THE UNIQUE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND THE “TANZANIA TOWARDS THE NEW GENERATION OF AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY” STRUGGLES: 

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) was the 32nd President of the United States and the only chief executive to be elected to more than two terms in office. Roosevelt held the presidency from 1934-1945, leading the United States through the Great Depression and World War II. His legislative program, the New Deal, greatly expanded the role of the federal government in American society.

In his four terms in office, Roosevelt virtually reinvented the presidency, transforming the office into something much more powerful than it had ever been before. Roosevelt's New Deal dramatically expanded the federal government's role in shaping American society, permanently altering the relationship between the economy, the people, and the government.

Snellgrove (1988:123) in his book titled “The Modern World Since 1870” narrates the causes of FDR disability as resulting from polio. In 1921 Franklin Delano Roosevelt went swimming with his family at a holiday resort, and that it was warm so he did not bother to get dressed immediately. It is reported that suddenly he began to sneeze and ache all over. Next morning he was feverish and the following day he lost the use of his legs.

This was his letter which Franklin Delano Roosevelt wrote Dr. William Egleston in a 1924 narrating how he got paralyzed:

“First symptoms of the illness appeared in August, 1921 when I was thoroughly tired from overwork. I first had a chill in the evening which lasted practically all night. The following morning the muscles of the right knee appeared weak and by afternoon I was unable to support my weight on my right leg. That evening the left knee began to weaken also and by the following morning I was unable to stand up. This was accompanied by a continuing temperature of about 102 and I felt thoroughly achy all over. By the end of the third day practically all muscles from the chest down were involved. Above the chest the only symptom was a weakening of the two large thumb muscles making it impossible to write. There was no special pain along the spine and no rigidity of the neck.”

Polio is a virus that invades the body through the mouth and nose. It then multiplies in the digestive system. From there, it spreads through the blood and lymph nodes to the nervous system. There are three different types of polio. The first, called non-paralytic polio, causes symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fever, and muscle spasms. Patients usually recover their full health after having this type of the virus. The second type of polio, paralytic polio, struck FDR. After going to bed with a fever and general weakness, he found himself paralyzed. Paralytic polio attacks the spinal column and most often causes paralysis in the legs. Some patients recover; others remain paralyzed for life. The third type of polio can cause death. It is called bulbar polio. This type of polio attacks the brain stem. This disrupts the signals for breathing and swallowing. Many of those who survive this type of polio spend their life in an iron lung or on a respirator to help them breathe.

Although polio had left FDR paralyzed from the waist down, he would not allow it to stop him. He worked energetically to regain the use of his body. He built himself a wheelchair to gain mobility. He was a very ambitious man with high political aspirations. The polio was a minor setback to him. Although his mother wanted him to put aside his political ambitions, Eleanor encouraged him to get better and continue. FDR did not let his paralysis stop him from achieving his dreams. In 1929, he became governor of New York. He also had his eye on the presidency. This achievement was reached on March 4, 1933, when he took office as America's thirty-second president.

UNIQUENESS OF FRANKLIN DELANO AS THE US PRESIDENT

Roosevelt being supported by brace to stand

Franklin Delano Roosevelt entered the White House in 1932 at the darkest hour of the Great Depression, promising "the New Deal for the American people." The package of legislative reforms that came to be known as the New Deal permanently and dramatically transformed the politics and economy of the United States. Shortly after taking office, Roosevelt explained to the American people that his New Deal program would seek to deliver relief, recovery, and reform.

In the field of relief, the New Deal proved to be highly successful. Millions of Americans, unable to find work in an economy that was still badly broken four years into the Great Depression, might have literally starved to death if not for the government checks they earned by working for new agencies like the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration.

In terms of reform, the New Deal legacy may have been unmatched in American history. For better or worse, Roosevelt's program drastically altered the relationship between the capitalist market, the people, and their government, creating for the first time in this country's history an activist state committed to providing individual citizens with a measure of security against the unpredictable turns of the market. Whether this vast enlargement of the government's role in American society helped or hurt the country's long-run prospects remains a question of great political controversy to this day, but there can be no denying the magnitude of change wrought by FDR's presidency.

When it came to recovery, however, the New Deal's performance lagged. It was certainly successful in both short-term relief, and in implementing long-term structural reform. However, the New Deal failed to end the Great Depression. Throughout the decade of the 1930s, unemployment remained brutally high, while economic growth remained painfully slow. Recovery only came about, at last, in Roosevelt's third term, when the heavy demands of mobilization for World War II finally restored the country to full employment.

HIS STRONG SLOGANS

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”.

“I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a New Deal for the American people”.

