Rwanda is today joining the rest of the world to celebrate the UN International Day for Persons with Disabilities, a day that aims to promote an understanding of the issues that PWD (people with disabilities) face while mobilising support for the dignity, rights and the wellbeing of the PWDs.

While the national event will be held at Ubworoherane stadium in Musanze District, Northern Province, other events will be held at the district level around the country.

This year’s celebrations will be held under the theme, "Building capacity among all while discouraging discrimination.”

Emmanuel Ndayisaba, the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Persons with Disability, said that PWDs, despite facing stigma, stereotypes and a lack of sufficient funds to meet their needs, the organisation has managed to make good strides.

In education, he said, the Council managed to extend 40 scholarships to people with disabilities at the university level and also collaborated with the Ministry of Education to implement a special needs education policy.

Ndayisaba also said that the Council had embarked on a project to establish a Rwandan sign language dictionary.

Romarce Niyomugabo the president of the National Council for Persons with Disability, said the body was looking forward to promoting employment for the PWDs. "We are equipping them with technical skills in order to achieve this, ”he said.

According to the 2012 census, the total number of persons living with disabilities aged 5 and above is 446,453.

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