People living with disabilities called Little People say that they are excluded from programs designed to improve the standards of assistance in their categories and discrimination by the able people.
Little note that before such discrimination is ended, school curriculum should comprise disciplinary standards which must ensure they are not offended by other pupils and students in any manner.
Talking under their RULP (Rwanda Union of Little People) umbrella association Little people lament that while other poor and needy Rwandans have been able to benefit from the Girinka program, VUP, Ubudehe and Hanga Umurimo, that has been exceptional for them.
Honorine Tuyishimire a RULP staff executive secretary says that some of the members play a role in making it impossible for little people to benefit from the programs designed to cater for them.
“There some that fear and don’t turn up for government programs and meeting in sectors where in fact they are identified and categorized for beneficial attention.”
The Little People member that studied management says that they still have challenges especially with schools that don’t comply with the regulations regarding the construction of classrooms, and inner furniture that they can use comfortably.
“You find the schools are shoddy to allow students attend classes in them, even when they can attend are not allowed to be ask questions like others or even be able to participate on writing on blackboard, like normal.”
She notes that it is very difficult for them to complete science classes because some are not allowed to participate in practical classes.
“You find the apparatuses are kept is distances some of the Little people cannot reach.”
Daphlose Yamfashije a fourth year student says that they are undermined and handled as children which denies them some chances.
“When they are categorizing in Ubudehe categories they assess how the parents lived but a disabled parent with a child needs more help.”
She asks why some leaders insist that those that have dwarfism must catered for by their families and thus denying them access to programs that can help them be self -sustainable.
“They always count them as children in their native families.”
Neighbor influence in little people’s habits also affects their access to associations that assist them.
“Like some students with dwarfism lose hope when they are admitted in schools and other students tease them over their disability.”
She urged the ministry of education to comprise the disciplinary warning of respect for little people in the primary school curriculum.
Adelphine Nyirasafari, the Gasabo district disability secretary, denies the allegations of exclusion from national agendas saying that people with dwarfism have more chances of integrating in programs.
“Youths with disabilities as much as women with the same conditions, no one is isolated.”
She notes that in VUP there is an exceptional obligation of employing little people in appropriate works and most earn Rwf10000 a month.