His Extra Ordinary Creativeness

Snellgrove (1988:124) shows how a man was creative in convincing the Congress to pass different laws that could combat problems. It reached a point where FDR set 100 days to evaluate his speed and efficient in tasks accomplishment. The Congress allowed him to be a “democratic dictator” by passing laws at breakneck speed, and that what followed the world astonished to witness the American progress.

About inclusive setting for all people

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the man, said: “We are trying to construct a more inclusive society. We are going to make a country in which no one is left out”.

In this statement, the dream came true when almost all people who were able and ready to participate in all activities were benefited.

EIGHT FACTS TANZANIANS NEED TO LEARN FROM FDR

Optimism

This is the strong belief in success for the future betterment of people. People must be assisted to see the hope desired for ahead. Franklin Delano Roosevelt used different words for the purpose of optimizing his fellow citizens. “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith”. The same way, we, people of Tanzania-of all abilities, must encourage each other to fulfill our needs. People with disabilities here in Tanzania are of great concern. They should, in jointly efforts be encouraged to revive their lost life dreams of success.

Personal powers of excellence

Mark of his idea, 'the New Deal'

This is the ability of person’s being creative and is goal oriented in solving problems related to individuals and their nation. Although FDR had all his presidential post spend in wheel chair but he did extremely memorial events throughout the American history. Here a lesson to Tanzanians is met on assessing the people with disabilities who are performing their daily duties extraordinarily. The few educated personnels who have disabilities have varieties of unutilized talents. FDR used the words "Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort" to mean that in every success there must be personal efforts conducted creatively which is in turn is the results of “personal powers of excellence”.

Nationalhood

This is the notion which stands for to explain how people are well united within their given country. It shows how people perform their daily activities cooperatively. They jointly decide and implement those decided mutual agreements. In a nation like Tanzania, which is composed of many races, many religions and varying abilities and personalities-that is, those with and without disabilities are within the same country; they must be bounded together by a single unity, the unity of freedom and equality. Whoever seeks to set one personality against another, seeks to degrade the national civilization. FDR, the man, used these words: "If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships- the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace.

Dare

To dare is to decide to do something. To overcome the worrying obstacles and take steps towards something.

When FDR entered White House, the US was already badly affected by the Great Depression, and it was on its way to even worst conditions. FDR dared to enter presidential candidate, and the Americans also dared to vote for him. At the first time the Americans had doubt about the man who had already suffering from the polio effects. When he tried to use different words accompanied with promissive moments, it is when he was eventually elected the US president. FDR was the only and the last solution to the problems. The man served White House for three terms. He used the words…"it is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something" to encourage his fellow Americans that he knew he was standing for. Let us, as a nation of Tanzania, keep trying something.

People with disabilities have to dare to every opportunity that comes on their way, government and NGOs have the task to trust people with disabilities in daily activities.

One of the posters showing how people needed FDR

Disability not necessarily being inability

Disability can be defined as the limitations that an individual shows in functioning within a social context or setting resulted from the luck/absence and/or malfunctioning of body organ. Handicap on the other hand, is the disadvantage an individual encountered which is the result of disability or social-emotional constructed phenomenon. FDR used powerful words precisely like, "Physical strength can never permanently withstand the impact of spiritual force"…and that, "It means people on crutches and in a wheelchairs can do anything", thus, "We must scrupulously guard the civil rights and civil liberties of all citizens, whatever their background”. The history of FDR must enable the present and the future generations of Tanzania to understand the whole man and the events and experiences that help to shape the human personalities. The process of creating an inclusive society in Tanzania cannot be accomplished without a commitment to a permanent, meaningful portrayal and the practical-oriented involvement of people with disabilities and educate other people on how the process of adjusting to living along together with their fellows with disabilities.

Words as powerful tools

Wheel chair support

FDR used strong and powerful words which were practically implemented in actions. He frequently used aspiratory words to American people. Words like: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” and “I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a New Deal for the American people”.

He also promised to create happiness and fertile grounds under which every individual could commemorate prosperity as he said; “I tell the American people solemnly that the United States will never survive as a happy and fertile oasis of liberty surrounded by a cruel desert of dictatorship”.

Persistent

This is the state of action done vehemently. This in turn, tells the people with disabilities and other national and international activists that are found in Tanzania and around the global that, apart from forming several strategies to help and include people with disabilities, there should also be consistence in those plans and stated strategies. There should be the endless efforts until a man is liberated holistically. It is like the failure of today is the set bomb of tomorrow. This concept is well understood when FDR said: “We must remember that any oppression, any injustice, any hatred, is a wedge designed to attack our civilization’ and that…“the only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today”.

