Touai is a totally blind men and an active advocator of the rights of persons with disabilities in Kiribati. He is a member of Te Toa Matoa (TTM) the national disable persons organisation in Kiribati and a member of TTM’s in-country resource team that take lead in advocating for disability inclusive development and creating awareness on the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Touai is a totally blind men and an active advocator of the rights of persons with disabilities in Kiribati. He is a member of Te Toa Matoa (TTM) the national disable persons organisation in Kiribati and a member of TTM’s in-country resource team that take lead in advocating for disability inclusive development and creating awareness on the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Prior to becoming an active advocator of the rights of persons with disabilities, he was unemployed and stayed home with limited interaction with society. It was a challenge for him to interact in society. People’s attitudes towards him was a great barrier in his participation. Hence, he lived a lonely life at his home. However, all this gradually changed when he joined TTM in 2007. Upon joining TTM he realised that he wasn’t the only one, as he began to interact with other persons with disabilities within the DPO.
“In 2007 I joined Te Toa Matoa and since that time I was starting my new life. I got my friends who are blind as well” said Touai.
Since joining TTM he has been participating in every activity organised by Te Toa Matoa. He participated in drama and building his capacity in becoming a good advocate for persons with disabilities. Touai through TTM was also involved in a program for the blind organised by an Australian Volunteer who worked at the school for disabled in Kiribati, he wants the program be offered at the Kiribati Institute College.
While, engaging in all these activities he started to also take lessons in computing and the first was in 2014 where he started taking computer lessons for blind persons which he continues today.today. In this computer lessons he learns how to prepare presentations using a computer. These skills he is translating it to his work as a TTM resource team member.
Furthermore, he presented in workshops and travels the country doing presentations and advocating on the rights of persons with disabilities. Doing presentations on a computer has also changed a lot of attitudes and mindsets in Kiribati.
“All people that attend the workshop was really surprised at my ability to use the computer in my presentation and it has changed their view and perspective towards blind persons that they can also be in school”, he said
Touai believes that the empowerment of persons with disabilities is very important emphasising that they need to be educated to ensure that they are effectively participating on an equal basis with others.
TTM will continue to work towards empowering persons with disabilities in Kiribati.