Toheeb Babalola
“Look at my capability, not my disability” – Joint National Association of Persons With Disability (JNAPWD)
People living with disabilities are problem-solvers
Society’s little knowledge of persons with disabilities ‘abilities as well as lack of required information, opportunities for persons with disabilities has continued to be the bane of under-utilization of their potentials
Number of persons with disabilities is huge. Same with their potentials. In the newest statistics of the United Nations for Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in June, 2023, over 240million children are living with different impairments globally. While general disability status in Nigeria is 27million. These are not just numbers but bitter truth about marginalized potentials in their diverse territories
A communication scholar, Udoakh, once stated that, “a passive poorly informed society is a barrier to development”. This shows that the consequence of limited access to development-oriented information in a particular society is underdevelopment, and for a State to be developed, the thinking ability of the people has to be positive.
Absence of adequate communication or sensitization on societal stereotype(s) by the governments and community leader’s shoulders-in discrimination, segregation and inequality within the society. In this century, negative attitude posture to people with disabilities’ (PwDs) potential due to their impairments continues to rob society of their value. This has contributed to their being denied employment, education, political appointments etc.
The motionless of Nigeria and other democracies in underdevelopment zone could be traced to ‘Self-defeat’ in the sense that democracy is wrongly practised as oppose to how
Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria’s rescue and positive changes
Intellectual or sensory impairment widely known as “Down Syndrome affects a sizable number of persons in Nigeria. It is a form of disability that starts from childhood and moves with them to adulthood. This disability challenge in children is medically traced to the prenatal stage where they developed extra chromosome 21 in their mothers’ womb, which negatively changes their body and brain. Notwithstanding, People-with Intellectual or sensory impairement (PWDs) might have a tendency to act or project similar faces but their abilities differ. Physical signs common to affected persons are flattened nose, short neck, small ears, short height amongst others.
How DSFN rehabilitates children and Adult with DS
Speaking to the Head of Education and Social Services of the Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria; an organization established in 2001, Mr. Sunday recently, affirmed the organization trains Children and Adults living with intellectual disability through audio-visual aids and practical demonstration. Noting that the organization teaches the children on academics only while a combined functional training for the adults.
The essence of our impacts had been on full integration and inclusion of intellectual and sensory impairment persons into the society so they can earn decent living. In other words, the organization is focused more on unleashing their potential instead of allowing them to rot away. Till date, DSFN has seen some of these persons live independent and fulfilled life just like anyone else. More often practical and lectures are used to help them gain required skills some now used for their daily subsistence.
Through practical sessions and lectures for different categories, based on their cognitive ability, DSFN had helped many to become artisans, professionals in different trades. Ordinarily, we do not conduct exams as it were. We employ skills assessment models on what they have learned.
For the adults, DSFN has different vocational skills that had benefitted many and through personal choices and evaluation of skills, many had become professionals through choices that are beneficial to their real life situation and help them to cope with financial, economic situations in the society.
Approach
“We group the children and adults into five levels depending on their mental capacity i.e. someone as old as 30yrs could be in the same level with the children and there is a predetermined curriculum for each level. We made use of audio-visual aids and practical demonstration to lecture them which yielded good results
Vocational class. session
Results/Impacts
In Entertainment
“In Entertainment, one of our students, Solomon Omere, featured in an award-winning Wale Adenuga Production, ‘Godwin, The Beautiful Mind’. He was screened and played the character of Godwin as written in the script.
In Sport
“In Sport, all of them belong to various kind of sports e.g football, racing etc. Many of our students have gone out there to participate in national competitions across the world. Recently, one of our boys won a metal at the special Olympic while others featured in notable competitions within the country.
In farming
“Our students also engage in poultry farming, we have taught them several businesses they can venture into and how to rescue the dwindling economy.
Employment opportunities after their rehabilitation
DSFN has different levels of education for its target audience, Level 5 is the highest. After level 5 which is the peak of the rehabilitation, the organization uses to retain the Adults among them who wish to partner and work with the organization and they get paid. Commensurate salaries are paid to these individuals.
“Our organization has employment reservation for some that wish to stay and work with us after their graduation. This go a long way fostering inclusive employment in the society”, Sunday said
Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria (DSFN) is in partnership with the government agency like Lagos State Office of Disability Authority (LASODA) and the Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion.
DSFN was founded by Mrs. Rose Mordi, head office located at 1, Alafara Oje Crescent, Alamutu Estate, Off State Bus stop, Iju, Fagba, Lagos and also in Osuntokun Avenue, Old Bodija, Ibadan.
*Toheeb Babalola a journalist and fellow of Africa Foundation for Young Media Professionals Disability and Inclusion Reporting sent this in from Ibadan as part of his story requirement as fellow of the project. The project was done in conjunction with Centre for Disability and Inclusion Africa
Pc: DSFN