FDR in wheel chair support moments

Power of communication

A nation is a large group of people with strong bonds of identity. Its members share common interests that make them appear as single person. A nation, like a person, has a mind--a mind that must be kept informed and alert, that must know itself, that understands the hopes and needs of its neighbors--all the other nations that live within the narrowing circle of the world. In Tanzania, there should be the communication subject to facilitate the dissemination of different information to all people- the “Human Diversities”, specifically for visually impaired persons, Hearing impaired ones, deaf-blind and other communities inhabited by people with different disabilities.

Conclusion
To me and many of the followers of INCLUSIVE NATION regard FDR as the important figure in liberating people with disabilities and the marginalized ones. How many individuals of FDR type are killed, stigmatized, oppressed, left out of the system, seen unfit to the contemporary society, being ignored and many other evil deeds acted over them? By this concept then, our presidents, ministers, governors, members of parliaments and many important figures are being vanished through our own wicked hands. Let us stop from harming them so that they can serve and bring us the desired developments in our countries.

sokime2012@gmail.com

"THINK INCLUSIVELY~~~ ACT INCLUSIVELY ~~~ CREATE AN INCLUSIVE NATION"

Ndoa ya aina yake: Mume kipofu-kiziwi, mwanamke kiziwi

Ni mara chache sana kuona ndoa za aina hii, mume na mke wote kuwa ni watu wenye ulemavu. Imezoeleka kuona ndoa ambazo mmoja wa wanandoa ni mwenye ulemavu. Tumezoea pia kushuhudia mtu mwenye ulemavu akitaka kuolewa ama kuoa anapitia kwenye magumu kwanza ya kupata mchumba na pili upinzani kutoka kwa wazazi na ndugu wa mmojawapo wa wachumba hao.

Hivi majuzi jijini Dar Es Salaam manispaa ya kinondoni tarehe 14/09/2013, saa 10:00 jioni katika ukumbi wa brajec palifungwa ndoa ya kiserikali na mkuu wa wilaya ya kinondoni. Wanandoa hao, raia wa Finland, ambao wote ni walemavu, walifungua ukurasa mpya wa ufahamu wa binadamu kwa maamuzi yao. Mwanaume anaitwa Laura, ambaye pia ni kipofu-kiziwi (deaf-blind); na mwanamke anaitwa Flora ambaye nae pia ni kiziwi.

Bi. Flora akiwa na matron wake, ni mtafsiri wa lugha ya alama

Bw. Laura akihojiana na mtafsiri wake, pia yupo mpambe wake

Wanandoa Bw. Laura na Bi. Flora

Bi. Flora akimvalisha pete ya ndoa bw. Laura

Tunajifunza nini kutokana na ndoa hii?

Kwanza, kama taifa la Tanzania, tunahitaji kufahamu kuwa watu wenye ulemavu wa aina ya Laura na Flora ni wengi sana hapa nchini, tena wengi wao wanatoka familia masikini na za vijijini. Wamefichwa huko hata kupata elimu kwao ni vigumu. Pia taifa la Tanzania tunahitaji kuweka mipango thabiti ya kuongeza idadi ya wataalam wa mambo ya mahitaji maalum kama walimu, madaktari na watu wengine kwenye jamii kupitia kwenye mitaala iliyoboreshwa. Niliwahi pendekeza kuongezwa kwenye mtaala wa elimu Tanzania somo liitwalo "HUMAN DIVERSITIES". Hili ndilo somo ambalo lingeweza kutusaidia mawasiliano kwa watu wote kwenye jamii yetu ya Kitanzania.

Pili, kila binadamu ana uhuru wa kupenda na kupendwa, kuoa au kuolewa kama sheria, mila na desturi za nchi zinavyodai. Tendo la maamuzi kuhusu mwenzi wa maisha ni la watu wawili tu, na hao ndio watakaoishi pamoja. Si wazazi, ndugu wala wapambe wanaweza wakaingilia mahusiano ya watu wenye ulemavu. Ni maamuzi ya hao wawili tu.

Watu wenye ulemavu wanatakiwa kujiamini, kuthubutu, kufanya maamuzi magumu inapobidi kufanya hivyo, na jamii kwa ujumla nayo inatakiwa kubadili mitazamo juu ya ubinadamu, binadamu na jinsi binadamu anavyotofautiana na viumbe wengine. Binadamu huzaliwa na binadamu mwenzake, na ana haki ya asili kwa kuwa amezaliwa binadamu.

Mwisho, sote tujifunze kufikiri kijumuishi, kutenda kijumuishi kutakakopelekea kujengeka taifa jumuishi. Ujumuishi huu unakuja kwa sababu hakuna binadamu ambaye hupenda kutengwa na binadamu mwenzake kwa namna yoyote ile.

