Editor,

This is one of the great stories of an evolving mindset in the Rwandan society.

Discrimination against People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) has unfortunately been common in most cultures across the world. Often times, it was due to fear or ignorance about out-of-ordinary traits and features, which eventually led to exclusion.

But as far as I can remember, whenever I witnessed obvious discrimination against the physically impaired or a mentally challenged person in African societies, it always struck me as odd that we as a people who have time and again faced discriminatory racist practices in Western societies, would be guilty of the same against our own, who were "different.”

Isn’t that exactly what racism is about? Fear, contempt or exclusion of others, based on observed differences interpreted to mean that they are "lesser” beings than we are.

So to see teachers, parents, classmates embrace people with disabilities—and no doubt with gifts that only need the right circumstances to be revealed—is a testimony of how far we have come in our own perceptions. And how closer we are to that human spirit sometimes buried a little too deep! Reaching out to others is not only an act of compassion or selflessness. It is just as much an act of personal growth.

Diyana

Reaction is made to the story, "Special needs education: More schools, jobs needed’” (The New Times, November 19)