Cuba: Havana the Good

When North Americans discuss Cuba, they always focus the intense poverty of Cuba. I hope to provide my readers with insights into the various social programs available for the Cuban population, specifically for people with disabilities. I base this article on my experiences during my attendance at the conference against the Free Trade Agreement of the America's and various social projects I visited around the city. The conference focused on issues regarding anti-poverty in South America, such as combating illiteracy, and implementing programs for economic development. During my two-week visit to Cuba, I observed first-hand the positive advancements made despite the poverty in Cuba.

I will skip the details of the conference against the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas, due to its political content. I want to focus this article on the various free and accessible social and educational institutions. The entire population can access educational programs via televisions present in every home. Information Technology colleges provide buses equipped with computers that travel around the country providing computer access and education to those living in rural communities. Of all the programs discussed during my visit, my focus remained on the programs available for the disabled.

One institution, which shared my focus, is The School for the Special Needs. The government requires the School for the Special Needs to be able to provide the same education proficiency as available in regular schools. Children who attend the school, however, range in physical and cognitive disabilities from moderate to severe. The school provides an opportunity for academically capable students to learn the skills necessary to promote their integration into the regular schools and eventual, post-secondary education. Children with more severe disabilities gain access to academic training, which the school models to their capabilities.

The school also provides various non-academic programs to insure equal opportunity in the workforce, such as the "Workship program". Students who enter into this program must be sixteen years of age and have completed the courses at the academic level. They can be trained in the fields of handicraft, music, hospitality and more.

The director of the school informed me that employment discrimination based on disability only existed to a minimal degree because the society treats the disabled as a part of the Cuban collective. People with disabilities have equal access to employment, transportation and education. One example would be the tradition of the government-owned vehicles, which provides transportation for any citizen if needed. I believe people with disabilities would appreciate guaranteed transportation to their place of employment.

We also visited The School of Social Work, which also accommodates persons with disabilities. The school trains students to assist those suffering from poverty, abuse or imprisoned. The program places students with a family, where the student learns the specific needs and dynamics of his or her counterpart. The belief of the school and the program is that each family should receive the individual attention for the duration necessary.

The program also aids prisoners by providing education and practical employment or other academic training during their sentence. No society is perfect. Cuban society has problems including illiteracy, poverty, and a shortage of materials. Cuba, however, has attempted to rectify these situations with the various programs I have outlined in the article above.

About the Author

Kelly Green is the author of "Hill of Hope" - a book written to show the dynamic and some times complicated relationship between family members.

Novels - http://www.storyincorporated.com

Your Source of Motivation

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Does America Get It about Terrorism?

I have to be honest. It is time to come... Read More

Competition Laws

A. THE PHILOSOPHY OF COMPETITIONThe aims of competition (anti-trust) laws... Read More

NASCAR to be Shut Down by FTC?

The Federal Trade Commission has very important Anti-trust Laws. They... Read More

Bio Attack Nation Unready

We are told by out leadership that we risk loss... Read More

True Democracy and a Way Forward

The process of researching this topic has been an interesting... Read More

Companies, Consumer and Cost of Fuel

Which companies are most affected by fuel? Who really bears... Read More

The Self-Appointed Altruists

Their arrival portends rising local prices and a culture shock.... Read More

6 Steps to Destroy the American Infidels

The United States has enemies, which call the country the... Read More

Environmentalists Say GM Seeds are Bad News

Environmentalists say GM Seeds are bad for the environment, dangerous... Read More

Cloning; The Possibilities and Advantages of Thought Swapping

We can all see the issues involved in the cloning... Read More

America Needs Election Reform to Ensure Congressional Honesty

America must implement a policy on Election Reform that is... Read More

The Liberal Solution: Assault a Conservative?

Ok, here is what happened: On March 31, 2005, Pat... Read More

John Kerry as a Prosecutor?

Prosecutors with political ambitions are known to modify the truth... Read More

A Deal Made With Ireland

SYNOD OF DRUM CEATT (494 - 5):It is interesting to... Read More

A Trade War is brewing; Are We Paying Attention

Incompetence is all too obvious at the trade shows of... Read More

China: Tibet Standoff

The People's Liberation Army of China invaded Tibet in 1949.... Read More

Cracking Down on Cigar Counterfeiters

In the most rewarding new industries, there is often a... Read More

Eminent Domain Suggested as Cost Saving Measure in DC

Washington DC council member David Catania actually suggested that the... Read More

The Dawn On The Nile Valley Has Secrets To Tell!

Amnesty International comments on the proposal that has been laid... Read More

An Environmental Voting Guide for US State Elections

In these times when states are suffering extreme downward pressure... Read More

Nurturing Global Disequilibrium

This brings to our consciousness, issues concerning the ever rising... Read More

NASA and the Crisis Aboard MIR

Some people say that we cannot put a colony on... Read More

Israel Termed A ?Nuclear Power? By US Officials

In the last two weeks, two non-senior US officials indirectly... Read More

Advances in Nuclear Energy; Safe, Clean and Reliable

The newest pebble reactors are easy to build and manage... Read More

Fear, Controversy and Chaos in the Media

Most modern day media stories containing fear, controversy and chaos... Read More

Is George Bush Two-Faced?

Yes, Bush is two-faced. The two sides of the faces... Read More

A Look Ahead to 2008 (Part II)

Last week, I began my look ahead to the 2008... Read More

The Delicate Art of Balancing The Budget

Government budgets represent between 25% and 50% of he Gross... Read More

Responding to Article: Logic Class 101 Applied to the Minuteman Project

In response to Douglas Bower's article; Logic Class 101 Applied... Read More

Federal Trade Commission Partnerships Questioned

In many reports we see that the Federal Trade Commission... Read More

Genetically Modified Plants Could Become Sentinels for the Military

As concerns grow over the threat of bioterrorism and weapons... Read More

The Transformation Of Political Science And The Rise In Crime Rates

The current field of political sciences is dominated by a... Read More

Slovenia - The Star Pupil

The most exciting event in Slovenia last week was when... Read More