The Anambra State Disability Rights Commission has called for stronger commitment to creating an inclusive society where persons with learning disabilities are respected, supported, and empowered to realise their full potential.
The Commission urged governments, educational institutions, families, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders to promote inclusion by recognising abilities rather than limitations and removing barriers that hinder equal participation.
Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Chukwuka Ezewuzie, made the call in a statement to commemorate the International Week for Persons with Learning Disabilities, themed: “Promoting Inclusion, Understanding, and Support for Persons with Learning Disabilities.”
Ezewuzie stressed that persons with learning disabilities deserve equal rights, opportunities, and support, noting that genuine inclusion begins with understanding, patience, acceptance, and respect.
He called on schools and other educational institutions to provide inclusive learning environments where learners with disabilities receive the support they need to thrive. He also encouraged teachers to adopt diverse teaching approaches that promote active participation and foster a sense of belonging among students with learning disabilities.
According to him, learning disabilities are neurological conditions that affect how individuals receive, process, store, or respond to information, impacting areas such as reading, writing, speaking, listening, reasoning, and mathematics.
He, however, emphasised that learning disabilities neither determine a person’s intelligence nor limit their potential, adding that individuals can excel when provided with appropriate support and opportunities.
The Commission’s chairman also urged parents and caregivers to offer emotional support by recognising each individual’s unique strengths, celebrating achievements, and avoiding unhealthy comparisons. He noted that early identification and timely intervention remain critical to improving learning outcomes, boosting confidence, and enhancing independence.
Ezewuzie further called on communities to eliminate stigma and discrimination by promoting the inclusion of persons with learning disabilities in education, employment, recreation, and other aspects of social life.
He also appealed to healthcare professionals, social workers, disability advocates, and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen collaboration aimed at improving communication, independence, and the overall quality of life of persons with learning disabilities.
“Most importantly, we must listen to the voices of persons with learning disabilities. Nothing about them should be decided without their active participation,” he said.
Ezewuzie reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to advancing a society where every person, regardless of learning ability, is valued, supported, and given equal opportunities to contribute meaningfully to development.
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