‘Disabled Persons Not Liabilities’

Disability Rights Activist, Olusola Adeyefa has stated that the society needs to change its orientation about looking at disabled people from the charity point of view or medical reasoning only.

He expressed the view during the Lagos Civil Society Disability Policy Partnership (LCSDPP), workshop with the media on Disability policy advocacy in Lagos State.

He said that the society should avoid actions that places more emphasis on charity but engage in socio-economic activities that will be of help to disabled persons.

“Everyone should avoid negative attitudes as they have adverse effect on children and adults with disabilities, leading to negative consequences such as low esteem and reduced participation in the society,” he said.

Adeyefa also implored the media to increase public awareness and understanding of disability. “Our media need to add to their impetus and vibrant strategy for enlightening society and disseminating detailed and positive information about disabled persons,” he said.

The media consultant of the group, Dare Dairo, said it is the society that creates disabilities adding that “every man, woman and child have so much uniquely wonderful activities within them; people should not pity those with disability but try to see the hidden potentials in them”

—Tosin Areo