Mungu Bariki ndoa ya hawa wanandoa!

FIKIRI KIJUMUISHI ~~~ TENDA KIJUMUISHI ~~~ JENGA TAIFA JUMUISHI

SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES AND DISABILITY

Sir Isaac Newton, a scientist with a disability, developed (among other things) the 3 gravitational laws. We can gear them toward disability studies as well.

Law #1: If the disability issues are not pushed or pulled, they will stay still. If no one is working on the disability issues and getting them in the open and getting other people and policy makers to care about them, nothing will change about the way disability is seen in our society or how it is – or isn’t – accommodated in the school system.

Law #2: Whichever way something is pushed is the way it will go. Therefore, pushing society toward disability recognition and acceptance will eventually bring about the desired result.

Law #3: If an object is pushed or pulled, it will push or pull equally in the opposite direction. Though this law seems somewhat contradictory, it can be applied to the forces that work to push disability issues the wrong direction. If this happens, those who have disabilities and those that care about them will fight just as hard, if not harder, to bring the issues back in the right direction.

References

http://scienceanddisability.wordpress.com/category/gravitational-laws-and-disability/

THINK INCLUSIVELY~~~ ACT INCLUSIVELY ~~~ CREATE AN INCLUSIVE NATION

HAKI ZA ELIMU KWA WATOTO WENYE ULEMAVU

[Hotuba ya Mwl JK Nyerere katika Shule ya Viziwi, Dar es Salaam, 18 Februari, 1974]:

"Leo nimekuja hapa kuweka jiwe la msingi, siyo kutoa hotuba. Kwa hiyo kuna  mambo mawili tu ninayotaka kuyasema tena kwa kifupi sana.

Kwanza, Azimio la Arusha linatamka wazi wazi kwamba Taifa letu limekubali wajibu wa kuwaangalia wananchi wenzetu wasiojiweza: vipofu, viziwi, viwete, na wagonjwa wa akili. Lakini kwa kweli tunazo shughuli nyingi mno hata hatuna nafasi ya kuwashughulikia wale wenzetu wachache ambao kwa bahati mbaya viungo vyao vina vilema. Serikali, na hata TANU, hushindwa kupata muda wa kutosha kuanzisha shughuli za kuwasaidia wasiojiweza ili kuwawezesha kushirikiana na wenzao katika hali ya usawa. Kama uwezo wenyewe mtu ulio nao ni wa kuwasomesha nusu tu ya watoto wote wa Tanzania, basi huna budi kutumia nguvu zako zote za Kiserikali kuwafunza walimu, kutafuta vifaa, na kujenga shule zitakazowatosha hao nusu watakaofaidika kutokana na huduma hizo za kawaida. Huna uwezo wa kufanya zaidi.

Lakini kufanya hivyo maana yake siyo kwamba watoto wengine sasa hawastahili huduma; kwa kweli udhaifu wao unawapa haki zaidi ya msaada wetu. Kwa sababu hiyo sisi viongozi wa TANU na wa Serikali tunafurahi sana tunapoona watanzania, na marafiki wa Tanzania, wanaanzisha mipango ya kuwahudumia watu wa aina hiyo, hasa watoto wadogo. Tunashukuru kupata watu wanaojitolea kuanzisha na kuendesha shule za kuwasaidia vipofu, viwete, na viziwi, nasi tutakuwa tayari kuwaunga mkono kwa furaha na kwa uwezo wote tulio nao.

Chama cha Tanzania cha Kuwasaidia Viziwi ni chama kipya, kimeanzishwa miezi michache tu iliyopita; na sherehe ya leo ni ushahidi wa kwanza wa juhudi zake. Napenda kuwapongeza wanachama wa chama hicho kwa kazi yao waliyokwisha kuifanya, na kuwashukuru wale waliowasaida. Natumaini kwamba wananchi kwa ujumla, na vyama vyao, watafanya kila linalowezekana kuharakisha kazi yao na kuifanya iwe na manufaa zaidi.

Jambo langu la pili linafanana na hilo la kwanza. Wasiojiweza wa nchi hii wanachohitaji sana ni nafasi ya kushiriki kwa ukamilifu na kwa usawa katika mambo ya nchi yao. Kulemaa miguu au mikono maana yake siyo kwamba mtu yule sasa ni mtu nusu. Maana yake tu ni kwamba yako mambo fulani kilema huyu hawezi kuyafanya; na kwa hiyo ziko kazi fulani hawezi kuzifanya, na matumaini fulani, ambayo hawezi kuwa nayo. Lakini yako mambo mengi mengine ambayo angeweza kufanya kama sisi tulio na viungo vyetu kamili tungemsaidia ayafanye. Vivyo hivyo kwa mtu aliye kipofu, au aliye kiziwi.

