The Lagos State Authorities, by the Workplace of Incapacity Affairs, has urged stakeholders to cater to youngsters dwelling with disabilities.
This was pressured on Thursday on the yr 2024 celebration of Particular Wants Kids in Lagos, held on the Abayomi Finnih Leisure Park, Ikeja, with the theme: “Each Youngster With Incapacity Deserves Inclusive and High quality Residing.”
The Basic Supervisor, Workplace of Incapacity Affairs, Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, mentioned the state was working to make sure that youngsters with disabilities have been catered for in all spheres.
Oyetunde-Lawal mentioned, “Our kids are our delight, no matter their disabilities. Their distinctive wants are to be celebrated, not marginalised. Sadly, many youngsters with disabilities proceed to face obstacles in accessing training, healthcare, social inclusion, and even fundamental dignity.
“These obstacles lengthen past the bodily; they’re societal and attitudinal, stemming from a lack of know-how, prejudice, and a system that too usually views these youngsters by the lens of limitation, reasonably than risk.
“We should shift this mindset and recognise that they’re integral members of our society, deserving of the identical rights, alternatives, and respect as every other little one.
“Inclusivity builds a tradition of mutual respect and understanding, the place everybody feels empowered to pursue their goals and aspirations. Social inclusion calls for that our communities embrace range, problem stigma, and create accessible areas and alternatives for all,” she mentioned.
She emphasised that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu authorities would proceed to be devoted to the wants of the particular youngsters by making certain they expertise the unwavering help that might foster an inclusive society the place they take pleasure in the identical alternatives as each different little one.
A few of the useful resource individuals on the occasion, together with a psychologist, Mabel Okereafor, and a therapist, Oni Oluwa, took turns to enlighten members on the way to greatest cater to the distinctive wants of those youngsters.
In June, some medical professionals and little one growth specialists known as for a concerted effort to boost help for youngsters with particular wants.
The specialists, who have been audio system on the YBC reunion occasion organised by the 2002 alumni of the College of Lagos Faculty of Medication, lamented that there was discrimination towards youngsters with particular wants.