My Disability In My Academics As An Inspiration In Social Change For Persons With Disabilities In Zambia.

• In Event: Pracademia: Impacts and Pathways

Abstract

: I am totally blind and I have been working at the University of Zambia from 2009 as a lecturer. In Zambia, I was the first blind man to lecture at such an institution. I however started out as the first blind teacher to teach at technical secondary school for able-bodied learners in one province. throughout my career I have been a change agent, driven by my own impairment and my desire to advocate for the interests of persons with disabilities. My academic position actually enhanced my ability to be an impactful change agent as I became a person with a recognized status, thus improving my ability to act as a role model, inspire others and challenge stereotypes. In my career I have influenced the lives of parents of children with disabilities, students with disabilities, able-bodied colleagues, government institutions and the general public. In view of the information above, I write this abstract to provide specific social circumstances that have been impacted by my academic position coupled with my disability hence vindicating me as a pracademic. For instance, the role I have played as an academic to influence the change of attitudes of parents of children with disabilities towards the education of their children. Many children with disabilities are now in school because of the inspiration I have given these parents on the education of persons with disabilities in Zambia.

Author

• Thomas Mtonga, University of Zambia