Watu hao si wapumbavu, wala si magogo, eti kwa sababu tu ya vilema vyao. Wanahitaji msaada wetu kuwawezesha kuvishinda vipingamizi walivyo navyo, na kuwawezesha kuyafanya kwa ukamilifu yale mengine wanayoweza kuyafanya.

Katika shule ya watoto vilema ya Mgulani; katika shule za vipofu za Lushoto, Tabora, na kwingineko; katika shule ya viziwi ya Tabora pamoja na hii (itakapokuwa inafanya kazi) watoto wetu wanafunzwa kuyafanya yale ambayo wanayaweza kuyafanya. Wanafunzwa jinsi ya kujisaidia, wanafunzwa kujitegemea; na wanapata ufundi utakaowawezesha kujitegemea. Jambo hilo linalingana na haki za binadamu; na liko katika mstari wa siasa ya nchi yetu.

Lakini kipofu aliyefunzwa kuendesha mitambo ya simu ofisini anaweza tu kujipatia riziki yake kwa kazi hiyo kama akiajiriwa kuifanya kazi hiyo. Kijana aliye kiwete anaweza tu kuwa karani, au mwendesha-mitambo wa kiwandani, kama atapatiwa nafasi ya kazi huko ofisini au kiwandani wakati atakapoomba. Mtoto anayefunzwa katika shule hii jinsi ya kuzungumza na wenziwe ataweza tu kutumia ujuzi wake kujipatia riziki kama sisi wengine tutajitahidi kufikiria kitu anachoweza kufanya, na kama tutachukua hatua za kutekeleza mawazo hayo. Haifai kuhesabu tu yale mambo ambayo hawezi kuyafanya.

Baadhi ya watoto watakaoingia katika shule hii watapata elimu yao yote katika shule hii, au shule nyingine ya mafunzo maalum. Wengine wataweza, baada ya hapa, kuingia katika shule za kawaida baada ya kujaribiwa na kupewa vifaa vya kuwasaidia kusikia, au baada ya kufunzwa kuelewa neno kwa kutazama midomo. Ni wajibu wetu kuhakikisha kwamba wanapata nafasi ya kuingia katika hizo shule za kawaida, na kuhakikisha kwamba sisi wenyewe na watoto wetu tunawasaidia katika kupambana na matatizo yao ya shida ya kusikia. Huo ndio wajibu wetu kama Watanzania, na kama wajamaa. Vile vile ni wajibu wetu, kama Watanzania na kama wajamaa, kuweka mipango katika nchi yetu itakayowasaidia hawa na vilema wengine wote waweze kushiriki kwa ukamilifu katika maendeleo ya taifa letu. Na yako mambo mengi tunayoweza kuyafanya, bila kutumia fedha au wataalamu ambao hatuna wengi, lakini ambayo hatuyafanyi hivi sasa. Kwa mfano. Sasa hivi tunajenga maofisi ya serikali ambayo huwezi kuingia bila ya kupanda ngazi. Lakini huwezi kupanda ngazi ukiwa unajikokota kwa kigari, na ni vigumu sana kupanda ngazi kwa magongo. Matokeo yake ni kwamba viwete hawawezi kuingia katika benki, au katika ofisi ya bima, au wakati mwingine hata katika ofisi ya TANU au ya Serikali kupeleka shida zao, achilia mbali kufanya kazi katika ofisi hizo. Na hata kama kwa bahati, nafasi ya kuingilia, si ngazi bali ni mteremko mdogo, utaona mlango wenyewe ni mwembamba mno hata kigari cha kiwete hakiwezi kupenya.

Natumaini kwamba wachoraji picha wa majumba wote, na hasa wale wanaotayarisha makao makuu mapya huko Dodoma watakumbuka sana mambo haya. Na endapo watasahau, itafaa sisi wengine tuwakumbushe.

Vitendo vingine vidogo–vidogo vinavyofanana na hivyo vinaweza kufanywa na wananchi kuwasaidia vipofu na viziwi kushiriki katika kujenga Tanzania ya Kijamaa. Maana wanayo haki kutudai nafasi zitakazowawezesha kujitegemea, siyo huruma inayompa sadaka “Yala Maskini.”

Wale wote wanaotoa ama nguvu zao ama fedha kujenga shule hii, na shule nyingine za aina hii za kuwasaidia vilema, wanaweka msingi utakaowafanya watoto wasiojiweza wajitegemee katika siku za mbele. Wao, pamoja na sisi wengine wote, tunapaswa kuindeleza kazi hiyo katika maisha yetu ya kila siku na katika uhusiano wetu na viziwi, vipofu na vilema.

