Radio Netherlands Worldwide reports on a new book by Petra Jorissen, a wheelchair user, who wanted to write about ordinary Africans living with physical disabilities so she travelled across Africa interviewing them.
"Even though three-quarters of the world's disabled people live in developing countries, one seldom hears about their lives. In Heroes on Crutches (Helden op Stokken) Ms Jorissen tells the stories of 12 very different Africans and how they cope with their disabilities," Radio Netherlands says.
One person profiled is Ricardo Matusse, (pictured) a tailor living in a village in Mozambique. He's 62 and his legs are disabled by polio. Ms Jorissen says, Matusse "accepts his situation and takes life as it comes, that's his talent."
Matusse only received a wheelchair a few years ago. Before that, he had to go everywhere on his hands and knees.
