Persons with Deafblindness appeal for government’s help for them to enjoy inclusive rights

By Charles NDUSHABANDI.

Members of the Rwanda Organization of Persons with DeafBlindness (ROPDB) have again called the Government to recognize their rights as the most vulnerable people who survive under different hurdles.

These persons were speaking during the International Day of Deafblindness in Kigali on June 27, 2019.

Themed ‘All is incomplete without us, rights for all Rwandans include the rights of persons with deafblindness’, the day is celebrated for the 7^7h time and was graced with speeches of different honorary invitees, testimonies from persons with deafblindness, and sketches.

Among the challenges they claimed include lack of knowledge about tactile sign language use.

So far, only 166 persons with deafblindness countrywide were identified, 27 of them were trained on tactile sign language use and the Rwandan Organization for persons with deafblindness was established.

However, one of the key challenges is that deafblindness disability is not yet recognized as a distinct disability which makes it difficult for the public to be aware of persons with deafblindness and respect tactile sign language as an important language in helping people with deafblindness live with greater independence and freedom.

“Objectives of the International Day of Deafblindness day celebration this year, is to improve the level of awareness for our Government and stakeholders on how they can contribute to the protection and promotion of the fundamental rights of persons with deafblindness. As the disability movement slogan “Disability is not inability” guides our work, it is evident that integration of persons with deafblindness in society goes through the recognition of persons with deafblindness as persons with own disability, and by giving them a way to communicate from their own possibilities and contribute themselves in addressing their problems.” Said Dr. Donatille Kanimba, Executive Director of Rwanda Union of the Blinds (RUB).

Kanimba said that persons with deafblind disability are among the most vulnerable categories and need be facilitated towards improving their living conditions.

Dr. Mukarwego Beth, women representative at Rwanda Union of the Blinds and Vice President of the National Commission of People with Disabilities reiterated that they want the Organization of people with DeafBlindness to be legally recognized to be able to follow on living conditions of its members.

Furaha Jean Marie Vianney, the president of ROPDB said that persons with deafblindness need access to training on tactile sign language use and about development initiatives to be able to address poverty issues they face.

Since 2013, Rwanda Union of the Blind-RUB in partnership with Rwanda National Union of the Deaf- RNUD and the Rwanda National Association of Deaf Women-RNADW celebrate the International Deafblindness day in order to advocate for deafblindness to be recognized as a distinct disability and to encourage the public awareness for people with deafblindness themselves and issues that they are facing.

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