Kwa moyo huo na kwa matumaini hayo nina furaha kuliweka jiwe la msingi la shule hii. Huu ni mwanzo mdogo sana wa kuwasaidia viziwi. Basi na tudhamirie kuikuza kazi hiyo.

Asanteni sana".

"FIKIRI KIJUMUISHI ~~~ TENDA KIJUMUISHI ~~~ JENGA TAIFA SHIRIKISHI"

Je, ulemavu ni laana? Ni mikosi? Au ni dhambi?

Tufundishe nafsi, roho na akili zetu

Awali ya yote, napenda kukushukuru wewe msomaji wa makala hizi, na pia ninapenda na kufurahi sana ninapoona mrejesho wenu wa maoni. Inaonyesha kuwa mnayaona haya kwenye jamii zetu halisi yakitukia.

Sasa hebu tujikite kwenye mada yetu hii “Je, ulemavu ni laana? Au ni mikosi? Au  ni dhambi?

Maana ya ulemavu

Sera ya Taifa ya Maendeleo na Huduma kwa Watu Wenye Ulemavu Tanzania (2004) inafafanua kuwa ulemavu ni hali inayotokana na dosari mwilini au/na akilini ambayo inasababisha mtu kushindwa kutenda mambo ambayo kwa kawaida angetegemewa kuyaweza na hivyo kumletea mtu huyo kizuizi katika utekelezaji wa majukumu yake katika jamii. Kizuizi katika utendaji kinatokana pia na mfumo wa mtizamo wa jamii dhidi ya mtu huyo.

Ulemavu ni neno linalotumika kwa mapana kuainisha maeneo matatu muhimu yafuatayo:

• Hali ya tatizo kadri linavyoonekana (impairment)

• Upungufu wa uwezo wa kutenda/kufanya jambo kwa njia ya kawaida kulingana na hali yake (Disability).

• Kizuizi katika kutenda jambo (handicap) kutokana na hali ya ulemavu  (Disability).

Maana ya mikosi (misfortune)

Ni hali ya kukosa bahati, kukosa kupata mema kwa njia ya imani aliyonayo mtu. Kushindwa kufanikiwa na/au kuandamwa na matukiomabaya ambayo chanzo chake ni laana.

Katika kitabu cha 1Samweli 28: 6; tunaona mfalme Sauli akipatwa na majanga makubwa ya kupigwa na Wafilisti, mkosi ambao ulitokana na dhambi yake ya kiburi mbele za Mungu wake. Imeandikwa hivi katika mstari wa 6:

“Lakini Sauli alipouliza kwa BWANA, BWANA hakumjibu, wala kwa ndoto, wala kwa Urimu, wala kwa manabii”.

Maana ya Laana na Dhambi

Laana ni kukataliwa na wanadamu au Mungu kutokana na kosa lisiloweza kusameheka. Neno Dhambi (mistarget) inamaanisha ni UASI, kukosea lengo au shabaha ya kile ulichotegemea kukitimiza. Umeamriwa kufanya hiki wewe ukafanya kile-hiyo ni dhambi.

Je, ulemavu ni laana? Je, ni mikosi? Ni dhambi?

Mambo ya Walawi 19:14, Biblia imeandikwa hivi:

“Usimlaani kiziwi, wala usitie kwazo mbele ya kipofu, bali umche Mungu wako; mimi ndimi Bwana”.

Maneno ya msingi katika mstari huu:

          Usimlaani, lina maana usimkatae au usimtenge (mtu mwenye ulemavu).
  …wala usitie kikwazo (stumblingblock), maana yake ni kwamba binadamu yeyote asimjengee mazingira magumu ya kuishi binadamu mwenzake mwenye ulemavu.

        …bali umche Mungu wako;

Umche Mungu wako kwa lipi?

Umche Mungu wako kwa uumbaji wa aina yake,na wala usimkosoe wala kumpinga Mungu kwa uumbaji huo.

…mimi ndimi Bwana.

Inamaanisha yeye Mungu ndivyo alivyoamua na wala mtu mwingine asihoji hilo.

Pia katika kitabu cha Kutoka 4:10-17, tunasoma maneno haya:

“Bwana akamwambia, Ni nani aliyekifanya kinywa cha mwanadamu? Au ni nani afanyaye mtu kuwa bubu au kiziwi, au mwenye kuona, au kipofu? Si mimi Bwana?”

Haya maelezo yalitolewa na Mungu wakati nabii Musa alipokuwa akikataa kwenda kuwakomboa wana wa Israel katika nchi ya Misri. Musa alihofia kuwa angeshindwa kuongea mbele za Farao na kwamba huenda na wana wa Israel wasingemsikiliza kwa sababu ya ulemavu wake wa ugumu wa kuongea (speech impairment). Hii ilitokana na uzoefu wake kwenye jamii yake. Yawezekana yalikuwa yanamkuta hayo aliyokuwa akijitetea kwa Mungu.

