Promote literacy for the disabled

As we mark the International Literacy Day, there is need to reflect on our successes and challenges as a country. Although progress has been made in the area of adult literacy provision, Persons With Disabilities (PWD) are still marginalised. This has condemned them to a life of dependency. This is unacceptable.

It is a desire of all people to lead meaningful lives. Literacy has a contribution to make in having these desire fulfilled. However, the environment in Uganda is not supportive to PWDs’ acquisition of adult literacy skills as it has many barriers. And yet, lack of literacy skills makes it difficult for PWDs to effectively play their roles in society.

Illiteracy affects PWDs more than able-bodied people because the able-bodied may have more fall back options than PWDs. In Naads, for example, an able-bodied person can negotiate prices for their products verbally. However, PWDs with hearing impairment cannot do that.

This category of PWDs, if they are literate, can negotiate prices with buyers through writing down notes and reading the responses from the buyer until a compromise price is reached, thus clinching their deals.

Many PWDs were denied the opportunity to go to school and are keen to ensure their children go school and succeed. They also want to provide support to their primary school going children at home - a task they cannot perform without literacy skills.

Let government, civil society, the private sector and training institutions work together to contribute towards eliminating marginalisation of PWDs in adult literacy provision. As many PWDs hardly benefit from the formal education system, marginalizing them again in adult literacy provision may make affirmative action for them only a dream.

Lemmy Ephraim Nuwagaba,
Kyambogo University