NYAKATI ZITATUAMBIA KUWA UKWELI WA LEO SI LAZIMA UWE UKWELI WA KESHO

Jamii Zetu na Mitazamo Juu ya Watu Wenye Ulemavu:

Ni muda muafaka kabisa kwa kila binadamu kujua kuwa binadamu ni binadamu tu. Amezaliwa na binadamu mwenzake na wanaendelea kuzaliwa binadamu kutoka kwa binadamu mwingine. Katika historia ya maisha ya binadamu, hakuna binadamu aliyewahi zaa kiumbe kingine zaidi ya binadamu mwenzake. Utofauti huja wakati binadamu anapozaliwa akiwa na maumbile tofautitofauti.

Binadamu huyu huwa mrefu na mwingine kinyume chake, yaani mfupi; Yule ana rangi nyeusi na mwenzake ni nyeupe; huyu amezaliwa na viungo vyote na mwingine amezaliwa kapungukiwa viungo vya mwili. Pia binadamu wote wana mwanzo na mwisho unaofanana; wote huzaliwa na mwisho wao ni mauti. Bado tena hawa binadamu wana mahitaji ya msingi yanayofanana, yaani chakula-malazi-mavazi. Utofauti huu haumpi mtu mmoja kuwa na sifa ya binadamu na mwingine kuikosa hiyo sifa. Naendelea kusema kama kibwagizo kwa msisitizo kuwa “binadamu aliyezaliwa na binadamu ni binadamu, na ana haki ya asili kwa kuwa amebahatika kuzaliwa binadamu na kwamba binadamu wote wana haki sawa mbele ya sheria ya mwanadamu na ile ya ki-Mungu.

Muasisi wa taifa la Tanzania (zamani ikiitwa Tanganyika), Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, tarehe 18/02/1974, aliwahi sema maneno mazito juu ya kutetea ubinadamu wa watu wenye ulemavu ambao kwa karne nyingi umegubikwa na dhana potofu. Hii ni kwa sababu mtu anaweza akaigiza anazungumza ukweli kwenye jukwaa na baadae akiwa chini ya jukwaa akatekeleza kinyume na kauli yake ya jukwaani. Alisema hivi:

“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”.

Pia rais mstaafu wa Jamhuri ya watu wa Afrika ya kusini, Nelson Mandela, 4 Disemba 1995, Johannesburg wakati akifungua michezo kwa watu wenye ulemavu wa viungo vya miguu alisema hivi juu ya ulemavu:

“…to recognise the presence of disability in our human midst as an enrichment of our diversity”.

Kwa tafsiri yangu isiyo rasmi:

“…kuutambua uwepo wa ulemavu katikati ya binadamu kama utajirisho wa utofauti wetu”.

Biblia, kitabu ambacho binadamu anaamini ni matokeo ya maagizo ya Mungu kwa mwanadamu kimezungumza mengi juu ya ulemavu na watu wenye ulemavu. Angalia mafungu machache kutoka kwenye hiki kitabu kitakatifu.

Mambo ya Walawi 19:14, Biblia imeandikwa hivi:

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

Bwana”.

  Pia katika kitabu cha Kutoka 4:10-17, Biblia imenena wazi kuwa ni kusudi la Mungu kuweka huo utofauti:

 “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?”

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 dhambi 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. “…bali kazi za Mungu zidhihirike (zionekane wazi, zitofautiane na kazi zingine zisizo za ki-Mungu) ndani yake (ndani ya huo uumbaji)”.

MAPITO MBALIMBALI AMBAYO BINADAMU WENGINE WALIYAPITIA KAMA HAYA YA WATU WENYE ULEMAVU

Wanawake na mfumo dume

Hili ni kundi la binadamu ambalo kwa miaka mingi lilikuwa likidharauliwa, kubezwa, kuonekana hawawezi, si binadamu kamili na hata kufikia hatua ya wazi ya kumtawala na kumnyanyasa kama siyo binadamu mwenzake. Kundi hili liliwezeshwa na limeweza na tumeweza kushuhudia wanawake wakifanya mambo makubwa kwenye jamii, wameaminiwa uongozi kwenye jamii, wamesoma na wanaheshimika kwa ubinadamu na uwezo wao. Hebu tuwataje wanawake wachache maarufu; Angel Merkel (chancellor wa Ujerumani), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (rais wa Liberia), Joyce Banda (rais wa Malawi), Asha Rose Migiro (naibu katibu mkuu mstaafu wa umoja wa mataifa), (Anne Makinda (spika wa bunge la Tanzania) nk.

