13 Jul 2015

People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) are more likely to live in poverty, if no attempts are made to empower them with appropriate skills at an early age.

The coordinator of the Disability Office at Office of the President, Mr Thomas Motingwa said this at a Special Education workshop that was organised by Botswana Society for Human Development (BSHD) at the University of Botswana, on Saturday, July 11.

Mr Motingwa raised a concern that women with disabilities still experienced double stigma, saying it was time they empower themselves to enjoy their rights.

However, he said government had shown commitment from time immemorial to address these challenges.

“When we empower PLWDs, we strengthen human solidarity for everyone. Imagine how much stronger the world would be, if we were aware of the different disabilities.

The right of persons living with disabilities in Botswana and around the world would be respected, protected and fulfilled,” he said.

Consequently, Mr Motingwa said PLWDs would also have plenty of opportunities they deserved to generate ideas and inspire millions of other people.

“Therefore, we have an obligation to work harder to demystify disabilities and weed off negative attitudes, so that we can have a nation where PLWDs will have equal opportunities like the rest of the citizens,” he added.

The Disability Office coordinator also stressed that it was important for all to ensure that PWDs enjoyed the full range of human rights, including; civil, cultural, economic, political and social, on an equal basis with others.

“Together, we must take concrete action to achieve a just and equitable society and development for all. I count on all of us to be part of our national effort to advance this cause,” he said.

He commended BSHD for having seen the need to avail a platform to discuss the different assessments and remedial procedures of disabilities and to educate the masses on how to identify the different types of disabilities.

This, he said had demonstrated the sacrifice and unwavering appetite in the desire to better the lives of PLWDs, adding that his Office would forge partnership with BSHD “in raising awareness in issues that seek to empower those who need most of our time to remove barriers that hinder them to exercise their potential.”

The workshop that covered topics such as; Learning Disabilities, HIV/AIDS and Disabilities and Disability Etiquette, among others was meant to promote disability awareness in Botswana.

Given the worrisome status quo of disability awareness, among Botswana citizens, teachers and parents were invited to share their experiences in teaching and raising children with disabilities.

The event was attended by, among others; private school teachers, parents, family members of students and children with disabilities, individuals who are interested in Special Education and people with disabilities, advocates of people with disabilities, representatives of both government and NGOs that are interested in Special Education and caretakers of individuals with disabilities.

Botswana Society for Human Development is an NGO founded in October 2013 and licensed by government on March 10, 2014. In June 2014, BHSD became a member of the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations.

The NGO was co-founded by a group of young women whom in December 2012 were selected by the Mpule Kwelagobe Institute to make up 40 of the young African females to take part in the Network of Women Investing in Africa Leadership Programme. Its main objective is to come up with creative ways to tackle issues that thwart human and socio-economic development in Botswana.  ENDS