Stakeholders present at the second Intellectual Disability Conference organized by the Pure Souls Learning Foundation and the Patrick Speech and Languages Centre have called for effective collaboration among governments, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), persons with disabilities (PWDs) and their families, to promote the rights of PWDs in the country.
The Intellectual Disability Conference themed “Empowering Every Voice: Community and Family Synergy for Special Needs Support in Nigeria” according to Mrs Dotun Akande, the Executive Director of Pure Souls Learning Foundation is hinged on building more collaborations.
“More collaborations with families, providers, caregivers and communities is what I would like to see. We are too individualized in the ways we do things. We stand alone as Patrick Speech. At this conference, we didn’t stand alone, we brought others in and that should be the way to go,” Akande added.
She noted that “there will come a time when we will no longer be here, we need to drive collaboration and raise others that can sustain the advocacy and drive change.”
Delivering his keynote address, Prof Paul Ajuwon, discussed the multi-faceted challenges that PWDs encounter in different sectors and how people still have wrong perceptions about disabilities, especially with the perception of disability being approached from a charitable perspective.
Also highlighting the importance of collaboration, Prof Ajuwon said “the families and communities must work together to respect and enhance the individual autonomy and the independence of PWDs.”
He thereafter charged participants to “move past the rhetoric and move to a point where we can be proud of providing appropriate services and provide sustainable inclusion for PWDs.”
Mrs Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, the General Manager of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), said efforts are ongoing to register and document PWDs in the state, to aid adequate planning and intervention for PWDs.
Oyetunde-Lawal explained that “once we have the numbers, the right thing will be done and the system will work.”
She also noted that the work of driving disability inclusion in the state is not just for the government, but a collective responsibility by all stakeholders.
She said “the time is now for us to invest in research and development, when we do it, we will know how to better handle it, know how to manage it, so that generations coming will have the playbook and easily identify it. Loved ones and caregivers will not struggle with the labelling and the general society will be more accepting of persons with disabilities.”
Mr. Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, stressed the commitment of the state government to drive inclusion in all spheres.
Ogunlende stressed that “the mantra of the current administration is hinged on THEMES+ and the plus is social inclusion, gender equality and youth engagement. Thus, our main objective is to ensure we don’t leave anyone behind and that is what we are building on.”
While speaking during one of the panel sessions, Ms Blessing Oladunjoye, the Publisher of BONews Service charged the media to constantly tell the positive narratives about PWDs and avoid sensationalism in their content.
“When reporting about PWDs, it is important to portray the message right, avoid stereotypes and negative narratives about PWDs. The media has a role to play in achieving disability inclusion, and we need to position ourselves to play that role effectively,” Oladunjiye added.
The two-day conference, which was well attended by different stakeholders within the disability community, featured exhibitions of works and crafts made by persons with intellectual disabilities.
