Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s off to work we go

As reported in a previous blog, my work relates essentially to the implementation of Ghana’s Disability Act, regarding education and rights of children and young adults, along with Ghana Education Service’s (GES) policies on Special Education and Inclusion.

With my counterpart, the Special Education Officer for the district, Haruna, I am based in the district’s GES office, but for the majority of the time we are “in the field”, in any of Bawku West’s 97 Primary and Junior High schools, in communities and sometimes travelling to neighbouring districts.

Haruna and I ready to travel- journeys can take up to two (buttock aching) hours to reach our destination. The motorbike is the cheap and flexible option for rough terrain.

Our school screening programme is underway, identifying children who have visual or hearing problems. Our screening materials have been extended to include checklists for possible delayed development and learning difficulties. As the schools have minimal accommodation, with little or none to spare, screening takes place where ever a suitable location can be found.

Lack of spare classrooms- screening under the trees.

At this school- we used a partially built classroom-  second above- one pupil indicates the direction of the "legs" of the letter  E- above-pupils await their turn.

Finding somewhere quiet, in buildings made of concrete, with solid floors, zinc roofs and open spaces for windows, is  difficult. But as Ghana schools conform to standard design, each has a store room behind the head teacher's office, giving a space, usually crowded with items, in which to conduct the hearing screening. The teacher distracts the child, while the tester using a set routine of sounds, stands behind, at an angle, to the right, then the left ear.

An opportunity to de-stigmatise (or to use the development phrase-sensitize) screening for possible disabilities came when the local Customs, Excise and Immigration Officers, on 24 hour duty at the Customs checkpoint on Zebilla’s road which links a principle border crossing from Burkina Faso with the important northern city of Tamale, and on to Kumasi, made a request. A Snelling Reading Chart, used for screening for vision, was left in their safe keeping for Haruna and me to collect. Their curiosity was aroused, they asked questions, and we made an appointment to screen all their staff.

Ghana Customs and Excise Officer- vision screening

Similarly, a  Screening Day was arranged at the GES office.

I screen the Bawku West Director of Education- hearing test. The Director's office was suitably quiet. Her raised hand indicates she has heard the sound made.