Katika kitabu cha Injili ya Yohana 9: 2 & 3 (Yohana 9: 2, 3) tunasoma maneno haya:

“Wanafunzi wake wakamwuliza, Rabi, ni yupi aliyetenda dhambi, hata mtu huyu azaliwe kipofu? Yesu akajibu, Huyu hakutenda dhambi, wala wazazi wake; bali kazi za Mungu zidhihirishwe ndani yake”.

Ni swali zuri sana na liko wazi likidokeza mtazamo wa jamii walimoishi kipindi hicho. Wanafunzi wa Yesu hawakuwa na shida ya kujua ULEMAVU ni matokeo ya dhambi au la, kwani tayari walikuwa wanafahamu hivyo kuwa mtu kupata ulemavu ni matokeo ya dhambi. Shida yao kubwa ilikuwa kujua ni nani hasa aliyetenda dhabi kati ya aliyezaliwa kipofu au wazazi waliomzaa huyo kipofu.

Yesu alikuja na majibu yaliyowashangaza, pia  majibu haya yalibadilisha mtazamo wa wanafunzi wake. Majibu ya YESU yalikuwa hivi:

 “Huyu hakutenda dhambi, wala wazazi wake; bali kazi za Mungu zidhihirishwe ndani yake”.

Kwa tafsiri nyingine ya maneno ya Yesu ni kwamba si wazazi au mtoto aliyezaliwa akiwa na ulemavu ni wenye dhambi, bali hayo ni matokeo na makusudi ya uumbaji wa Mungu. “…baki kazi za Mungu zidhihirike (zionekane wazi, zitofautiane na kazi zingine zisizo za ki-Mungu) ndani yake (ndani ya huo uumbaji)”.

Hitimisho

Ulemavu kwa ukweli wake ni kwamba unaleta madhara katika utendaji kazi kwa maisha ya kila siku ya mhusika mwenye ulemavu pamoja na kuleta ugumu wa mitazamo kwa familia yenye mtu mwenye ulemavu. Pia tuweke kwenye fahamu zetu kuwa ulemavu, kwa elimu ya kisayansi husababishwa na vigezo viwili tu ambavyo ni “mazingira na urithi”. Na kwa upande wa imani itokanayo na kitabu kitakatifu kiitwacho “Biblia”, ulemavu umeelezwa kuwa ni sababu za kiuumbaji, na pia tunaambiwa katika uumbaji huo kuna kusudio halisi. Si bahati mbaya wala mikosi, si laana wala dhambi pia.

Watu wenye ulemavu na wasio na ulemavu, wote kwa pamoja tujitambue, tujue kuwa na ulemavu au la ni sehemu ya vionjo vya maisha ya binadamu. Wengine wamepata mafanikio kutokana na misukumo ya ulemavu, na vilevile wapo watu ambao ulemavu ndio umewafanya washindwe kufikia malengo yao katika maisha. Tena tusisahau kuwa wapo watu ambao kutokuwa na ulemavu kumewafanya wakaona mazingira ni rafiki, wakasahau kupambana na mazingira, na hatimaye wakashindwa kufikia malengo yao kimaisha pia.

Hivyo, nionavyo mimi, ulemavu unamfanya mtu kuwa makini na mazingira, humwezesha kuwafahamu marafiki na maadui wa kweli katika maisha. Huweza kumwezesha mhusika kujua asili ya binadamu na utofauti wa binadamu mmoja na mwingine. Hubainisha watu wenye haiba dhaifu dhidi yao walio imaira, hututenganishia kati ya wenye fikra potofu dhidi ya wale wabebao na kutemelea ukweli kwenye katika maisha yao.

 "FIKIRI KIJUMUISHI ~~~ TENDA KIJUMUISHI ~~~ JENGA TAIFA JUMUISHI"

REJEA

BIBLIA TAKATIFU (1952)

Sera ya Taifa ya Maendeleo na Huduma kwa Watu Wenye Ulemavu Tanzania (2004)

Eleven Facts For People To Learn Special Education

 Disability & Education: 

Education about disability, for me, whether is provided in schools, or other media like TV, radio, and newspapers; it should be regarded as important as life itself. It talks to individual, it deals with personal affairs- teaching how human being is, providing the causes, how to pass up risk conditions leading to disability and the possible measures to be taken to diminish the effects of disability.

Human beings experience the world differently, and that, they express things differently as they perceive differently. It is; therefore, better to have a certain experience expressed by experienced person. Definitely, talking about disability is nothing if it is not articulated by people with disability themselves or their family members.

