disABILITY FOCUS

Seeing a person with albinism in Malawi owning and driving a car in those days used to attract strange attention. However, this time around, it is not even a case worthy debating, as more persons with disabilities are fulfilling their dreams of doing well in life. Despite many challenges persons with disabilities in the world face, there are some who have excelled in socio-economic life. One of such success stories is a member of the Faculty of Environmental Science at the University of Livingstonia, Overstone Mkwapatira Kondowe. He is an earth scientist with research interest in Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) technology. He is the man behind the first Mikrocopter / Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in Malawi. He recently won the Livingstone bicentenary scholarship from the Scottish Government and UNILIA USA foundation to study Masters of Science in Environmental Protection and Management (MSc EPM) at the Polytechnic Constituent College of the Univer

My name is Scader Louis.   I was born on 30 th September 1981, in a family of 4 children and I being the only girl. My father, Ronald Louis Masanjala came from Msamati Village T/A Kalembo – Machinga and my mother, Nancy Mwalwanda came Lughali Village T/A Kyungu – Karonga respectively. They both died in 1993 and 1999 respectively. I grew up in Mangochi District where my father spent most of his working life. I did my primary school education at St Augustine 3 in Mangochi. Later I went for my secondary school education at St Monica Girls Sec. School in the same district I was in form 2 when my mum died and things turned sour for me as there was no one to support my academic needs. Many thanks to the Sisters of Divine Providence, who through my teacher Mrs. Jean Ntaba offered to, take over the responsibility of paying for my school fees. I completed my secondary education in 2001 and passed my M.S.C.E with flying colors. I sat for the University Entrance Examinations in 2002

Persons with disabilities suffer from discrimination throughout the world and are frequently excluded from social, economic and political processes in their societies. Disability was long considered an individual problem that was treated from a medical and charitable viewpoint, but neglected in terms of equal rights for persons with disabilities. Attention is now turning towards the impact of the legislation on employment opportunities for people with disabilities as well as on economic empowerment. This question is central to the broader social and political rights of persons with disabilities, which are closely linked to their economic empowerment. The goal of inclusive development is to enable all people to have equal opportunities when it comes to partaking in the economic and social lives of their communities. The socio-economic integration of persons with disabilities is not just a question of their right to participation; it is also a prerequisite for broad-based and sus

Participation of persons with disabilities in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport is one of the key provisions in the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Bill. This provision is also enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) to which Malawi is a signatory. For instance, the Convention, under Article 30, clearly stipulates that States Parties should recognize the right of persons with disabilities to take part on an equal basis with others in cultural life, and to take all appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to have the opportunity to develop and utilize their creative, artistic and intellectual potential, not only for their own benefit, but also for the enrichment of society. States Parties shall also take all appropriate steps, in accordance with international law, to ensure that laws protecting intellectual property rights do not constitute an unreasonable or discriminatory barrier to ac

The Government shall through deliberate policies and measures guarantee, to persons with disabilities, political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on equal basis. For instance, full and effective participation and inclusion mean that political election processes do not exclude persons with disabilities, ensuring, for example, that voting locations are accessible and election procedures and materials are available in multiple formats and easy to understand and use. Linked to the concept of participation and inclusion is that of universal design, which is defined in the Convention as the “design of products, environments, programmes and services that should be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialised design”. In particular, Government shall ensure that persons with disabilities effectively and fully participate in political and public life on equal basis, directly or through freely chosen representatives, inc

Under international law, Government should recognise the right of persons with disabilities to work, on an equal basis with others. The right of persons with disabilities to work is also enshrined in the Disability Bill, and it includes the right to the opportunity to gain a living by work freely chosen or accepted in a labour market and work environment that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities. Under Part III of the Bill, Article 28, Government shall safeguard and promote the realization of the right to work, including for those who acquire a disability during the course of employment. In particular, Government shall (a) promote employment opportunities and career advancement for persons with disabilities in the labour market, as well as assistance in finding, obtaining, maintaining and retaining employment; (b) promote opportunities for self-employment, entrepreneurship, and the development of cooperatives including equal access to financial opportu