Alienation and stigmatisation of the handicapped is myopic

For development to be realistic, it has to be holistic in nature in the sense that every individual in that particular community has to be included regardless of age, gender, physical or mental ability, colour or any other state deeming him or her a minority. On the global context , conventions have been held and acts ratified regarding the issue of embracing diversity in the development process incorporating physical disability,colour, gender and so on, for instance in 1990 USA passed the American with disability act. Despite confirming the act, only 25percent of the 15million disabled people of working age are employed. This displays a need to accelerate the efforts and strategies of including the people with disabilities [PWD’s] in the main stream development. The Rwandan government in this regard has established some strategies like formulation of the social protection policy and putting a sit in the parliament for people with disabilities to be represented and committees to solve their problems. However more efforts are needed for example, national campaigns and establishment of PWD’s learning programs in higher institutions of learning, at least a faculty handling PWD’s learning needs. Empowerment of PWD’s should start from the house hold levels. I have come across heart breaking situations where children with deformities on their bodies have been hidden in bedrooms and other solitary places.PWD should be viewed as other people who can play a constructive role in the development of their communities and country at large. Uganda has taken considerable strides as far as empowering people with disabilities is concerned through putting up advocacy institutions for them and putting up strict laws in favor of their plight, not mentioning various rehabilitation centers. I therefore call upon the entire public in partnership with the government and other social service providers to put up more empowering structures and programs for all the PWD’s at all levels like establishing rehabilitation centers and facilitating the few which bear in existence with all the appropriate and professional devices and interventions that may include; surgeries on complex disabilities like club feet, hydrocephalus, spinal bifida and others. Training of occupational therapists to gain skills in enhancing the functionality of PWD’s can also be of great importance. Another way through which the government and other development partners can help the PWD community is; reinforcing policy formulation for instance, a strict law for the builders and owners of the mushrooming commercial complexes and other storied buildings to modify them in away that can favor PWD’s access to those facilities through putting lifts and convenient ladders designed to ease their mobility while accessing such places. The government should encourage the business community, managers, private and government sectors to employ competent PWD’s and design working environments to favor their disabilities. The education sector should also maximize its efforts towards the inclusion of children with disabilities such as the blind and deaf through inclusive special needs education provision like sign language and Braille. Generally creating favorable learning environment for them and securing professional teachers for them, seeking and borrowing knowledge from places that have had significant progress in this aspect can also be very helpful. The society should appreciate the people with disabilities and support them to realize their full potential as opposed to neglecting and stigmatizing them. PWD’s can sustain their lives and families. The government should further reinforce inclusive strategies of PWD’s in levels of planning and lobbying for resources from the entire public, willing companies, NGO’s and other global partners in development as a collective responsibility to contribute to the plight of all people with disabilities including those who got the disabilities as a result of the 1994 genocide. Ends