Although our plight is glaring, yet only few persons have taken steps aimed at making life more comfortable for us - the best others have done is to sympathize with us. Although their sympathy is appreciated, that is actually not what we need. What we would have preferred them to do is to translate those sympathy into actions which could help address some of the challenges we face in our daily living.
The biggest challenge to being physically disabled is the stigma attached to it. A lot of people still do not see persons with disability as being able to contribute meaningfully to the development of the society. Some still hold on to the belief that a person's disability is as a result of a curse upon him, or as a consequence of his many sins or the sins of his forefathers. Such beliefs has made persons with disability to be treated with contempt, and seen as inferior in the society.
A similar challenge to that is the fact that some people see persons with physical disability as beggars. Probably, due to some disabled destitute that some had seen in their neighbourhood (who would possibly not be there if the society had done the right things), they have generalized this, and now consider anybody with a disability as a beggar. This has made some people not to give the disabled the needed attention when approached. For instance, there was a day I went to a Cybercafe; when I stepped in, I greeted the lady in charge and told her that I want to browse for one hour. She did not even care to listen to what I said because( judging from the look on her face on sighting me) she had thought that I was there to beg for money. It was after she had attended to two other customers, who came in after me, and saw that I was still standing where I was that she then looked at me with contempt and said: "what do you want?"
Also, the plight of people with physical disability has been made worse as a result of them not being considered when basic infrastructures and amenities are being provided. For example, a person on wheel chair living in Nigeria today, will find it difficult to gain entrance into most Nigerian banks. This is because provisions has not been made by the banks for such people. Also, many buildings have been constructed without ramps, and the same goes for the way some roads are constructed, which are not disabled-friendly. It takes real guts for a person with disability to make use of commercial buses in Nigeria, as many drivers and conductors are not blessed with the kind of patience that would make them understand that such a person cannot jump in and out of the bus like every other commuter. Those are just few examples of how the society has failed, and is still failing, in considering the plight of the disabled when amenities are being put in place and services are being rendered.
Moreover, the unemployed status of many physically-challenged persons has not helped matters, in fact, it has only compounded the already terrible situation they found themselves in. For those who were lucky to get educated, getting a job has always been a problem. Many private organizations would prefer to employ an able-bodied applicant even if the job in question does not require much physical activity. Most of the uneducated ones who possibly learnt a trade do not have the money to start-up what they learnt, while many did not even get the needed support to either learn a trade or get educated. Such are the isolated ones, who sooner than later become the destitute on the streets.
As pathetic as the situation of things seem for persons with physical disability, things can change for the better if the society will change their perception of persons with disability and see them as an integral part of the society. People must know that disability is not a curse, and that persons with disability are not destined to be beggars; and that starts with the parents and relatives of disabled persons. They should not isolate them, rather, they should show them the much needed love and give them the required support.
Individuals, government, and corporate organizations should endeavour to always put disabled persons into consideration when facilities and infrastructures are being put in place.
Furthermore, it would go a long way in helping the plight of persons with disability if assistance is given in the provision of needed aids and equipments. Although some NGOs and corporate organizations have been helping in this regard (which we are really grateful for), we however plead for more to be done as most disabled persons cannot afford the cost of these aids.
As regards the employment of the disabled, we plead for a level playing field in recruitment processes, especially in private organizations. It would also go a long way in getting disabled persons employed if the capital to start-up businesses can be provided for them with little or no interest attached to it. The government should also put modalities in place to rehabilitate the disabled destitute and reintegrate them into the society.
It would however be unfair of me if I fail to give kudos to the Lagos State government that has taken the bull by the horn by putting the Lagos State Special People's law in place, which seeks to uphold the rights of all persons living with any form of disability in Lagos State. I enjoin other states to take a cue from this, and put similar laws in place in their states. However, it is important to state that it is not just about putting the law in place, but enforcing it, that will bring about a better life for persons with disabilities.
Finally, the government should create a working forum, or fora, as the case may be, where they will regularly meet with the disabled in order to know what they need and how to make life more comfortable for them, as it is only a person who wears the shoe that knows where it pinches.
By: Olutobi Konigbagbe
E-mail: talktotoby2000@yahoo.co.uk
olutobikonigbagbe@gmail.com
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