Ubaguzi wa rangi

Kwa miaka mingi ubaguzi wa rangi ulikuwa umetanda juu ya dunia nzima. Mfano mzuri ni watu wa Jamhuri ya Afrika ya kusini ambako makaburu waliweka sera za kibaguzi hadi hapo mnamo mwaka 1994 walipopata kiongozi mzalendo Nelson Mandela. Tumeshuhudia pia nchini marekani watu weusi walivyobaguliwa, na jinsi Martin Luther King alivyopambana hadi kuuawa kwa harakati zake. Lakini sasa yupo rais mwenye rangi nyeusi nchini humo aitwaye Barrack Obama.

Ukoloni

Nchi nyingi za Afrika, Latin America na Asia zimetawaliwa na wazungu kwa muda mrefu sana. Mfano mmoja mzuri sana kwa bara la Afrika ni nchi ya Msumbiji ambayo ilitawaliwa na taifa la Ureno kwa muda takriban miaka 500. Ni mateso mengi waliyapata waliotawaliwa. Lakini mwisho wa siku tumeshuhudia nchi hizi ziko huru japo matokeo ya ukoloni huo bado yanaonekana kwa mbali. Kinachozingatiwa hasa ni kujitawala wenyewe wenye nchi.

Uundaji wa Kizazi Shupavu na Vita dhidi ya Wanyonge (Creation of the World Master Race & the War Against the Weak)

Hili ni tukio lililoanzia ulaya na kisha kusambaa nchi za Amerika na Asia. Mchakato huu ulianzishwa na mwanasayansi wa uingereza Sir Francis Galton (1822–1911), akiamini kuwa upo uwezekano wa kutengeneza kizazi imara duniani. Walitenga jamii kwenye makundi mawili makuu, yaani wasiofaa (unfit) na wanaofaa (fit). Upande wa wanaofaa kwenye jamii walikuwa ni wasomi na matajiri wasio na hitilafu za kimaumbile. Kundi la pili la wasiofaa kwenye jamii lilijumuisha watu wote wasio matajiri, na watu wote waliokuwa na ulemavu wa aina yoyote ile. Ili kuonesha kuwa ni kweli walidhamiria na mpango huo Adolf Hitler wa Ujerumani aliwatumbukiza watu wenye ulemavu kwenye chemba ya gesi na wakafa wote waliowekwa humo akiwatuhumu kuwa ni walaji wasio na matumizi (useless eaters).

Hitimisho

Matukio haya yote yaliyofanywa na binadamu waliojiona kuwa wao ni bora kuliko wengine yalifika kwenye wakati ulioonyesha ukweli kuwa watu wanawake ni binadamu halali kama wengine, watu weusi ni jamii ya binadamu ambayo nayo yastahili kupewa heshima yake ya kiutu. Pia kwenye mchakato wa ukoloni binadamu wa Afrika, Latin Amerika na Asia nao walipewa hadhi ya kujitawala, na hata kwenye mchakato wa kutengeneza kizazi bora ulioanzishwa na Francis Galton bado napo binadamu aliyeonekana kuwa “unfit” alipewa hadhi ya kuwa “fit”, japo bado kundi la watu wenye ulemavu  liko nyuma kuachiwa huru. Jamii zetu nyingi zinawaona watu wenye ulemavu kuwa hawafai, ni mzigo kwa familia na taifa kwa ujumla.

Kwa kuonyesha kuwa tatizo kwa watu wenye ulemavu bado ni kubwa ni pale matukio mbalimbali yanapotokea kwa watu wenye ulemavu na familia zenye watu wenye ulemavu. Tumeshuhudia albino wakiuawa kinyama kuashiria kuwa bado hawatambuliwi kuwa ni binadamu kwenye jamii wanamoishi. Pia tumekuwa mashaihidi juu ya mahusiano mabaya ya wanandoa mara azaliwapo mtoto mwenye ulemavu. Wazazi wa kiume wamekuwa ni wepesi wa kuwakataa watoto wenye ulemavu wakidhani ni laana imeingia kwenye nyumba. Vilevile tumeshuhudia watu maarufu wapatapo ulemavu hupotea kabisa kwenye ramani walizokuwemo, mfano kwenye siasa. Tumekuwa mashahidi jinsi jamii zenye watoto wenye ulemavu zinavyotupiwa kila aina ya lawama kwa kuzaa watoto wenye ulemavu, familia hizo zinakosa raha, zinafadhaika na hata wakati mwingine kuamua kujidhuru kama vile kunywa sumu, kujinyonga nk.

