By Deborah Ojuade
According to the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD), at least 35.1 million individuals live with disabilities in Nigeria, based on a recent World Health Organisation estimate, indicating that about one in every eight Nigerians is affected by some form of disability.
According to a 2018 demographic and health survey, about seven per cent of household members aged five and older experience difficulties in at least one functional area, such as seeing or hearing.
Socioeconomic factors compound the prevalence of disabilities. Persons with disabilities often face higher rates of poverty and unemployment compared to their non-disabled counterparts, partly due to barriers to accessibility and discrimination in various sectors.
An apparent grave concern is that not many in Africa’s most populous nation are aware of the legislation governing the rights of persons living with disabilities.
The Disability Act seeks to ensure that persons with disabilities are not discriminated against on the grounds of their disability by any person or institution in any manner or circumstances.
The act, which was passed on March 28, 2018, criminalises discrimination against persons with disabilities. The act also seeks to fully integrate persons with disabilities into society by establishing their rights to social amenities such as education, health, accommodation, emergencies, infrastructural systems, etc.
The act also provides a five-year transitional plan for public buildings, infrastructure and automobiles to be suitably modified for persons with disabilities.
However, the act has yet to be fully domesticated or implemented across the 36 states and the federal territory.
According to a 2020 survey by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), only 22.5 per cent of respondents with disabilities were aware of the Disability Act.
Another survey conducted again by the Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC) in 2022 reported that about 30 per cent of respondents with disabilities had heard of the Disability Act.
It is unclear if the percentage has increased over the years, which is why more recent and comprehensive research needs to be done to provide a more accurate estimate.
The issue is that for most persons with disabilities who are educated and not educated, their caregivers’ parents are not aware of the Disability Act, not to talk of persons without disabilities.
It is believed that for persons with disabilities to have an inclusive society and to improve their lives, there is a need to understand and know the Disability Act, not just for the benefit of persons with disabilities but also for everyone to be able to relate with them, also keeps you on track.
How will a company owner know that five per cent of persons with disabilities should work in their companies when they even know about the Disability Act, or how will a parent who is educated or not know that their child with a disability needs to go to school when they are not aware of the Disability Act.
That is why there is a need to advocate consistently and sensitise people to be aware.
There are some creative strategies for implementing the Disability Act that raise awareness, promote inclusivity and diversity and empower persons with disabilities.
Inclusive storytelling and documentary production: Produce documentaries, videos, and podcasts highlighting disability experiences and success stories and publish books, comics, and graphic novels that depict characters with disabilities.
Disability-themed exhibition: To curate exhibitions showcasing artwork created by persons with disabilities.
Gamification and accessibility challenges: Design games, challenges, and hackathons to engage the public in accessibility and disability inclusion.
Disability-focused conference: To organise conferences and workshops to educate policymakers, business leaders, and service providers on disability-inclusive practices.
Disability data collection: To establish a statewide data collection system to track disability statistics, identify gaps, and inform community policy decisions.
Corporate disability inclusion and partnership: To collaborate with businesses to promote disability inclusion and accessibility in the private sector.
All of this can be achieved by collaborating and partnering with diverse organisations, stakeholders, and government at the local, state, and national levels.
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