Mary Moses is a woman with disability from Grakawa in Mikan Local Government of Plateau state. She is from a family of nine children and she is the only one with a form of disability among them. She had her disability at the age of four due to polio. She is now married with three children.
In this interview with our correspondents, Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle when they went to Mikan to interact with persons with disabilities as part of Connecting our Voices to the world project supported by Oxfam Voice, she talked about her education, abuse and challenges.
TQM. Were you privileged to have formal education?
No. when I had disability, my mother took me to stay with her relations in their village and they do not put me in school, rather they kept me at home, where I became their watch person at the home whenever they are not around.
TQM. How does not having formal education affect your life today?
It has affected my life in so many was. I cannot read and write, as result there a lot of things that I don’t understand. when my Children are given homework in school, as mother, I not having the joy of helping them with it, this brings much pain to me. There was this time we, the association of persons with disabilities went to Shandam local government for meeting and while there I saw women with disabilities like me who are learned, some even have employment, I said to myself, If, only I was educated my life could have been better than what it is today.
TQM. What work are doing for a living?
I am into farming but in a small scale, and I used to have a table where I sell provisions but it is no longer in existence because I used the money to register my two children’s senior Secondary School Examination (WEAC).
TQM. Who is paying for your children’s education?
My husband, but when he is not having money, I do step in to pay.
TQM. Is your husband a person with disability?
No, he is not.
TQM. Have your rights been abused because you are a person with disability?
Yes, especially at the community level, during elections and this Covid 19 period, things were shared, but when I get there, I was only told that my name was not including. I know they are not saying the truth; they just don’t want to give me because I am a person with disability.
TQM. What did you do?
What would I do sir? people don’t want to share their political things with me should I force them?
TQM. When things are given to be share in the community, you should be included.
But they did not.
TQM. Have you ever received any assistance to increase your business for any one or group of people?
No.
TQM. What appeal for help do have to put across anyone that is reading your story?
I would like to be assisted, my two children have finished their secondary school, they want to go to Higher Institution, but we don’t have money to send them to that higher level, please someone should help me, be it government or individuals. I also need help to restart my provision business.
TQM. Thank you for sharing your story with us, and the best of luck to you
Thank you.