Ninaamini kuwa wakati na ukweli kwa pamoja vitasema dhahiri juu ya watu wenye ulemavu. Itafika wakati ambapo watu wenye ulemavu watakomboka kama walivyofanikiwa binadamu wengine. Wakati upo binadamu wawalaanio watu wenye ulemavu watatia neno la Baraka juu ya hao watu wenye ulemavu. Wakati upo tutakapoongea lugha moja katika maeneo yote yamfaayo binadamu kama vile mahakamani, hospitalini, kwenye uwaziri na hata ikulu. Maana wakati huo binadamu watatambuliwa kwa ubinadamu wao na si kwa maumbile. Ndipo tutakaponyamaza kusema na kuacha kuandika mambo ya kufikiri kijumuishi, kutenda kijumuishi, na kuhimizana kujenga taifa jumuishi. Wakati huo binadamu wote watakuwa wamejawa na fikira na matendo jumuishi na hakutakuwa na binadamu atakayemhimiza mwenzake juu ya hilo kwani nyakati za uhalisia zitakuwa zimetimia kwa binadamu wote.

Tumalizie kwa kufahamu ya kuwa; Mungu amemuumba mtu kwa namna ambayo maisha yake yapitie majira na nyakati. Hii ni kwa sababu ulimwengu huu umeumbwa ili ufanye kazi kwa kufuata majira na nyakati. Kwa kuwa imeandikwa:

“Muda nchi idumupo, majira ya kupanda, na mavuno, wakati wa baridi na wakati wa hari, wakati wa kaskazi na wakati wa kusi, mchana na usiku, havitakoma ”(Mwanzo 8:22).

“BINADAMU ATABAKIA KUWA BINADAMU MILELE YOTE KAMA ASILI YAKE ILIVYO SASA”

Kwa maoni nitafute kupitia hapa kwa mawasiliano haya:
sokime2012@gmail.com
+255655410031
+255766750941

GET INFORMED ABOUT "OTHER HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS"- THE DANGEROUS CATEGORY OF DISABILITY:

By definition, "Other health impairments" (OHI) is a disability category included in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Other health impairment means having a disability caused by disease, condition, disorder, or injury that substantially affects strength, vitality, or alertness. To be identified with other health impairment, the student's condition must cause a substantial impact on his educational performance. This means having limited strength, vitality, or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli that result in limited alertness with respect to the education environment. A student with attention deficit disorder, for example, who is distracted by the everyday classroom environment and who cannot pay attention may be diagnosed with other health impairment if the problem is severe enough to affect his learning.

Causes of Other Health Impairments

Other Health Impairments can be results of side-effects due to chronic or acute health problems such as asthma, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell, anemia and tourette syndrome, and that adversely affects a child’s educational performance. The following bellow are explanations these causes.

Epilepsy

According to the Epilepsy Foundation of America, epilepsy is a physical condition that occurs when there is a sudden, brief change in how the brain works. When brain cells are not working properly, a person’s consciousness, movement, or actions may be altered for a short time. These physical changes are called epileptic seizures. Epilepsy affects people in all nations and of all races.

Symptoms include: “blackouts” or periods of confused memory; episodes of staring or unexplained unresponsiveness; involuntary movement of arms and legs; fainting spells with incontinence or followed by excessive fatigue; or odd sounds, distorted perceptions, and feelings of fear that cannot be explained.

Hemophilia

A child with hemophilia problem

Hemophilia is a rare, inherited disorder in which your blood does not clot properly. As a result, people with hemophilia may bleed after an injury for a longer time than those without the disorder. It is a myth that persons with hemophilia bleed to death from even minor injuries. In truth, the condition ranges mild to severe. Symptoms include: excessive bleeding, excessive bruising, easy bleeding, nose bleeds, and abnormal menstrual bleeding. Bleeding can also be internal, especially in the knees, ankles, and elbows. With very few exceptions, this disorder usually occurs only in males.

