Association Advocates Disability-friendly Learning Environment In Kaduna

The Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Kaduna has advocated for disability-friendly learning environment for young disabled persons.

Chairman of the association, Rilwand Mohammed Abdulahi, said during a one-day technical  support training on inclusive education policy that JONAPWD was implementing a project titled ‘Advocacy and Capacity Strengthening of Young Persons with Disabilities on Inclusive Education Frameworks in Nigeria’ which is funded by USAID through Palladium International.

“Our target is to see children with disability and those without disability learning in the same environment without any hindrance.

“Our major challenge is that our schools are  not disability friendly and accessible. We are advocating for inclusive learning environment for disabled children, because if the facilities and the materials are not disability friendly  it will discourage a lot of PWDs making themselves available in terms of acquiring education,” he said.

The program officer on Advocacy and Capacity strengthening of Young Persons With Disability on Inclusive Education Framework in Kaduna, Mr. Stephen Waya, said; “Our target is to have a budget to outline items that speak on inclusive education, welfare of PWDs and also to have a curriculum that addresses issues of PWDs in schools.

“We want to have more facilities that address issues of inclusive education, that is disability friendly environment, where students of disability can sit in the same class with others and learn without barriers.”

The Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Officer, JONAPWD, Usman Umar, said  the project was to promote inclusive education for PWDs in textiary institutions in Kaduna.