Zimbabwe National Disability Expo 2019
Ensuring Inclusion and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Through Innovation and Technology
UNICEF supported the just ended annual National Disability Expo Zimbabwe (2019). Running under the theme of “Ensuring Inclusion and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Through Innovation and Technology”, the expo’s aim was to enable persons with disabilities to gain awareness on existing technology, equipment, aids, services and products. The Expo also provided an opportunity for service and product providers to interact with persons with disabilities and their families, as well as their caregivers, thereby and in part building valuable networks.
The National Disability Expo was organized by the Office of the Adviser to the President and Cabinet on Disability Issues, under the leadership of Honourable Joshua Malinga. In his welcome remarks Honourable Malinga stressed the importance of assistive technology for persons with disabilities. “I am privileged that I use assistive technology, my wheelchair is my technology.”
"Government fully subscribes to the notion that persons with disabilities should have full and effective participation and inclusion in society."
The Honourable Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development (MHTESTD), Professor Amon Murwira called on the nation to join hands in employing innovation and technology and to design a future of inclusivity, which turns disabilities into DIFFabilities. He said:
“Government fully subscribes to the notion that persons with disabilities should have full and effective participation and inclusion in society. We want to obliterate any notion of disability with DIFFability through innovation and technology. My ministry is affirmatively supporting access to inclusive, equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for persons with disabilities.”
Speaking at the same occasion, UNICEF Disability Expert, Dr. Christine Peta said: “instead of putting the lives of children with disabilities on hold, whilst we engage traditional healers and religious prophets to try and “fix” the bodies of children with disabilities, it is best to embrace bodily differences and to support the children to develop to their maximum capacity by in part providing them with appropriate assistive technology which enables them to carry out their daily living activities.”
"Instead of putting the lives of children with disabilities on hold, whilst we engage traditional healers and religious prophets to try and “fix” the bodies of children with disabilities, it is best to embrace bodily differences and to support the children to develop to their maximum capacity."
Speaking at the same occasion, UNICEF Disability Expert, Dr. Christine Peta said: “instead of putting the lives of children with disabilities on hold, whilst we engage traditional healers and religious prophets to try and “fix” the bodies of children with disabilities, it is best to embrace bodily differences and to support the children to develop to their maximum capacity by in part providing them with appropriate assistive technology which enables them to carry out their daily living activities.”
Several UNICEF supported publications on disability were on display, including Volume 2 of the Zimbabwe National Sign Language Dictionary; and the supplement entitled “Addressing Special Educational Needs at Infant and Junior Education level in Literacy and Numeracy”.
UNICEF is supporting the Government of Zimbabwe to formulate a draft National Disability Policy; an entire section of the draft policy is dedicated to assistive technology. Access to assistive technology is a fundamental right of every person in need.
