Expert Canvasses for Economic Wellbeing of PWDs as Panacea to tackle Discrimination

By Iyojo Ameh

A Social Worker, Mr Chris Agbo has said that ensuring the economic benefit of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) would help reduce the rate of discrimination.

He stated this at an event organised by the Daughters of Charity Hope Centre for Inclusive Education, Abuja to mark the 2023 International Day of Persons With Disabilities.

In his remarks, Agbo who is also a PWD said that the economic wellbeing of persons with disabilities is what would help the society reduce the discrimination faced by PWDs.

He called on all and sundry to add their voices to issues of PWDs toward ensuring that persons with disabilities have decent work.

“For people with disabilities, having decent work, it will go a long way to reduce the rate of discrimination.

He said: “There are a lot of discrimination. Since then, I developed interest in working with people with disabilities.

“The gap is that persons with disabilities have not had the opportunity of telling their own stories. We can do a lot,” he said.

He also said that most parents don’t know that their children had a lot of abilities in their disabilities
because they had not given them the opportunity.

“There is a whole lot they can do. It is to amplify the voices of persons with disabilities. It is about creating an environment that is more inclusive.

“If the society is more inclusive, the challenges that we are having, we will not be having the challenges.

“As parents, you must speak for your child, advocate for that child and make that child enjoy that right.”

Agbo noted that the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act spelt out sanctions against discrimination.

He said that the law talked about  access to health, right to political participation, social life and employment opportunities.

“The Act talks about five per cent employment opportunities in every government establishments for persons with disabilities.

“By January 2024, the commission will ensure there is compliance to that Act.”

On her part,  Sister Sylvia Anyanwu the Administrator, Daughters of Charity Hope Centre for Inclusive Education said that there was productivity in disability.

She said that what was now emphasised in schools for special needs children was inclusive education.

“Inclusive education means children with or without disabilities come in an environment to learn together based on their capability and we are using normal curriculum to teach our children.

“We use montessori method of education which has helped a lot of our children to learn how to read.”

The Chairman of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA), Dr Chinedum Anyika, affirmed that parents would would begin to give maximum support to PWDs through various efforts.

“This is especially now that there is an Act protecting the rights of PWDs and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”