By Vaye A. Lepolu
On the 29th of June, the National Disability Commission donated items to 75% of disabled females across Montsrrado as part of the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD) disabled empowerment.
The Executive Director of the National Disabilities Commission Mr. Samuel C. Dean said, that a hundred (100) disabled people expect to benefit from the NDC Subsidy for disabled empowerment.
According to the Executive Director, the function of the Commission is to play an advocacy role for the lives of Liberia’s one million disabled across the country to provide civil, social economic, political, and cultural rights and also to protect their density.
He said the National Disability Commission is also an advocate for the government to provide subsidies for disabled people organizations or individuals.
However, Mr. Samuel Dean mentioned that Money that has been by the government for subsidiaries toward the disabled community is not been taken for granted and should be used for a specific purpose so their lives are impacted.
According to him, Lutricia Kollie from Jallah Town Community obtained a bag of slippers with a value of US$ 150.00, Mercy Jallah from Congo Town was supplied with 15 sizes of soft drinks, a cooler, and an umbrella, with a value of US$150.00, Beatrice Kollie from 540 peace Island community was donated with
Two bundles of zinc & nails cost US$150.00 and Sarah Wallace from SKD, Nagbe town was given One bundle of zinc & nails with 10,000 LD. The NDC Boss stated that some of the disabled females who are receiving their subsides physically with items, and the other individuals are receiving theirs through Cash.
During the donation over the weekend, Mr. Dean stressed that despite difficulties with low budgetary allotment for operations, the National Commission on Disabilities is still empowering the lives of disabled individuals.
He said, his administration is focusing on how the disability community should have a voice on the national leave in all sectors of private and public areas in Liberia society, he stated that he wants his people to be captured in the development agenda, to be employed, and space for equal education and disabled law should be implemented.
He went on to state that the Art that created the National Commission on Disabilities ( NCD) with lots section has not been functioning, only two sections of the NDC are functioning and he said there are for all sections. He mentioned that sections 5 and 6 of the Commission state that, 4% of disability should be obtained in all sectors private and public instructions of empowerment.
He said the government of Liberia has to accommodate at least five persons with disability in government ministries and agencies across Liberia.
Meanwhile, he also mentioned that the government of Liberia needs to enforce the teaching of sign language in all public and private schools in the country. According to Mr. Samuel Dean, sign language in institutions will help deaf persons understand what is been taught in a school.
He said, the lack of teaching sign language in various schools is another challenge in the disabled community for their children, and also a lack of rest room for disability in private and public buildings is another challenge the disabled community faces every time.
He mentioned challenges of Limited access to Education, skills training ( TVET), employment, assistive technologies, and devices, inaccessible school environment and the national education curriculum are not inclusive to all teaching and learning which accommodates visual impairment and hearing and the National (TVET) are not similarly accessible for skills learners with disability.
Meanwhile, some beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the NCD for the kind gesture. Lutricia Kollie, “My family and I, are happy, this slipper bag is a huge gift for the family to be empowered.” Like her, Mercy Jallah also noted: “Thanks to the executive director for carrying on the initiative towards my family and I will use it wisely for my family to obtain food on their table,” Sarah Wallace” My house did not have any zinc, today I will have a good place to sleep, Mr. Dean thank you very much my life.”