Lead poisoning

A child being affected by lead poisoning

Lead can build up in the body over a period of months or years. Even a small amount of lead in the body can cause serious problems—hence, the term lead poisoning. Being exposed to lead-based paint or paint dust is the most common avenue to lead poisoning. Children under the age of six are especially vulnerable, because their mental and physical abilities are still developing. Signs of lead poisoning are rather nonspecific, sometimes making diagnosis more difficult. Symptoms include: irritability, loss of appetite, weight loss, sluggishness, abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, unusual paleness from anemia, and learning difficulties.

Leukemia

Normally, the bone marrow in our bodies produces white blood cells to defend against infections. Leukemia develops when the marrow produces too many white blood cells and what’s produced are abnormal. Leukemia is considered a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. There are four types. According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the most common type in children under 19 years of age is Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).

Symptoms of ALL include: tiredness or no energy, shortness of breath during physical activity, pale skin, mild fever or night sweats, slow healing of cuts and excess bleeding, black-and-blue marks (bruises) for no clear reason, pinhead-size red spots under the skin, aches in bones or joints (for example, knees, hips or shoulders), and low white cell counts. A child showing any such symptoms should visit a healthcare professional for examination, to identify the cause.

Nephritis

 Nephritis means that one or both of a person's kidneys are inflamed. The kidneys are very important organs in the body, because they clean the blood by filtering out excess water, salt, and waste products from the food we eat. Nephritis may be due to infection, but it’s more commonly associated with autoimmune disorders that affect the major organs of the body. Individuals with lupus, for example, are at much higher risk for developing nephritis.

Rheumatic fever

Rheumatic fever can develop as a complication of untreated or poorly treated strep throat or scarlet fever. Symptoms include: fever; pain in one joint that moves to another joint; red, hot, or swollen joints; small, painless nodules beneath the skin; rapid, fluttering, or pounding heartbeats (palpitations); shortness of breath; a painless rash with a ragged edge; jerky, uncontrollable body movements, most often in the hands, feet, and face; and unusual behavior, such as crying or inappropriate laughing.

It is very important to treat rheumatic fever, because it can cause permanent damage to the heart, especially the valves. Diagnosing the condition usually involves a physical exam by the doctor, who will look for signs of tender or swollen joints, the tell-tale rash, and abnormal heart rhythm.

Typically, the doctor will also do a blood test for strep throat. Antibiotics are the usual treatment for rheumatic fever, to eliminate the strep bacteria from the system. It’s not unusual for a person to take low-dose antibiotics continually for years (especially the first 3 -5 years after the first episode) to prevent rheumatic fever from coming back.

Sickle cell anemia

Children with sickle cell problems

Anemia, in general, is a condition where an individual’s blood has less than a normal number of red blood cells or the red blood cells themselves don’t have enough hemoglobin (which carries oxygen throughout the body). Sickle cell anemia is one type of anemia where the hemoglobin is abnormal and the red blood cells often become shaped like the letter C, making them sickle-shaped (like a crescent). This shape makes it hard for the red blood cells to pass through small blood vessels, causing pain and damaging organs. Symptoms include chronic anemia and periodic episodes of pain (in the arms, legs, chest, and abdomen).

Tourette syndrome

A person characterized by tourette problems

Tourette syndrome is a disorder characterized by tics (involuntary, rapid, sudden movements) and/ or vocal outbursts that occur repeatedly. The tics can range from simple (e.g., rapid eye-blinking, facial grimacing, shoulder-shrugging) to complex (involving several muscle groups, such as hopping, bending, or twisting). Vocalizations can also range from simple (throat-clearing, sniffing, grunting) to complex (involving words or phrases).

Tourette syndrome is an inherited disorder that is first noticed in childhood, usually between the ages of 7 and 10. The syndrome occurs in boys four times more than in girls. It is estimated that 2% of the world population has Tourette syndrome. This may be a conservative estimate, since many people with very mild tics are unaware of them and never seek medical attention. However, effective medications are available for those whose symptoms interfere with functioning.

Conclusion

Other Health Impairments have side-line effects to an individual if not early identified, early intervened and well prepared set of specialized programs. The child or any person who suffers from this category of disability may adversely be affected socially, economically and culturally. There is, therefore a need to work together as the community to help each other on how benefit each other’s interactions. The respective governments should set programs to include these people with other health impairments, identifying this problem as early as possible and set intensive intervening planned programs.

