Joseph Walugembe
Ronald, I really resonate with all you have shared here. From my experience as a member of the local government recruitment authority, there are no posts for “supports” for employees with disabilities. Senior officials for example have drivers, personal secretaries, office assistants, body guards, etc. because it is recognized they need that kind of assistance arising from the responsibility of their office, in order to allow them be more productive in such roles. Surprising, public service has not recognized that public servants with disabilities, either right form the time of joining or developed in the course of their employment need supports to perform int heir work and be productive. So awareness raising on the importance of supports; and advocacy for the creation of supports posts in public service should contginue.
Additionally, the issue of standardisation and professionalization of supports requires more attention. The government will always ask questions like what qualification and what experience for location in the public service structure, remuneration and quality control. And while on one hand some supports can be professionalized, there are those which are best provided from the point of understanding each other and one wonders how those will fit in the qualification driven public system.