CCD Executive Director, David Anyaele
The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has supported the Class On Television Programme initiated by the Abia State Government with the provision of three Sign Language Interpreters.
The development is coming on the heels of an outcry within the Abia State Disability Community on the exclusion of persons with disabilities in the Classes on Radio Programme through the non-use of Sign Language Interpreter by the State owned television Station to benefit those with hearing impairment.
Executive Director of CCD, David Anyaele in a statement obtained by Inclusive News Network, INN said that acting on the request made by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Abia State Chapter to the organisation, CCD supported the TV programme in the State support with Sign Language Interpreters for classes on television programmes.
He said the Centre got the permission of Abia State Commissioner for Education and Director General, Abia State Broadcasting Corporation (BCA) to support the State with Sign Language Interpreters for Class on Television programme.
“CCD is supporting Abia State Government with three Sign Language Interpreters to participate actively in the Class on Television programme to ensure equal access to education for Abians with disabilities, and deaf persons in particular. Already, the three Sign Language Interpreters are participating actively in the programme.
“The support is in line with CCD’s mandate, which include to protect, promote and safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities and promote public enlightenment in civic education, human rights and public policy; To initiate, implement programmes, policies and activities geared toward promotion and enhancement of the welfare of persons with disabilities,” he said.
Anyaele said the Abia State government created the innovative education Radio Class program on Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA) to keep students and their parents busy during the period of the lockdown as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We understand that it is part of Abia State government efforts to ensure that the academics of our highflying school children do not suffer much from the pandemic and its associated social disruptions, as Abia State has been in the lead in WEAC Examination results in Nigeria for 3 years now.
“The Radio Class program was designed to assist in keeping school children busy and abreast of their academics pending the resumption of normal classes,” he added.
He said the educative Radio and TV programmes was a welcome development as the Coronavirus pandemic has hindered school children from access to education occasioned by the lockdown to contain the spread of the virus in Abia State.
He, however, said that implementing the programme without due consideration to persons with disabilities and especially persons with hearing impairment was disheartening and an indirect statement that the education of Abians with disabilities does not matter.
“This informed our support to Abia State government and persons with hearing impairment in particular with Sign Language Interpreters to ensure no one is left behind in the State education system by reason of his or her disability,” the CCD Director said.