We didn’t benefit from reading materials - PWDs

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) have expressed concern over the reading materials that were distributed by the education ministry during the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to PWDs, the designed education materials only benefited abled persons, not the categories of persons who have special needs such as the blind and deaf.

“The children with disabilities who would not hear didn’t benefit from radio lessons and also those who are blind could not benefit from television lessons,” said Dr Patrick Ojok, a lecturer and disability inclusion expert at Kyambogo University.

Dr Patrick Ojok, the lecturer and disability inclusion expert at Kyambogo University gives a key note address during the women’s day celebrations organized by Cheshire Services Uganda. (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)

He was addressing journalists during the Women’s Day celebrations organised by Cheshire Services Uganda at Sheraton Hotel Kampala on Friday.

The event was celebrated under this year’s theme, “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world”. It aimed at recognizing efforts by women, specifically those with disabilities. 

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) report published in 2016, women with disabilities are part of 12.4% PWDs of Uganda’s population and also part of the 15% or 1 billion global population according to the World Bank Report.

With people stuck at home, Ojok said lockdown amplified the magnitude of discrimination, deprivation and exclusion of persons with disabilities.

Homeschooling challenges

Regarding the issue of using a radio to study, Angella Kitimbo, a Senior Two student of Kyambogo College School, said she could not grasp everything the teachers taught. She said they were very fast, one couldn’t grasp almost everything the teacher’s taught on the radio.

“It is hard to move at the same pace with teachers who conduct lessons on televisions and radios. Since I cannot study online because my mother does not have a smartphone, in a month, I meet my teacher once to assist me with the challenges I have.” Kitimbo stated.

Patricia Chepkwemoi, a senior one student of Wakiso school for the deaf, disclosed that she has not benefited from the ministry of education reading materials since lessons are conducted on televisions without a sign language interpreter.

A cross section of some of the children with disabilities during the Women’s Day celebrations organized by Cheshire Services Uganda. (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)

According to Annet Nakibogwe, the acting Executive Director of Cheshire services Uganda, PWDs often face double marginalization both as women and as women with disabilities.

“The marginalization ranges from resentment, denial to education, abuses, domestic and sexual violence, high poverty levels among others,” revealed Nakibogwe.

With support from development partners such as UKaid, DFID, Cheshire Services Uganda has served in sixteen districts across the country to rehabilitate and empower PWDs to lead a dignified and productive life. These include Kaliro, Buikwe, Wakiso, Kampala, Moyo, Adjumani, Amolatar, Bukwo, Tororo, Sironko, Manafa, Budaka, Soroti among others