PwDs National Union Issues 9-Point Statement On Providing Solutions
PHOTO: Peter Flomo, President National Union of Organizations of the Disabled
The National Union of Organizations of the Disabled (NUOD) has issued a nine-count statement aimed at providing solutions to many problems affecting persons living with disabilities in the country.
The union’s President, Peter Flomo said the first and foremost called on President Joseph Boakai and the National Legislature to see the reason for timely increment of the allotment of the National Commission on Disabilities in the national budget, in order to better the lives and social welfare organizations of person with disabilities.
Addressing a press conference in Monrovia, Mr. Flomo stressed the need for the appointment and employment of persons with disabilities in relevant ministries , commissions, bureaus an agencies in close consultation with the National Union of Organizations of the Disabled.
NOUD also called on the President Boakai to consider the appointment of the two deputies to the Executive Director of the National Commission on Disabilities as well as the appointment of a disabled advisor to the President.
The disabled community is also demanding the assignment of a professional sign language interpreter within the Office of the President of Liberia for the benefit of the deaf and the speech impaired community in Liberia and abroad
According to him, the disabled community wants all specialized schools removed from the Ministry of Education’s subsidy listing by the past government, should be re-instated to enhance the education of disabled students.
“We are also calling on the Ministry of Education to ensure that all qualified classroom teachers with disabilities be identified for possible employment in specialized schools,” Mr. Flomo said.
He added that “the Liberian government should issue official passport to executives of NOUD whenever they are travelling to the United States and other parts of the world to attend an international conference on behalf of the disabled community in Liberia.”
Mr. Flomo reminded the President of Article Six of the Act establishing the National Commission on Disabilities with which speaks about the appointment of an assistant minister at the Ministry of Education with three directors each for the deaf, the blind and cripple so as to enhance of the education of the disabled people.