, encounter significant difficulties. The report stresses that few countries have adequate mechanisms in place to respond to the needs of people with disabilities. Barriers include stigma and discrimination, lack of adequate health care and rehabilitation services; and inaccessible transport, buildings and information and communication technologies. As a result, people with disabilities experience poorer health, lower educational achievements, fewer economic opportunities and higher rates of poverty than people without disabilities.
"Disability is part of the human condition," says WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan. "Almost every one of us will be permanently or temporarily disabled at some point in life. We must do more to break the barriers which segregate people with disabilities, in many cases forcing them to the margins of society.""
I would give the last drop of blood in my body for
her."
She wants blood, and blood she must
have or die
transfusion of blood, to transfer from full veins
of one to the empty veins
of
blood so pure
the narrow
black velvet band which she seems always to wear round her throat,
buckled with an old diamond buckle
deep hiss of indrawn
breath
What do you make of that mark on her
throat?"
There was no sign of
disease, but the edges were white and worn looking, as if by some
trituration. It at once occurred to me that that this wound, or
whatever it was, might be the means of that manifest loss of blood.
The opiate worked itself
off towards dusk, and she waked naturally.
looked at me gratefully
whenever I caught her eye
You do not want to sleep?"
"Afraid to go to sleep! Why so? It is the boon we all crave for."
"Ah, not if you were like me, if sleep was to you a presage of
horror!"
All this weakness comes to me in sleep,
"But, my dear girl, you may sleep tonight. I am here watching you,
and I can promise that nothing will happen."
"Ah, I can trust you!" she said.
All night long I watched by her. She never stirred, but slept on and
on in a deep, tranquil, life-giving, health-giving sleep.
It was dark when I was able to inquire about
my zoophagous patient.
I lay on the sofa, and forgot all about
everything.
Somehow Arthur feels
very, very close to me.
DR. SEWARD'S DIARY
10 September.--I was conscious of the Professor's hand on my head, and
started awake all in a second. That is one of the things that we
learn in an asylum, at any rate.
There on the bed, seemingly in a swoon, lay poor Lucy, more horribly
white and wan-looking than ever.
the faint seemed to merge subtly
into the narcotic sleep.
how Lucy had made such a retrograde movement, and how
she could have been drained of so much blood with no sign any where to
show for it
"Now you go home, and eat much and drink enough. Make yourself
strong. I stay here tonight, and I shall sit up with little miss
myself.
In the hall two of the maids came to me, and asked if they or either
of them might not sit up with Miss Lucy.
For over and over
again have I seen similar instances of woman's kindness.
waiting for sleep. It is coming.
11 September.--This afternoon I went over to Hillingham. Found Van
Helsing in excellent spirits, and Lucy much better.
"No trifling with me! I never jest! There is grim purpose in what I
do, and I warn you that you do not thwart me.
No telling to
others that make so inquisitive questions.
more confinement of information ~ characters are also always saying don't tell, don't say anything about. etc.
Also the effect of Victorian reticence it to sequester knowledge and information
you
always have a reason for what you do, but this certainly puzzles me.
It is well we have no sceptic here, or he would say that you were
working some spell to keep out an evil spirit."
I thought he would be a good person to learn interesting things from,
so I asked him if he would mind telling me something about the whale
fishing in the old days.
when
the clock struck six
-I came up here an hour ago with Lucy, and we had a most
interesting talk with my old friend and the two others who always come
and join him. He is evidently the Sir Oracle of them
Lucy was looking sweetly pretty in her white lawn frock. She has got
a beautiful colour since she has been here.
I got
him on the subject of the legends, and he went off at once into a sort
of sermon.
she told me all over again about Arthur and
their coming marriage. That made me just a little heart-sick, for I
haven't heard from Jonathan for a whole month.
The same day. I came up here alone, for I am very sad. There was no
letter for me. I hope there cannot be anything the matter with
Jonathan. The clock has just struck nine.
I wonder where Jonathan is and
if he is thinking of me! I wish he were here.
DR. SEWARD'S DIARY
The case of Renfield grows more interesting the more I get to
understand the man. He has certain qualities very largely developed,
selfishness, secrecy, and purpose.
Just now his hobby is catching flies
He has turned his mind now to spiders
he argued quietly that it was very good and
very wholesome, that it was life, strong life, and gave life to him.
he keeps a little
notebook in which he is always jotting down something
He has managed to get a sparrow, and has already partially tamed it.
His means of taming is simple, for already the spiders have
diminished
We are progressing. My friend has now a whole colony of
sparrows
I could
see a warning of danger in it, for there was a sudden fierce, sidelong
look which meant killing.
took away his pocketbook to look at it. The thought
that has been buzzing about my brain lately is complete, and the
theory proved.
I shall have to invent a
new classification for him
zoophagous (life-eating)
maniac
If I could have as strong a cause as my poor mad friend there, a good,
unselfish cause to make me work,
MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL
yesterday dear Mr. Hawkins, who is always so kind, sent me a
letter from him
only a line dated
from Castle Dracula, and says that he is just starting for home. That
is not like Jonathan. I do not understand it, and it makes me uneasy.
has lately taken to her old
habit of walking in her sleep
Mr. Holmwood, he is the Hon. Arthur Holmwood, only son of Lord
Godalming, is coming up here very shortly
27 July.--No news from Jonathan. I am getting quite uneasy about him
6 August.--Another three days, and no news.
Lucy is more excitable than ever, but is otherwise well. Last night
was very threatening, and the fishermen say that we are in for a
storm. I must try to watch it and learn the weather signs.
I have been quite touched by the change in the poor old man. When he
sat down beside me, he said in a very gentle way, "I want to say
something to you, miss."
Here comes old Mr. Swales
I didn't mean them, and I
want ye to remember that when I'm gone
My time must be nigh at hand now,
He stopped to talk with me, as he always does, but all the time
kept looking at a strange ship.
"I can't make her out," he said. "She's a Russian, by the look of
her. But she's knocking about in the queerest way.
She is steered mighty strangely
"There's something in that wind and
in the hoast beyont that sounds, and looks, and tastes, and smells
like death. It's in the air. I feel it comin'.
he got up, shook hands with me, and blessed me,
and said goodbye