Shallon S. Gonlor / shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY, LIBERIA — A physically challenged visually impaired community in Nimba County has launched a passionate appeal, calling on the Liberian government and private sector employers to prioritize their full inclusion into the job market. The physically challenged community, including young females and males, said it faces significant employment challenges, with many struggling to find suitable jobs despite being capable and skilled.
The group represented by three female advocates Wednesday evening appeared on Radio Nimba in Sanniquellie City to publicly voice their frustration and disenchantment over disability discrimination in employment. The advocates, Emily T. Moore, Marie K. Meapeh, and Angelie Garteh highlighted how they are passionate about contributing to the labor market, but employment inclusivity and discrimination are barriers to achieving their aspirations. “The abilities of people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision are often underestimated,” they stated.
Emily, Marie, and Angelie believe that people with blindness based on capability and skill should have access to job opportunities equal to everyone else. “To achieve this, funding and processes for supporting disabled people into work need to be modified to reflect the changing age of the workforce, the need for more flexible working hours and specialized types of support in the workplace,” they asserted.
According to the young ladies, the government needs to regulate to create the conditions for a more inclusive workplace that favors employing the blind and those with low vision. “Employing disabled people benefits both we the affected, the country, and the economy.”
They further narrated that when it comes to employing people who are blind, some employers are driven away by fear of the unknown as well as fear of what they know, that is, thinking that hiring a person who is blind. “Alternatively, employers may fall back on a single negative experience,” they added.
Emily, Marie, and Angelie said people with visual impairment deserve to have the same choices and opportunities as everyone else to earn an income, stressing that despite being physically challenged, they are capable of working proactively with private employers and the government as disability service providers.
As members of the physically challenged community, the team is working to address the barriers, educating employers about the opportunity that exists within this untapped workforce. Through their advocacy, the team offers proactive and detailed recommendations to help employers utilize visually impaired workers ahead of sighted ones.
The group is also ensuring members are “work ready” to enable them to maximize employment and greater opportunities. It ensures that the requirements of blind job seekers are understood and supported.
Meanwhile, the group is calling on the government and employers to lead the implementation of accessible systems to remove barriers to employment in the government and private sectors.
