Case study on visual impairment

Desalegn is a 12-year-old boy Living in Beda-Buna, the countryside of Jimma Zone. He was
born with vision loss. His family’s income is very low. He was malnourished. He was not
enrolled to any school. He was neglected in the community, unable to play with his friends.
Even his families did not give attention to him. The community in which he was a part,
considered him disability as a punishment from God, as a result of a curse as his families were
involved in some evil act in the past. As a result of this he experienced stigma. He was highly
affected socially and morally. He experienced delay in play and social interactions skills.

During his child age, his families hide him when someone visited them. This is because the
stigma and discrimination associated with the impairments. The attitude of his family towards
being visually impaired was poor. The family and the community accepted blindness as wrath
from God. He also accepted the wrong cultural belief of the community and felt inferiority.

Q.1. What are the positive and negative consequences of people’s attitude in your story?

The environment, i.e., cultural environment in which Desalegn was grown was poor regarding
blindness. As a consequence of this, the growth of child was retarded. He was unable to
enrolled to any school. His families were ashamed on their son. He was discriminated due to
the poor attitude regarding the impairment.

Q.2. How could you change the negative attitude in your study?

Educating the community regarding disabilities is critically important. For this case, providing
sufficient information using different medias that address the community; using religious
leaders and health workers regarding the cause of visual impairment. His families and
community leaders should look for supporters who can fund for the education of the child.