TADEO MASEREKA SEES BEYOND HIS VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

Tadeo Masereka may be visually impaired but he never loses sight of his purpose in life. The buoyant 23 year old hopes to rise from his handicap one day and become an inspiration to both the blind and non blind in Uganda.
“People with disabilities are often looked down upon in Uganda. The blind, just like able bodied people should live and work with full responsibility. Being blind, I have experienced prejudice and discrimination on several occasions and I am hoping I can be the change. I envisage studying law at the university. I want to advocate for the rights of less privileged people especially the blind. At times, it seems as if we have no voice. With belief, courage and determination, I know I will make it,” Masereka says animatedly.
 
At present, Masereka is a senior three student at SAAD memorial secondary school in Kisinga, Kasese. From the look of things, he interacts freely with other students, though discrimination has stared him in the face, on occasion.  Masereka however tells me he has no qualms about being discriminated against.
“I consort with many people around school. I have had cases where people ask me impolite questions and treat me with impertinence but I have learnt to take things in my stride. If you were in my position, you would agree it is the best recourse. Anger is never an antidote if you are a person living with a disability,” Masereka says.

Just before the early morning school assembly on the day I visited his school, Masereka was joined by a posse of his friends around their classroom block.
They seemed to be exchanging pleasantries. There was poise about him as he moved around with his walking stick and as he spoke to his friends.
I noticed all of his friends were of 20/20 vision.  
The fact that almost all his classmates are of normal visual acuity, I thought to myself must be some kind of disadvantage to Masereka.

Franca Lucy Nacuge, Masereka’s teacher was however quick to dispel my thoughts.
“Masereka’s handicap has not in any way affected his performance in class. He has been giving a good account of himself. He is brilliant at reading Braille (Braille is a method ofreadingand feeling text through touch, rather than sight). He reads Braille books avidly. He is also excellent at communicating by means of the manual alphabet. Learning to spell words with manual language was not a tall order for him. He struggled a bit with his enunciation but he gradually got better. In class tests and exams, Masereka excels and is always amongst the top five. He has a great potential and I think if he does not get any distractions or financial challenges along the way, he will achieve his goal,” Nacunge says.

Masereka has created good rapport with his teachers, just like he has done with classmates. During class lessons, he is always attentive and active especially when questions are paused.
His teachers generally have a high opinion of him, saying he has been exceptional in his relations with others and in his class performance.
He comes to school early, well tucked in and always smart. He is also always open minded, inquisitive and eager to learn. It has helped him perform well in class. He has a bright future ahead of him. He is also deeply spiritual and reads the Braille Bible often. It is his valued possession. He has learnt great stretches of the Braille Bible by heart and has committed to heart verses that help him whenever he is feeling low. His spirituality has helped him a great deal especially in dealing with his visual limitations,” says Godfrey Abine, one of his teachers.

I watched as Masereka used his fingers to make sense of a document he had been writing as Nacunge taught. I sat transfixed, eager to see how he uses Braille reading.
I was amazed at how effortlessly he went about it and by all accounts, it has been a success for him.
“If Masereka was not using Braille reading, I figure he would not be performing as well as he has been performing. Unlike those with vision, he reads both at day and night time. We have taught him how to use Braille mathematical sets for subjects such as arithmetic and maths and also how to use invaluable materials such as Parkins Braille and geometrical sets. These have helped him a lot. The bottom-line however is that he learns and internalizes things fast,” Nacunge says.

After school, Masereka studies type writing. Nacunge has also chosen to take him under her stewardship.
Just like in his class sessions, Masereka is quick witted when it comes to type writing.  Nacunge says plans are in place to purchase him a desk top computer to get him in line with current trends.
“He should be learning how to operate and use a computer by now but we have been limited by funds. The sooner we get one the better, because he is very eager at learning new things,” Nacunge says.

Masereka is also passionate about music. He wants to study guitar, piano and drums in the future.
“Music is something I have a fascination for. I am inclined to singing and I want to develop my talent. Maybe one day I can make money out of singing. Singing is therapy for me. It sustains me in those quiet lonely hours when I retreat into that deep silence that only the blind know,” Masereka says.

Masereka has also been employing his entrepreneurial side in his free time. With a little financial support from friends and with training from the National Union of the disabled persons of Uganda, he managed to establish a small poultry business 3 years ago.
The business has grown by leaps and bounds albeit with challenges.
“The main challenge in the business has been finance and finding someone trustworthy to do the day to day running whilst Iam away at school. Financial and management challenges aside, the business has helped me a great deal. It has opened up my entrepreneurial side and with time, I plan to take root in another business, preferably a printing and photocopying business. This business has taught me how to make money on my own, rather than depend on others. I have always wanted to be independent,” Masereka says.

Besides the entrepreneurial skills, Masereka has also received trainings on human rights and HIV/AIDS prevention.
He has been returning the favour by sharing the knowledge he received with classmates and people in his community and other areas.
Masereka was born to John and Mary Ndyahikaho.


 





Read More