Rearing and handling children with disability in gumuz culture: the case of mandura woreda, Ethiopia

This paper has the objective to assess the indigenous cultural practices of child with disability rearing and handling practices of Gumuz society. The research was conducted in one of the traditional societies in which indigenous child rearing is highly observed that is the Gumuz community in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State of Mundura Woreda. Both primary and secondary data were employed in this study. Qualitative method of semi-structured, participant observation, informal discussion and focused group discussions were utilized for primary data gathering. More over literature reviews, books, magazines and related researches were also used as secondary sources of data for the study. Eight kebeles’ from the Woreda were selected purposively and a total of 85 respondents participated in this study. Men and women farmers who have a child with disability, community elders, and Gumuz teachers were included. Findings of the study show that there are various cultural practices in Gumuz community of child with disability rearing and handling practice, discrimination of children with disabilities and their parents, segregation of children with disability during child playing, domestic violence (pinching, beating, and physical punishment) are the major cultural practices that put children with disabilities at a lower status in Gumuz community. Furthermore, lack of awareness about the importance of education for children with disabilities is also another factor that puts children with disabilities in a lesser rank.