By: Bello Aishat
In commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), marked annually on December 3, the Department of Special Education, University of Ibadan hosted children with disabilities from selected secondary schools in Ibadan.
IDPD is marked to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at every level of society, and to raise awareness of the situation of affected persons in all aspects of human life. According to the World Health Organisation, over one billion people experience disability, and the figure is expected to rise.
At the commemoration ceremony which was held inside the Faculty of Education Large Lecture Theatre, children from the invited schools beamed as they were warmly received by students and lecturers in the department, including dignitaries who graced the occasion.
Some of the children gave presentations using sign language and entertained the audience with dancing.
In attendance were the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kayode Adebowale; the Dean of Faculty of Education, Prof. O.A. Fakolade; the Acting Head of the Department of Special Education, Dr. Ayodele Osisanya; the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Kolawole Labayo of the department of Adult Education; and the mother of the day, Princess Adetutu Adeyemi; among others.
Prof. Labayo appreciated the parents and teachers for their contributions to the social and academic welfare of the children, and for ensuring that the children utilize their rights to education in spite of their special needs.
Princess Adetutu Adeyemi attempted to correct a misconception that people living with disabilities do not have the potentials for success. “Every human needs help at one point or the other and that makes us all disabled,” she said.
She revealed that she is a mother of an autistic child, but asserted that the child does amazing things. “This is proof that disability is indeed not inability.”
Two of the invited schools were called forth to give presentations before the audience. Children from Cheshire School, Polytechnic Ibadan communicated through sign language while their teacher interpreted. The children stressed the importance of honesty. They affirmed that their hearing impairment is not an excuse for bad behaviour.
One of the guest speakers, Dr. Kunle Adebiyi, who is the Head of Visual Impairment unit at the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, emphasized the need for people with disabilities to be allowed into leadership positions.
He also spoke about accessibility challenges faced by people with disabilities in educational institutions, banks, and hospitals.
The former Dean of Education who implemented the use of ramps during his tenure also shared his thoughts on accessibility challenges. He spoke of a hearing-impaired finalist who died of ruptured appendicitis because she could not communicate her symptoms. He also shared the story of a lady that got impregnated by a security officer at a bank because he helped her out any time she visited the bank. He suggested that a group of individuals be trained not just in sign language but to be able to act as interpreters in hospitals.
“Architectural designs should include special need features since people with special needs are also part of the society,” he argued.
The second guest speaker, Dr. Bosede Adebayo, a pediatrician and cardiologist who is also affiliated with the Down Syndrome Foundation spoke on the second part of the theme stating that not all disabilities are visible.
She disclosed that currently in Nigeria, only about 10% of children with special needs get the education they require; “a good number of them are put into mainstream schools where teachers see them as disruptive, dullards or absentees”.
The Chairman of the planning committee, Dr. Olugbenga Isiah in his vote of thanks, concluded that “every child present has a potential and we must not stop till it is utilized to the fullest”.
