3 - The Problem with Pretty Little Programs

Summary

Los Pipitos, also known as the Association of Parents of Children with Disabilities, is one of Nicaragua’s most celebrated solidaridad organizations. In Segovia, the local Los Pipitos has become a symbol of what local civil society can do. The local chapter, which started out as a volunteer-run pre-school, now operates a large complex of services with a Youth Center for adolescents and youth with developmental disabilities as its centerpiece. This local civil-society initiative, however, is now out of step with international norms for promoting disability rights rather than providing rehabilitation and social support. Thus, the local chapter begins to face increasing pressure from the outside to close down the center and instead organize the youth and their parents in a campaign for disability rights. Eventually, the Youth Center is shut down by the national office and a new executive director is installed. But, after the new director fails to engender a rights-advocacy program, local parents organize against her and take the organization back. This results in a “back to basics” campaign where local parents decide to rededicate themselves to the values of solidaridad and leave disability rights advocacy behind.