Source: WUA breaks new ground – DailyNews Live
STAFF WRITER 18 September 2018
HARARE – The Women’s University in Africa (WUA) has broken new ground by
enrolling four young women who are deaf to study for a Diploma in Social
Work. They have two interpreters and a note taker to support their
studies.
Although there is a clear need for social workers able to relate with
deafness, Zimbabwe does not have deaf social workers or those who can use
sign language because people with hearing impairment have been excluded
from access to higher education in Zimbabwe.
There have not been adequate efforts to enrol deaf people in higher
education with deaf “O” Level graduates being relegated to petty vending.
Zimbabwe does not have a deliberate policy for inclusion of people with
disabilities while a number of persons with disabilities have reported
unpleasant experiences such as rejection, discrimination and lack of
appropriate accommodation in institutions of higher learning.
The acceptance of deaf students by WUA provides a window of hope for those
living with hearing impairment in Zimbabwe.
Access to higher education for the deaf community creates role models for
children with similar impairments thus encouraging investment in their
education while more persons with disabilities will join professional
fields, creating a truly inclusive country that appreciates and
understands diversity.
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