By Sunkanmi Omodele, Ondo, INN reporter
People with Disabilities in Ondo have spoken on the challenges they face in their daily lives as citizens, the unifying bond among People with Disabilities (PWDs) and possible solutions that could mitigate these challenges.
The interviews were conducted by our correspondence to gather opinions on certain issues bothering the community in Ondo State.
Chairman, Physical Disability cluster in the State, Mr. Richard Akinagbe listed discrimination, lack of Governmental assistance and inaccessible public buildings as some of the challenges PWDs face in Ondo state.
He said “Let me go straight to the point by mentioning some of the challenges faced by Physically Challenged people here, they include, discrimination against PWDs and lack of Governmental assistance in the area of education, health, empowerment, employment, difficulties in accessing public buildings like bank/ATM galleries, police stations, school buldings etc.”
Despite the Federal Government’s efforts to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty, Mr Busari Lateef, a member of the Deaf cluster and Secretary of Ondo State Association of the Deaf, listed high rate of unemployment among Persons with Disabilities as one of the challenges faced by them.
He stated, “lack of universal access in structural facilities, Persons with Disabilities living under extreme poverty, the high unemployment rate among Persons with Disabilities, poor provision of education and health services to people” these are among the challenges PWDs in Ondo State face.
On unity among the community of Persons with Disabilities, Akinagbe observed, “In terms of UNITY, we’re doing our best, by the grace of God, there is unity amongst us and we are progressing.”
He further suggested automatic employment for all graduates, subsidized health care, and empowerment as some ways to minimize these challenges of the community within the State.
He said, “ In my own perspective, the way out is to create a true sense of belonging for us by allowing us access to all the rights as stipulated in the Disability Act for PWDs.
“Our education should be free at all levels, there should be automatic employment for all PWD university graduates, they should subsidize for our health care and that of our children, the artisans must be empowered, the Disability Bill should be implemented, there should be free/minimal election form fee for any political post for the PWDs.”
Mr. Lateef suggested that such adopting the said solutions in the health, education and legal sectors of society will minimize the challenges of the community.
“Provide health services and education, engage legal proceedings involving PWDs, ensure these people get ready access to Justice, empower legal capacities”, he enthused.