PHOTO: Mr. Noah Z. Gibson-visually impaired man who is threatening to protest (image used with permission)
By Elbie Sebleh
A Liberian living with visual impairment has threatened to stage a peaceful protest at the state owned University of Liberia for what he calls ‘disallowing the enrollment of visually impaired students.’
Mr. Noah Z. Gibson told this Reporter in an exclusive interview in Monrovia that many years ago, he opted to have attended the University of Liberia, a chance he never got. But he was fortunate to enroll at a private University- Cuttington University (CU) in Bong County, 169 kilometers from Monrovia.
Although Mr. Gibson has graduated from the Cuttington University with a Bsc degree in Public Administration major and Sociology minor, he instead said he wants to draw the attention of the State-run University to the plight of those who are living with visual problems, but want to earn an education at that government institution as was his case many years ago.
His quest is in line with Article 24(2) (c), of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which requires states to provide reasonable accommodation for individual students to enable them to access an inclusive education on an equal basis with others.
The visually impaired Liberian said he feels it has reached a point where there should be considerations on Liberians with visual impairment to have the opportunity to attend the University of Liberia, adding that they, too, are Liberians who should be benefiting as well.
“I am planning the protest,” he said in a strong tone during the interview.
He indicated that it is a serious situation that needs to be addressed, because not all persons with such disability can afford other private universities as it was in his case.
“What if visually impairs can’t afford other universities; what will become of those who are hungry for education?” he asked.
Even at the private university he attended, the funding did not come from him nor any of his relatives.
“It was by the help of former President Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Dr. Henry Tokpah [ CU former president now Bong County Senator] that I was able to enroll at the Cuttington University to obtain my first degree,” he informed this Reporter.
UL authorities say they have a challente
Authorities at State-run University said they see the need to have an inclusive education which will have those with and without disabilities accessing quality education in the same university, but they have a challenge.
University of Liberia Vice President for students Affairs, Sekou W. Konneh said currently, the necessary infrastructures are not available to accept students with visual problems at the University although the Convention on their Rights mandates states parties to provide such opportunity for their citizens in said conditions.
Madam Daintowon Domah Pay-Bayee is the Chairperson of the National Commission on disabilities, which was established to advocate and caters for those with disabilities..
Madam Paybeye, who was appointed recently by President George Weah, said the few visually impaired who have enrolled at the universities find it very difficult to cope with the learning situation because they have to go to classes with recorder, record the instructor’s explanation; go home and transcribe the voices through the Braille before being able to study and it has really been a serious challenge.
“This is something the PwDs have been calling on the Government for the past years to come to their aid, but to no avail,” she said.
The new head of the National Disabilities Commission disclosed that for the Braille system to be taught at the University of Liberia, the Ministry of Education needs to do the needful by training teachers to have knowledge on working with the Braille.
“This is not a recent situation, we have been crying out for this Braille to be accepted in the University of Liberia so that visually impaired people can have a comfortable learning experience, the Ministry of Education needs to train teachers to be able to use it ; that is the only way things will go smoothly” she said.
How Mr. Gibson did came down with this life long illness and how he managed his way to attain an education?
According to Mr. Gibson, prior to his blindness he enroll at the Morris Zazay elementary school in the 72nd Community for his primary education in the early 90s.
Gibson said his problem started when cataract started to grow on the pupil of his right eye in 1993 by then his father took him took him to Smile Liberia which was located in compound of the John F. Kennedy Hospital (JFK) to establish as to whether his problem could be resolved.
“Doctors said the only option was to carry on a surgery” he said.
In furthered that his father insisted he was too small to cope with surgery and he suggested that he( Noah) should develop in growth a little before said operation can be carried out.
He explained that when his sight was no more, he was forced to attend the United Blind School where he learned the Braille (the act of writing through feelings use by visually impaired people) and later had to attend regular school where he was able to graduate from the A.G Calvary Temple High school in 2004.
In 1997 due to the Civil war his both eyes got damaged because there was nobody available by the time to work on his sickness as everyone ran for their lives when the Liberia civil unrest which ravaged the country was ongoing.
“The cataract started with my right eye and later the left one got affected as well” he said in the interview.
Gibson has not allowed his condition to paint him down, but has put up with challenges life had to offer.
He is an advocate and also a politician who has always spoken on major national issues in Liberia.
He was among sighted citizens who staged the June 7, 2019 protest and he places calls on major talkshows in Liberia speaking with loud voice on issues affecting both those with and without disabilities.
During the interview, Mr. Gibson said he has declared his intention to contest for representative seat in the district two Montserrado County in 2029 expected election.
“Comes 2029, I don’t have comparators in my district, I have done a lot as compared to a non disabled and I don’t see blindness as an obstacle” he confidently said.
He has proposed a foundation he intends to named “Noah Zarwu Gibson foundation” which he said is intended to impact student’s lives by providing scholarship program which will help pay school fees for students in private schools.
“I know how it feels to be educated, so in my weak way I will do what it can to help others acquire education by God’s Help” he intoned.
Although the formation of the proposed foundation is still a dream (in the pipeline) but Mr. Gibson said he has started lobbying with friends who share his dream of helping to get the tuitions available his foundation.
Mr. Gibson also works in the office of Montserrado County Senator Darius Dillon as a Stewart.
“Work in Senator Dillon’s office is because I am competent not because of sympathy” he proudly said with a laughter across his face.
Speaking of the condition he faces at his work place, Mr. Gibson the Capital Building which is the place of lawmaking is not disabled friendly he is still trying to cope with the stairs to access the building.
He also wants the Liberian government to take into consideration in making public building disabled friendly.
“Not only the Capital where I work, but almost all our public buildings are not disabled friendly, I want GoL to look at the situation,” Mr. Gibson said. This Report was made possible with support from Internews Liberia Inclusive Media Project.