Let people with disabilities and their families express what they feel, suggest the suitable means on how they can live independently, and how they can benefit their societies. Now here comes the task of experts. Their simple task is just to jot down what are expressed by the experienced persons for the educative and decision making purposes.

Sharing Experiences For Present and Future Gains

People, all over around the world are in either of the following states in relation to disability:

First, those who already have disabilities

Second, those who are at risk of developing disabilities and

Third, those who are not born but they may in one way or another develop disability congenitally

Eleven Facts of Learning Special Education

1. It helps people with disabilities adapt their conditions
2. Help families having people with disabilities acquire skills to handle their disabled people
3. Helps individual make body check up for the purpose of identifying disabilities and prevent secondary occurrence of problems
4. Helps people with disabilities lessen the effects of disabilities
5. Helps people have their children early intervened
6. Helps the government plan health services for their people
7. Remind the government of education plans
8.  Helps people get new perspective on disability and people with disabilities
9. Help all people (disabled & non-disabled) get well socialized
10. Reduces risk suicide cases of parents having children with disabilities
11. Reduces divorce rates for couples with a child having disability

THINK INCLUSIVELY ~~~ ACT INCLUSIVELY ~~~ CREATE AN INCLUSIVE NATION

Tanzania Towards a New Generation of an Inclusive Society

Part III: Human Diversities in higher institutions:  

This is the last part of our suggested subject-Human Diversities, the subject to prepare people for inclusive society in Tanzania. Below are suggestions on how this subject should operate under higher institutions and the weigh it should be given at each institution.

EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS

At both grade A and Diploma student teachers, the learners should be prepared to teach a particular subject at their respective levels to which are trained for, and to assist the learners with such special needs of education within the mainstreaming classes.

 Non-Education courses

Other tertiary levels of non-education profession of the same level of education as grade A and Diploma for teachers; the learners should mainly be prepared for this HD as communication means into which general services will be provided. These institutions include those of banks, postal services, technical centers, industries, mining centers and other related institutions.

At both education profession and non-education institution, the learners with special needs are well equipped with the communication means and professional competence.

SEKOMU

The university education

This is the center at which learners are directly prepared for professional tasks. At this level of education, “Human Diversities” as a subject (not just a unit within a course), it should be taught as the general course for all students. This subject at this stage should be considered for all universities. It should be noted that all services that are within the societies are provided by people and needed by people, and that within these societies people with special needs can either be service providers or the service receivers (customer and/ or customer cares). At this level of education, the learners with specified special needs will be well equipped with communication methods and professional competence and the pleasure of belonging to communicative society.

Hon. B. Mkapa, guest of honor at SEKOMU    

Moreover; it must be planned that any person having any profession that is not integrated with special education should not be regarded as having a complete profession/qualification to be employed in Tanzania. The reason behind this disqualification of profession is that, within the society there are diversities among people, and that all people regardless their varying diversities need to be served the same in the society. The legal document should be established to govern                                                                  the general education system in Tanzania.

How to get teachers to conduct those programs ranging from primary schools up to university levels? (You can suggest the best ways from which a good number of teachers can be enumerated).

Five year plan of education with the key theme “Education for an Inclusive Society” and that the first priority for education budget within these five years should be for the task in question. The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania should present the plan to development agencies partners and other stakeholders eagering towards the desired inclusive society.

The Open University of Tanzania, headquarters office  

In connection to the plan, Sebastian Kolowa Memorial University (SEKOMU), the Open University of Tanzania (OUT), Dodoma University (UDOM) and Patandi Teachers’ College should be acknowledged for their efforts to train learners who are skilled with special needs education; and that, these Institutions should be set as the pilot areas for implementing the program                                                                              for “Education for an Inclusive Society”.

SEKOMU students performing Audiology         

 If one considers the procedure and the set mechanisms to bring up the new generation of inclusive society in Tanzania, will automatically come to asses the end results and the desired outcomes. An individual is led to the concept of implication of this plan. This program will have benefits rooted to an individual at national wise and at international ranks. This is because the topics that will be taught in the subject of “Human Diversities” excel a person towards novel doctrines which keep the mind and brain active. The learner will be familiarized and exposed to national and international nature of human beings the same as the Human Anthropological studies do. Further more, an individual is exposed to the forthcoming culture which is to be called “Disability Culture”, the culture leading people to see disability in a new perspective- to consider it as part of human diversities. People with disabilities will be regarded as the sons and daughters of the same parents along those without disabilities.

"THINK INCLUSIVELY ~~~ ACT INCLUSIVELY ~~~ CREATE AN INCLUSIVE NATION"