References

http://nichcy.org/wp-content/uploads/docs/fs15.pdf

"Think Inclusively ~~~ Act Inclusively ~~~ Create an Inclusive Nation"

Do You Know This Category of Disability?

ORTHOPEDIC IMPAIRMENT: 

The term includes impairments caused by a congenital anomaly, impairment caused by disease (example, poliomyelitis, born tuberculosis), and impairments from other causes (example; cerebral palsy, amputations, and fractures or bums that cause contractures). This type of disability affects a child’s educational performances.

Under federal law (IDEA), an orthopedic impairment means a severe bodily impairment that adversely affects a child's educational performance. An orthopedic impairment involves the skeletal system-bones, joints, limbs, and associated muscles.

CAUSES OF ORTHOPEDICS

The term includes impairments due to the effects of congenital anomaly (examples; clubfoot, absence of some member, rheumatoid Arthritis.), impairments due to the effects of disease (examples; muscular dystrophy and bone tuberculosis.), and impairments from other causes (example; cerebral palsy, amputations, and fractures or burns that cause contractures).

Sub-categories of orthopedic impairment

v  Congenital Anomaly ( Club Foot)           

v  Diseases (Muscular Dystrophy)

v  Other Causes ( Injuries)

CLUB FOOT

Clubfoot describes a range of foot abnormalities usually present at birth in which a person’s foot is twisted out of shape. The term "clubfoot" refers to the way the foot is positioned, like the head of a golf club. Clubfoot is a common birth defect.

 

Causes

The cause of clubfoot isn't known, but scientists do know that clubfoot isn't caused by the position of the fetus in the uterus.

Treatment

Treatment begins soon after birth since babies’ bones are so flexible.  Treatment methods include:

Stretching and casting

This entails manipulating the foot into a correct position and casting it to maintain that position. Repositioning and recasting occurs every week for several weeks. After the shape of the foot is realigned, it's maintained through stretching exercises, special shoes or splinting at night for up to two years.

Surgery

Some severe cases of clubfoot may require surgery. An orthopedic surgeon can lengthen tendons to help ease the foot into a more appropriate   position. After surgery; the child needs to wear a brace for a year or so to prevent recurrence of the deformities. Even with treatment, the defect may not be totally correctable, but treatment usually improves the appearance and function of the foot.

EFFECTS TO LEARNING DOMAINS

Psychomotor

Walking on the side of their feet. This may also cause their calf muscle not grow properly.

Cognitive

 Many children that have clubfoot often go through many surgeries at a very young age. This could cause them to often miss school and be behind.

Affective

The child may worry about their body image as they get older.

MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

Muscular Dystrophy refers Muscular Dystrophy diseases, Duchenne is the most common.

to a group of genetic, hereditary muscle diseases that weaken the muscles which facilitate the movement of the human body.  There are nine

Causes

These conditions are inherited, and the different muscular dystrophies follow various inheritance patterns. The best-known type, Duchenne Musculary Distrophy (DMD), is inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern, meaning that the mutated gene that causes the disorder is located on the X chromosome, one of the two sex chromosomes and is thus considered sex-linked.

Treatment

There is no known cure for muscular dystrophy; therefore there is no specific treatment. Inactivity can worsen the disease. Physical Therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and orthopedic instruments (e.g., wheel chairs, standing frames) may be helpful

Symptoms

Progressive Muscular wasting (weakness), Poor Balance, Frequent Falls, Walking Difficulty, Calf Pain, Limited Range of Movement, Muscle Contractures, Respiratory Difficulty, Drooping Eyelids, Scoliosis, Inability to walk.

Muscular Dystrophy’s effect on three domains

Psychomotor

The onset of Muscular Dystrophy will begin with a child who may start to stumble, have difficulty going up stairs and begin to walk on his toes.  As time goes on they might lose the ability to walk.  A child may need to use a wheel chair or leg braces.

Cognitive

Children with Muscular Dystrophy do not really show signs of poor cognitive skills.

Affective

The child may also worry about their body image as they get older. And begin to become very angry towards other and self because his/her condition may be getting worse.

INJURIES

Injuries can include broken or fractured bones, sever burns, sprained joints, and pulled muscles. Anything that is short term and keep a student for performing normal activities.

Causes

Causes can vary from falls, sports accidents, play ground accidents, or any other accidental injury that causes a person to be impaired for some time.

