PWDs Advocate Inclusive Policies, Disability-friendly Environment

A disability group under the auspices of Improvement in Respect to Social Status of Disability has advocated inclusive policies and a disability-friendly environment in the country.

The executive director of the group, Dr Micah Shabi made the call yesterday during the commemoration of international day of PWDs in Kaduna with the theme “United in Action to Rescue and Achieve the Sustainable Development for, with and by Persons With Disability.”

Dr Shabi demanded that the government should ensure the removal of all forms of barriers relating to physical environment or attitudinal barriers.

Co-executive director, Inter-faith Mediation Centre (IMC), Imam Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, urged religious leaders to step up their efforts in addressing issues of stigmatisation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the society.

He urged leaders of faith-based organisations to embark on sensitisation at worship places to ensure that discrimination-related issues are eliminated.

“Religious leaders need to address the issues of stigmatisation with strong sensitisation in the churches, mosques, market places and schools, to let the world know that stigmatisation is an aberration,” he said.

He therefore called on the youths, students and Nigerians to be cautious of languages they use when referring to or relating with PWDs.

Head of Social Welfare and Disability Affairs, Kaduna State Disability Affairs Board, Aisha Yunusa Adamu noted that the state government was working towards addressing the issue of exclusion.

On his part, the executive director, Disability Resource Foundation of Nigeria, Salisu Ibrahim urged the government to address issues of acceptability, recognition and inclusion.

He also appealed to the government to provide braille, white cane and other materials required by the PWDs in order to encourage the children living with disabilities.