The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has joined the global community in commemorating World Braille Day, pledging to ensure barrier-free access to education, information and opportunities for persons with visual impairment in Nigeria.
In a press statement issued to mark the day, the Commission said the commemoration underscores the importance of Braille as a critical tool for communication, literacy and empowerment for people who are blind or visually impaired. It emphasized that Braille plays a central role in promoting inclusion and equal participation in society.
According to the Commission, Braille is more than a system of raised dots, describing it as a gateway to education, independence, economic participation and full citizenship for many Nigerians with visual impairment. The Commission noted that access to Braille literacy remains essential to lifelong learning and social inclusion.
The NCPWD also acknowledged the efforts of the Federal Government in promoting Braille literacy through various education and social inclusion policies, including the provision of Braille textbooks, assistive learning devices and the training of special education teachers across schools and institutions.
Reaffirming that access to Braille is a fundamental right, the Commission stated that in line with its mandate and the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, it remains committed to expanding access to Braille materials, supporting the training and retraining of teachers and transcribers, collaborating with local and international partners to improve Braille textbook production and distribution, encouraging indigenous Braille content in Nigerian languages, and promoting digital Braille and assistive technologies for modern learning.
The Commission further commended schools, non-governmental organisations, development partners and individuals championing Braille literacy in Nigeria, while restating its commitment to building a society where no one is left behind and where persons with visual impairment can live, learn and thrive without barriers.
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