00:00Hello, I'm Gladys and this is my first report for the girls of Muse for my country, Liberia.
00:11I am going to show you how Liberia's education policy makes it possible for students who
00:17are visually impaired to learn alongside students who can see.
00:27So Joyce, what really went through your mind when you had the chance to welcome a student
00:36with a disability in your class?
00:38Firstly, I started and thought, like, how is he or she going to write their notes, get
00:46their assignment done, do their test, or write their test and their courses.
00:52It was shocking to me to see a blind student or a disability student sitting with me because
00:58I've never sat there with one before.
01:01So Cynthia, what about you?
01:02What really ran through your mind when you had the chance to sit in class with students
01:08with disabilities?
01:09A lot went through my mind, actually.
01:12I was like, who are going to help the blind students or who are going to help them write
01:17their test or anything?
01:18And I actually volunteered to help a lot of them.
01:21How has the transition been, moving from a school for people with special needs to
01:26this one which accommodates everybody?
01:29I was very, very excited so that I could go out and make a difference because some people
01:35have the belief that blind people are nothing in this society.
01:39And some also say that blind people cannot learn, they do not have the ability to do
01:44what other people have to do.
01:47So based on this reason, I have decided to come and learn so that I can change the mindset
01:52of these people.
01:54Have you made any friends yet?
01:56At first, when I came to Best Friends Academy, I had a lot of friends.
02:02Some of them came around me and they wanted to know who I am.
02:05Some of them asked me a lot of questions, like timeout, how can you write, how can you
02:11get your notes done, and how can you read?
02:14So based on the conversation, we got to know each other better.
02:18Coming back to you, Sue Joyce, how has it been for you sitting in class with students
02:23who are visually impaired?
02:26Well, it has been a tough time because blind students are already a good friend to you.
02:33If you are close to them, they are good to you.
02:35Sitting in class with them, hearing them read the note the way you read, hearing and seeing
02:41them bring their assignment the way you take yours from your house and bring it.
02:46Cynthia, what about you?
02:48Yeah, I've had a good time with blind students.
02:52They're so nice.
02:53A lot of kids don't really hang out with them because these days kids want to be cool or
02:59hang out with other kids.
03:01Blind kids are actually really nice.
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