Treatment

Depending on the injury treatment varies. For a broken leg, a cast would be put on for a period of time, then taken off and the person might have some type of therapy.

Effects of injuries on three domains

Psychomotor

Depending on the injury, an individual will lose the ability of using the injured limb.

Cognitive

Usually there is no cognitive effect but if a child has some brain damage they could experience memory loss.

Affective

Some students might now start feeling of being left out.

Conclusion

This category of disability dangerous and its effects to an individual can adversely affect human personality if not intervened early. Parents should be carefully to assess their newly born babies; sports men and women must make sure there are safety environments for their games; and also people should generally be active to observe some controllable risk factors for Orthopedic disability.

Let Visually Impaired People Hire Decent Jobs In Banks; Just Give Them a Sound of Support!

Banking technology & the visually impaired people:  

Visually impaired are the individuals who have visual limits revealed in their daily lives in one in one way or another. They are among other groups that make a total of 13 categories of disabilities. As human beings, people who are visually impaired have the rights to hire the decent jobs as other non - disabled people do. This can be done through UNIVERSAL DESIGN technology.

“Universal design” means the design of products, environments, programs and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. “Universal design” shall not exclude assistive devices for particular groups of persons with disabilities where this is needed. Through this technology, people with vision limits can have access to several facilities like in banks.

How visually impaired people can work in banks?

In Tanzania, the present banking technology benefits people who are not visually impaired. For instance, the presence of devices that can help to detect the value of paper money and coins may be of great deal in the inclusive era. It is suggested that there should be an improvised electronic device which can be of any shape and of any reasonable size to aid people who are visually impaired for money services. For example the hand-watch and mobile phones can scientifically be modified to assist people with visual impairment in identifying money being used at particular time. This technology can probably lead the blind people work in banks easily. Enable them in trade activities and to reduce dependency for blind people make money transactions. To enable the illiterate people count money. Other means to help people with vision restrictions includes the raised dots in paper money and coins to guide them identify the value of particular note and coin.

Sample Technology For Visually Impaired People in USA:

SayText

SayText, developed by Norfello Oy, scans text within any image, such as a medical form or restaurant menu, and reads it aloud. Center the document under the iPhone camera and double-tap the "Take Picture" button. Then raise it slowly: a beep indicates that the entire document is in the phone's frame. The app's Optical Character Recognition utility then scans the text. Tap the screen for status updates. Once scanned, swipe right to hear the document read aloud.

COLOR IDENTIFIER

GreenGar Studios' Color Identifier uses the iPhone camera to identify and speak color names aloud. Shades identified are specific to the point of annoyance (Paris Daisy, Moon Mist) for some users. The company makes a free app called Color ID Free that sticks to basic colors. Blind people will never wear mismatched socks or the wrong color shirt again. An interesting offshoot is using the app to distinguish shades of sky, enabling one to experience sunsets or gauge possible weather changes.

Navigon MobileNavigator NA

NAVIGON's MobileNavigator North America transforms the iPhone into a fully functional mobile navigation system that uses the latest NAVTEQ map material. The app offers text-to-speech voice guidance, enhanced pedestrian navigation, a turn-by-turn RouteList, location sharing via email, and a Take Me Home function. It also provides direct access and navigation to iPhone address book contacts. Navigation is automatically resumed after an incoming phone call.

LookTel Money Reader

The LookTelMoney Reader recognizes US currency in standard denominations ($1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills) enabling blind and visually impaired people to quickly identify and count bills. Point the iPhone camera at any US bill and LookTel's object recognition technology via VoiceOver tells users the denomination in real time. Best to organize bills before hitting the nightclub; the app doesn't work as well in low light.

Conclusion

I normally think and commit to memory about giant scientists like Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, B. F. Skinner, and Charles Darwin. Francis Galton, Galileo Galilei, Gregor Mendel, Henry Ford, James Prescott Joule, Michael Faraday, Robert Boyle, Sigmund Freud, Alfred Binet, and many others. I wish they were of present generation they could have already done much scientific breakthrough to make sure that all people have equal access to this dynamic world. More than that, the world is still rich in men and women scientists. The only theme is the way they can think about human diversities and accord those diversities with the advantageous amenities.

References:

http://assistivetechnology.about.com/od/ATCAT6/tp/Top-10-Iphone-Apps-For-The-Visually-Impaired.htm

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

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"