By Damola Oloko
A Lagos based Non-Governmental organization, Kudirat Initiatives for democracy, (KIND) and other Stakeholders has demanded for functionality of Inclusive Schools’ from the government to reduce the burden of the people living with disabilities (PWD).
This was stated during an interaction with PWD Stakeholders held on Wednesday on coronavirus pandemic and its effects on the care and education of People with Disability,(PWD) in Lagos State with the support of the voice influencing project of kind with theme: Kinds reflection exercise with stake holders in the PWD Community.
The conversational event discussed various issues faced by people living with disability-How benefici ary advocacy be amplified to ensure the PWDs post pandemic, Measures to be put in place for accountability on the party of government and education authorities and other relevant issues while the generality of participants which include with people will living with disabilities, representatives of Lagos State Universal Education board,(LSUBEB),Voice influencing project emphasized on the need to promoting functionality of inclusive schools in Lagos as well as funding.
According to Susan Nwoma, a polio survivor and PWD advocate explained that part of what She does is engagement advocacy while KIND has to engage people leaving with disabilities by bringing in people leaving with disability.
“I felt for the younger ones considering the discrimination encountered in Nigeria. Whether a child or adult has disability, you don’t bring disability before the person. The person comes first as a human being”, Susan said.
She further added that from her visit to few inclusive schools in Lagos, most of the few facilities are dilapidated and needed urgent funding for it not to be seen as death trap adding that on policies that
Another PWD participant, Anuoluwa Yinka Isaac, a visually impaired who is also an advocate and author decries the challenges faced by PWD during corona epidemic saying the principle of social distancing does not work for a visually impaired who needs someone to assist and convener him around.
“How do you observe social distancing from someone that will help you? COVID 19 has brought a lot of challenges to PWD and government doesn’t consider us in specific decision making”.
He further called for re-orientation and sensitization for the generality of people concerning people living with disabilities.
At the end of conversation with PWD Stakeholders, the sitting noted that special schools are not enough and government needs to build more, members of the public and parents should make demands from local representatives while Public-private partnership should be encouraged to improve inclusive Schools and also bring in special instructor for vocational skills training.
