Welcome. Today I'm joined by a girl who has just been selected
to continue with her education at a high school.
She is DeafBlind and she is going to introduce herself and we are going to know more about her.
First, what's your name, and where do you come from, and how did you acquire deafblindness?
I am Chrissy Matumba and I come from Zomba.
I acquired these disabilities because
of disease such as tuberculosis and retinoblastoma cancer.
[dramatic piano and strings music]
Recently, you've just been selected because you scored very well
and how-what were some of the challenges that you faced when
going through the education previously?
There was a lack of assistive devices, and fellow students dejected me when I have sought help,
and also a scarcity of teaching and learning materials.
[paper rustling]
Despite all these challenges how did you manage to score very well just like the way you have done?
I worked hard so that in the future I help my parents,
and also I looked for other alternatives
to find the material for reading.
What do you want that should be done
so that you persons with DeafBlindness go through the education system smoothly and or
become what you want to become in future?
Learning materials should be available to us.
Thank you that you have been in the interview
and I thank you very much because you have shared with me your story, thank you.
Thank you.
I'm also joined by one of the teachers who are here providing education.
He's going to introduce himself and his position here. Welcome, Mister.
Thank you very much. I am Ernest Sokasoka.
I'm the head of the Department for Special Needs here at Blantyre Secondary School.
You have welcomed a young DeafBlind girl. I don't know, how are you going to make sure
that maybe the environment is well conducive that she's going to be grasping the lessons and
you are providing necessary support for her?
Thank you very much. My role will just be trying to modify all the lessons all the curriculum concepts
that she has to understand and match together with the learners in their classes.
[mechanical keyboard clacking]
As a school, you do have some of the challenges
what are some of the challenges that you want to be addressed so that maybe when it comes to
issues of handling persons with disabilities like those with DeafBlindness are managed?
One of the problems that we face is the scarcity of resources just like Braille papers
and Braille machines that are so expensive that at times the school fails
to procure by itself, and we want to rely to donations
from other organizations and, at times, government services.
Thank you for allowing me to have a chat with you.
Thank you very much.