voices-2013-2&3 - EATWOT's International Theological Commission

Transforming Society through Religious Education · 395.3. Advocating for a disability-friendly environment within societySome of the challenges that disabled persons face in society caneasily be overcome if disability awareness levels within communitiesincrease. The education system can serve as an appropriate vehiclethrough which pro-disability advocacy campaigns are mounted to helpeducate members of society as well as private and public service providerson the need to cater for the needs of disabled persons in such aspectsas product design and development, service delivery system or channels,and public installations (such as buildings and transport, communicationtechnology, among others)5.4. Transforming the Religious Education sectors towards adisability-friendly environmentThis is an inward-looking measure whereby the stakeholders ofReligious Education, particularly the policy-makers, need to identifyaspects within their institutions that inhibit active and full participationamong disabled persons and put in place measures that seek to alleviateor eradicate such challenges. This is particularly critical since it heraldsthe potential to increase school enrolment levels among disabled persons.In the area of research, deliberate effort needs to be initiatedtowards innovative ways of conducting research that are disability-friendly,particularly in the area of methodology.5.5. Enhancement of disability-related researchThere is need to conduct research to evaluate the effectiveness ofthe various approaches for disability rehabilitation with a view to determiningand enhancing the efficiency of rehabilitation programmes in thiscountry.5.6. Promotion of disability participationReligious Education can transform society’s view and response todisability by encouraging disabled persons to participate in ReligiousEducation activities by ensuring the creation of a disability-friendly environmentwithin the service delivery system of these institutions. This is ameasure that can lead to a significant increase in both entry and retentionlevels among disabled persons.5.7. Conducting research on disability assistive technologyAssistive devices are significant in the life of disabled persons,especially those whose impairment adversely affects their proper functioningor participation within society. In most cases, assistive devicesare completely unavailable and, if available, often at a cost too high formost disabled persons to afford or, where affordable, often ill-suited tooperate within a particular locality. Innovation is required here, so as toidentify or discover assistive devices that are suited for local conditions