First blind teacher in South Australia faces deportation

From The Australian:

The first blind teacher registered in South Australia faces deportation next week to Kenya unless Immigration Minister Chris Evans intervenes and grants him a protection visa.

Siyat Hillow Abdi, 41, born blind in Kenya, fears persecution because of his disability if he is forced to return when his bridging visa expires next Monday.

Independent South Australian senator Nick Xenophon has taken up Dr Abdi's case and is urging the federal Government to reconsider.

Senator Xenophon said Dr Abdi had recently completed his PhD in disability studies at Flinders University, and secured an offer of employment as a senior project officer with Disability Sout Australia.

In 2007, Dr Abdi won a year-long battle with the South Australian Teachers Registration Board when he was granted registration as a teacher, becoming the first blind person to do so.

Senator Xenophon said Dr Abdi, who had been living in Australia on a study visa since June 2004, had been told he would not meet the health criteria for a skilled migrant visa because of his blindness.