Grace Asio: Blind to everything, but the law

Anna Grace Asio, 33, was born blind, but she has risen above this disability to achieve milestones for herself and others. She is unstoppable. She is a wife, mother of two, disability advocate and lawyer, always on her feet.

Asio is blind, but when you see her move and do things, you can easily mistake her for someone with perfect sight.

She owns a smart phone and operates all the apps, including WhatsApp. She makes and receives phone calls with ease, using screen reader and talk back.

The speed with which she types on her laptop is another ability to marvel at. But that’s not all; Asio manages her home with minimal help. She does all the chores, including caring for her two sons who are below four years. Her youngest has a visual impairment.

Asio feeds, bathes them, cooks for them, does the laundry, irons clothes and cleans the house. The help at home is a nanny, not a house help.

“Being a hands-on mother and wife is fulfilling and I enjoy it. It’s such a good feeling when I am in charge of my life and family,” she says.

That aside, her mobility baffles many. She gets to her destinations with much ease and without a walking aid or guide.

Where she lives in Iganga town, some bodaboda cyclists find it hard to believe that Asio is blind. They think she feigns it because when she jumps on a motorcycle, she keeps directing the rider to her destination, cautioning them against hitting a pothole here and there; and announcing he should be careful manoeuvring a sharp bend ahead.

Asio also knows the location of landmarks, such as big trees, storied buildings and billboards. Bodaboda cyclists are shocked when she makes statements like: “Kindly drop me at that billboard on your left or at that flat on the right.”

At Asio’s workplace, she is described as brilliant, hardworking, proactive and resilient. These virtues make her a top employee.

She is always on her feet, criss-crossing the eastern region while supporting vulnerable people, especially women and girls living with disabilities.

Asio works as the project officer at Integrated Disabled Women Activities (IDIWA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Iganga district that ensures the rights of women and girls with disabilities are respected.

In her work, Asio strives to eliminate sexual and gender-based violence in families with PWDs. She was first a board member for five years before being appointed to her current office.

Asio’s life journey hasn’t been rosy, but also, not dreadful compared to what many PWDs go through. She credits her family for supporting her and making life meaningful. She says her mother was keen to never treat her like she was a special case. This upbringing is why it is hard for some to believe she is completely blind.

“I was loved, supported and empowered to compete with children who have sight. My mother raised me feeling normal like others,” she says.

Asio is the second of six children, born to Patrick Omadang and Mary Osire, both retired primary school teachers.

Two of the six children are living with disabilities.

Asio has congenital glaucoma, a condition caused by incorrect development of the eye’s drainage system before birth, while her younger sister, Josephine Kanyango, has physical disabilities — her face, hands and stomach were severally burnt while she was a baby.

Asio with her sister Josephine Kanyango (right).

Just like Asio, she has also defied her disability to graduate from university and is now serving as a personal secretary at the health ministry.

The other siblings are all living meaningful lives.

The birth of Asio

When Asio’s mother was pregnant, it didn’t occur to her that she would give birth to a blind child. Moreover, it was a peaceful pregnancy and no family member from either side has a visual impairment. Asio’s mother gave birth to her on December 1, 1991. All was well, but when Asio was three months old, her parents realised she couldn’t see.

“I was taken to several hospitals, where I underwent surgeries to restore my sight, but all was in vain,” she says.

Asio’s parents were devastated, but resolved that she would be an achiever. For that, Asio grew up doing everything her siblings did. She would sweep and mop the house, cook for the family, fetch water and do laundry. The only activity she failed to master was digging. Her parents excused her from this activity. So, as the rest of the family went to the garden, she would remain home to clean and prepare meals. She says her she was surrounded by love and taught to be God-fearing, hardworking and respectful.

“My mother would tell me that I am a normal child and that I had to learn to be self-sustaining just like others. I enjoyed my childhood, save for a few neighbours, who called me demeaning names. I played with my friends and they never made me feel disabled. My favourite game was ‘bladder’ (rope jumping) and I was good at it,” she says.

School

Asio started school at the age of six, but she almost dropped out owing to stigma. On her first day of school, the headteacher told her mother: “Why do you waste money on a blind child? I doubt she will get anywhere in life.” But her mother remained hopeful.

After a few months at Pallisa Girls Primary School, Asio joined Madera School for the blind in Soroti district, but while in P.5, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency worsened.

She was transferred to Iganga Primary School, where she did her Primary Leaving Examinations, passing in second grade. She was admitted at Iganga Girls Secondary school for O’and A’level and was among the best students. She scored aggregate 17 in Senior Four and 21 points in Senior Six.

“The environment at the school favoured blind students. We had good teachers and typewriters,” Asio says.

In 2012, she joined Makerere University and pursued a bachelor of law on government sponsorship, completing in 2017. Asio qualified on two grounds; the disability scheme and the merit for best performers. She chose the disability scheme because it had a better stipend. She was also entitled to a personal assistant.

While reminiscing about her life at campus, Asio’s face beams: “Makerere was amazing and I left with great memories. I was a resident of Complex Hall. I made friends and the lecture rooms were accessible. Besides, I had a personal assistant.”

What’s more, Asio took up leadership.

She was chairperson for students with disabilities and would later represent them on the students’ guild.

She also served with the Bible Society of Uganda and visited different churches in Kampala.

Asio with human rights advocate Dr Lena Zedriga.

Asio did her internship at the Kampala Capital City Authority legal department and while there, she applied for a masters in South Africa, getting an opportunity to step onto a plane.

“I was alone and it was my first time to fly, but I managed and surprised my family and friends. I made them proud,” she says.

In 2019, Asio worked with Tropical Bank under the compliance department, and from there, she joined the non-governmental organisation she currently works at.

Alongside her roles, Asio serves as member of the Bible Society Youth Task Force and is a board member of the African Women’s Development and Communications Network.

She is also set to graduate from the Law Development Centre (LDC) so she can become an advocate.

“I love justice and for that, I envision joining the Judiciary and becoming a judge,” Asio says.

If she met God today, Asio says she would ask Him to restore her sight — the first people she would want to see are her sons.

Next would be her parents, siblings and partner, in that order.

“It’s not that I don’t know how my people look like. I visualise them in my head, but given an opportunity, I would love to see their faces, smiles and other features like height,” Asio says.

Finding love

Asio met her partner at a workshop. They became friends and later on, got married. She describes him as her best friend and a strong pillar in her life, just like her parents.

Asio’s sister tells story

I am Josephine Kanyango, 30, a personal secretary at the health ministry. I am also a wife and mother. Asio is my sister and best friend. I was about seven months old when I got burnt. On that fateful day, I am told that I crawled and pulled a burning charcoal stove while my mother was at school. The stove fell on me, burning my hands, stomach and face, but thank God, Asio was home. She managed to pull me from the fire and made an alarm for help.

I would have died in that fire if she hadn’t rescued me. She is my hero, which is why I am always there for her when she needs support. She is a great inspiration to me and has taught me to defy my disability and succeed in life.

Asio has achieved a lot and is unstoppable. Credit also goes to our family. We were born to loving parents who did not have much, but ensured to take us to good schools. I attended St Jude Primary school in Pallisa before joining Mbale College.

I was then admitted to Makerere University on government merit and graduated with a bachelor of office and Information management.

One thing we ask from God is to restore our sister’s sight such that she sees us and her babies. Last year, we consulted a specialist and, after examination, he said it’s medically impossible for her to see, but her baby’s sight was restored. We now look up to God for a miracle.