The Children's Developmental Center (CDC) has unveiled the
Disability Awareness Ribbon with the support of the Lagos State government in
commemoration in aid of the campaign for the Developmental Disability Awareness
month, demanded action against discrimination practices, reports ITRealms.
At the launch in Lagos key stakeholders in the Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) space called for action by government at all levels to
provide the necessary support towards the upbringing of children with various
forms of disabilities.
They also expressed deep concern about the future of
children with disabilities in the country where there is no clear cut policy
their growth support plan and engagement that will better their lives.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Yinka Akindayomi, service
director at CDC said over the last twenty years has been both a service
provider and in forefront of advocating for children and adults with
development disabilities and their families.
Akindayomi said in the course of the Centers intervention it
has realized that the inclusion of children and adults with any disabilities
can only come through a joint effort.
She noted that there must be a harmonious and strong
partnerships among stakeholders for any society to grow, adding that one of the
great benefits of working together is the inspiration and ideas that can result
from unity, because people from different backgrounds and levels of experience
can help in creating solutions to problems in the society especially where
stigma is concerned.
"Personal boundaries are limits we set for our selves
as individuals but when we work together, there is the motivation to push
beyond those boundaries which yields results. Nigeria will be better if we work
together, because unity maximizes strengths and brings out the best in its
citizens. This value of unity is regularly seen in sports, culture,
entertainment etc and we should endeavor to include in our everyday life,
workplaces, homes and community at large", she counseled.
Speaking at the occasion, an educational
consultant at Center Escolar Educational, Mrs. Emmanuella Otiono, noted discrimination against people with disabilities, and advised that rather than discourage them by attitude, efforts should be made to identify those special
talents in them to help them maximize their potentials.
Otiono said her center like similar others offers a
continuum of services that meet the specialized needs of young people with
intellectual and developmental disabilities including those with autism or
other autism spectrum disorders.
"We help youth in all aspects of their lives so they
can be successful at home and in school, with friends and family. We understand
that no two young people are alike and consider a number of factors including
their home environment, upbringing and clinical history when creating
Individualized Service Plans" she said, adding that whether serving youth
in foster care or providing supports in home and community settings,
stakeholders should also help youth with intellectual and developmental
disabilities reach new heights.
Otiono, expressly noted that youths with physical,
cognitive, and emotional disabilities represent special populations at risk for
juvenile delinquency, victimization, educational failure, and poor employment
outcomes and that they often have multiple, overlapping risk factors.
She noted that youth with disabilities typically receive
mentoring, if at all, within disability-specific programs rather than in
inclusive, community-based programs.
Speaking further, Otiono stated that early childhood is the
period from prenatal development and a crucial phase of growth and development
because experiences during early childhood can influence outcomes across the
entire course of an individual’s life.
"For all children, early childhood provides an
important window of opportunity to prepare the foundation for life-long
learning and participation, while preventing potential delays in development
and disabilities. For children who experience disability, it is a vital time to
ensure access to interventions which can help them reach their full potential.
Despite being more vulnerable to developmental risks, young
children with disabilities are often overlooked in mainstream programmes and
services designed to ensure child development", she added.
Other stakeholders at the forum expressed disappointment
that these children however, do not receive the specific supports required to
meet their rights and needs as children with disabilities and their families
are confronted by barriers including inadequate legislation and policies,
negative attitudes, inadequate services, and lack of accessible environments.
They argued that if children with developmental delays or
disabilities and their families are not provided with timely and appropriate
early intervention, support and protection, their difficulties can become more
severe and often leading to lifetime consequences, increased poverty and
profound exclusion.
Uj. N. Dominic/GEE
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