Gaining sight through education

Jeanette Diergaardt Hope has always been a part of the Grobler family’s journey since 2016 when baby Mariana was diagnosed with the Peters Anomaly Syndrome (PAS), a rare eye disease that causes the thinning and clouding of the cornea that in turn causes blurred vision, but in Mariana’s case, blindness in her right eye.As Namibian parents took their bundles of joy to school on 10 January, Susan Grobler anxiously waited for her daughter’s arrival at Parkies. Having had a Covid scare during the weekend before the start of school, Mariana spent the night with her ouma. Entering the school gates with Mariana in hand, Ouma rushes in to get her grandchild settled, reuniting mother and daughter again. Anxious and excited, the family enters the classroom after taking back-to-school pictures.According to a report from the education ministry compiled by chief educational officer Rachel Philander and senior educational officer for inclusive education Elizabeth Makuva, Mariana - as a person with a disability - will be the first learner to enter a mainstream school as visually impaired. “There is a need to make a positive mind shift to accommodate persons with disabilities to the full extent,” the report read.As a mother who wants the world and more for her miracle child, Grobler approached the ministry after training for learning support in the Omaheke Region to assist her in realising her dreams to have her daughter in school. With the diagnosis and knowing the capability of her daughter, Grobler took the brave step for Mariana to have some sense of normality, like going to school with the rest of Namibian children.“We will prove everyone wrong,” Grobler said.It takes a villageMakuva will be assisting Mariana as her personal assistant for the time being in any means possible. The assistant will work hand in hand with the teacher to adapt the learning approach accordingly to Mariana’s needs. During learning, Mariana’s tactile skills will further be developed and not her sight. The classroom is set up in a way for her to move about without getting hurt and all unnecessary movement of furniture will be avoided at all cost. The written material Mariana will be using is in braille. The school has been advised to work with the Visually Impaired School for assistance.Further efforts include Mariana receiving extra time to complete all her activities. The class teacher and the assistant teacher will be trained to read and write in braille. According to Makuva, the benefits of the arrangement outweighs the challenges, one of it includes informing the whole community around her about her visual impairment and the uniqueness around it.In an article in the Republikein, a well-known opthalmologist Dr. James Aquivella from Rochester, New York, successfully transplanted corneas into the eyes of Mariana in 2016, and she gained 20/20 vision in both eyes. According to Grobler, Mariana has no vision in her right eye any more and can slightly see colour in her left eye.

Gaining sight through education

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Republikein 2025-12-16

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Gaining sight through education

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Republikein 2025-12-16

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