Solomon2day

The language used in the media in relation to people with disabilities, may be an indication of whether social change has or would occur. For example, media stories about graduates or students wit disabilities often focus on the sacrifices of family and caregivers, instead of the students and the challenges there faced getting an education. It is disheartening, therefore, that persons with disabilities are seldom covered in the media and when they are presented, they are typically damaging stereotyped and not properly epitomized. It is not uncommon to see persons with disabilities treated as objects of pity, charity or medical treatment that have overcome a tragic and disabling condition or conversely, presented as champions who have accomplished great feats, to inspire the non-disabled. The Editors, producers and programmers are influenced by their own thoughts of disability and what they trust will attract listeners. Equity and Equality challenges indeed! The media, therefor re e...

We live in a world where there is an imperative focus on young people and People with Disabilities(PWDs) on the Inclusion Agenda. We, however, need to move from vulnerability to leadership and delivery of a truly transformative agenda. There is a divine need to walk the talk about the promotion of an inclusive society. For youths to be leaders of tomorrow; they must be equipped to achieve their dreams and for PWDs not to be burdensome, they must be positively engaged, thereby giving them the opportunity to participate actively in issues that directly impact their lives, which is literally everything in actual fact. Today, more than ever, society needs precisely this kind of healing to drive out poverty and unemployment. Only when PWDs have the opportunities they deserve, can they generate ideas, products and many more for society at large. Policies without commensurate implementation usually aggravate the hardships of the victims of the circumstance, in the case of PWDs, who deserve ou...

Disability is yet to be seen as a developmental issue in Nigeria because it is grossly under-represented in legislative processes and outcomes. Instead, it has become a political weapon of campaign driven by social sympathy rather than empathy in our institutional arranegments. The Joint National Associations of Persons with Disabilities(JONAPWD) with many advocayc groups under it has been equally influenced by the usual charity/welfare model approach to disability. There is a need for all to develop a cultural oreintation of creating a world where the fundamental human rights of persons with disabilities including that of access is guranteed under the law and the need to create awareness on the promotion of creativity for PWDs to strenghten the voice of Persons With Disabilities through advocacy, capacity building and development networking. This will facitiliate their participation in the political process of the nation. Records show that some of the PWDs have been actively part...