News
Breaking Barriers Through the Lens
DJP Fellow Sa Utailesolo Wants to Share His Video Production Knowledge with Others to Further the Cause of Disability Rights in Samoa
June 30, 2023
APIA, Samoa – Question: Tell me your name and which organization you are working for and your role and responsibilities.
Answer: My name is Sa. I’m from the village of Napier, and I’m a man, 41 years of age. I’m married and have one son. I work at NOLA [Nuanua O Le Alofa] as finance and administration. Fifteen years of my service to the organization. NOLA is a national advocacy organization here in Samoa. And also it’s the only OPD here in Samoa.
Question: What is your motivation to apply for the Disability Justice Project?
Answer: Because this program it’s help for us to do our work, like to advocate and make tools or videos to promote our rights of persons with disabilities.
Question: What challenges do you face when you tried to apply for this program or what challenges might you expect to come across when participating in this DJP program?
Answer: English is not our first language, but we try so hard to understand and they make things easy to understand. As a person who is visually impaired, it’s quite hard to see things like the demonstration, to explain things like seeing the cameras.
Question: So what are some of your expectations that you would like to achieve after joining this DJP?
Answer: One of the expectations, it’s to know how to make or produce a video and also how to write the stories that go along with the videos.
Question: Tell me about your plan, after obtaining this program.
Answer: First thing when I return back to our office, it’s to make a video. The other thing is to train and share my knowledge with other colleagues. And also to make more videos so you can get better and better for making a documentary or promotional materials for ours. Like, I said, this is a good experience to promote our organization and also our work to the community and the country.
Question: What is your message to other people with disabilities out there who also might want to participate in such a program like DJP?
Answer. This is an amazing project to promote our rights. This is the first training for the Pacific region, so I think it’s nice to have another opportunity for our Pacific people. If they had other opportunities for a disability community here in the Pacific, I’d like them to use wisely the opportunity if they got the chance to participate.
DJP Fellow Melvina Voua is involved in many volunteer activities with youth groups, women’s groups and people with disabilities in her community. She is a member of People with Disability Solomon Islands (PWDSI), the umbrella body of organizations for people with disabilities in the Solomon Islands. @2023 PWDSI. All rights reserved.
News From the Global Frontlines of Disability Justice
Rwanda’s Marburg Crisis
As Rwanda confronts its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak, people with disabilities face heightened risks — not only from the virus but also from the lack of accessible health information. “Without proper accommodations, such as sign language interpreters, captions, Braille, or visual aids, the Deaf and DeafBlind community may miss crucial information about how to protect themselves, symptoms to watch for, or where to seek help in case of infection,” says Joseph Musabyimana, executive director of the Rwanda Organization of Persons with Deaf Blindness.
Capturing Vision Through Sound and Touch
Last summer, the DJP trained Indigenous activists with disabilities from the Pacific on the iPhone camera to create a documentary series on disability and climate change. With VoiceOver, the iPhone provides image descriptions for blind and low-vision filmmakers and offers other accessible features. “If you think about it, it doesn’t make sense for a blind person to use a camera,” says DJP filmmaker Ari Hazelman. “The iPhone gives you more avenues to tell your story in a more profound way as a blind person.”
Work for All
The We Can Work program equips young Rwandans with disabilities to navigate barriers to employment through education, vocational training, and soft skills development. By fostering inclusive workplaces and advocating for policy changes, the program aims to reduce poverty and promote economic independence. Participants like Alliance Ukwishaka are optimistic that the program will enable them to achieve their dreams and showcase their potential. The initiative is part of a larger effort to support 30 million disabled youth across seven African countries.
Global Recognition
Faaolo Utumapu-Utailesolo’s film “Dramatic Waves of Change” has been named a finalist in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival. The film, completed during a Disability Justice Project workshop in Samoa, highlights the impact of climate change on people with disabilities in Kiribati. Utumapu-Utailesolo, who is blind, used an iPhone with accessibility features to create the film. “Do not leave people with disabilities behind when [you] plan, implement, and monitor programs regarding climate change and disaster,” she says. Her achievement is a testament to the power of inclusive filmmaking.
Advancing Democracy
Rwanda has made significant progress in making its elections more accessible, highlighted by the July 15 general elections where notable accommodations were provided. This was a major step forward in disabled Rwandans’ quest for equal rights and participation. “You cannot imagine how happy I am, for I have voted by myself and privately as others do accessibly,” says Jean Marie Vianney Mukeshimana, who used a Braille voting slate for the first time. “Voting is a deeply emotional and meaningful experience for a person with any disability in Rwanda, reflecting a blend of pride, empowerment, and hope.”
Barriers to the Ballot
Despite legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act, barriers at the polls still hinder — and often prevent — people with disabilities from voting. New restrictive laws in some states, such as criminalizing assistance with voting, exacerbate these issues. Advocacy groups continue to fight for improved accessibility and increased voter turnout among disabled individuals, emphasizing the need for multiple voting options to accommodate diverse needs. ““Of course, we want to vote,” says Claire Stanley with the American Council of the Blind, “but if you can’t, you can’t.”