Maseru, Oct.15 — People with Disabilities (PWD) have appealed to be given real opportunities and not sympathy.
This surfaced during a lived experiences session at a one-day multi-stakeholder Disability Accessibility Conference organized by Vodacom Lesotho Foundation in Maseru on Wednesday.
Panellists of people with different disabilities echoed with one voice that they should be included in all facets of life calling on society to see their ability and not disability. They said they need a barrier free world where they can freely and actively exercise their abilities.
Mr. Relebohile Mavuso said as deaf community they appreciate the government for making sign language recognizable saying that it needs to be incorporated in school curriculum and becomes mandatory like English and Sesotho.
Mr. Mavuso said it is time to build a future where inclusiveness comes naturally and not as a project saying this would mean them being teachers, nurses and anything that they can be.
On the other hand, a recent graduate (Professional Counsellor) Ms. Moipone Thoahlane said few people with visual impairment get the opportunity to have a clear career that can be recognised by the world due to discrimination and stigma.
Ms Thoahlane said in her 14 years of impairment, it took her seven to eight years to fit in with visual impairment persons and read braille because she was struggling and even thought of quitting. . .
Ends/AT/ml
