By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Community leaders in Anambra State, on Thursday, reaffirmed commitment towards enhancing the people with disabilities (PWDs) access to public buildings and justice.
The stakeholders, who included landlords, traditional rulers, Presidents general, church leaders, women leaders and others also agreed to provide enabling environment for PWDs to thrive in their careers, while living a normal lives.
They reached the agreement at a one day awareness workshops with religious, community leaders and PWDs cluster heads on PWDs inclusion and accessibility of public infrastructure and services held in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
The workshop organised by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), sponsored by Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC) programme, a European Union funded programme implemented by International IDEA, was aimed at increasing awareness about the need for accessible buildings and transportation for PWDs.
Speaking at the event, the State Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Moses Ezedebego, said there was need for advocacy visits to stakeholders, including different churches, community leaders and others to get them informed of the Anambra State 2018 Disability Rights Law.
Ezedebego, who said he would fix a date for all the church leaders from 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and wards to inform them about the laws and implementation strategies.
Also speaking, representative of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council and monarch of Amanuke, Awka North Local Government Area (LGA), HRH Igwe Alphonsus Ezebuilo, assured readiness to assist in disseminating information of disability inclusion in society.
Ezebuilo, who noted that one of his most talented cabinet members is a PWDs, hinted that he would not relent in providing access to infrastructure and others to their members always.
Also speaking, the National Vice President, Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), Chief Ikechukwu Offorkansi, said there was need for all stakeholders to rally round in disseminating the information about the Anambra State Disability Rights Law (2018).
Offorkansi, who posited that there was need to address more townhall meetings to educate the populace, assured that everyone alive could do anything humanely possible so far they were mentally stable irrespective of their physical appearance.
The Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Disability Commission, Miss Chidimma Ajemba, while reading expectations of the programme, noted that PWDs expected public buildings, streets and transportation systems to be fully accessible through construction of ramps, elevators, wider doorways, tactile paving and spaces for wheelchairs or mobility aids.
"Government and urban planners should ensure that all new infrastructure complies with accessibility standards. Transport agencies need to make vehicles and stations accessible. Private sector such as malls and theatres should prioritise accessibility as part of their design.
"We expect government and service websites to follow accessibility guidelines (web content accessibility guidelines). This includes screen-reader compatibility, voice recognition, easy navigation and subtitle options for videos. Public services should be accessible through technologies that assist PWDs such as screen readers, text-to-speech applications or sign language interpreters for virtual interactions.
"We expect inclusive education systems where the physical and digital infrastructure, curriculum and teaching methods cater to diverse needs such as accessible classrooms, special education resources, and sign language interpreters. Health and social services, legal framework and others need to be strengthened," she added.
In a welcome address, the Anambra State Chairman, JONAPWD, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, said the event was a call for a collective responsibility to ensure that all members of the society were provided with opportunities to live lives with dignity, independence and equal opportunities.
Okeke noted that "This is not only a moral duty but also a legal and social one. PWDs represent a significant and valuable portion of our society, yet they are often faced with barriers both physical and societal that prevent them from fully participating in public life.
"We are here to discuss practical ways we can create more accessible environments for persons with disabilities. This includes ensuring that our places of worship, schools, health centres, public transportation, and government buildings are accessible to all without exception. Accessible goes beyond ramps and elevators.
"It means ensuring that information is available in accessible formats, that service providers are trained to understand the needs of persons with disabilities, and that the attitudes of our community members reflect kindness, respect and inclusion.
"But there is more to inclusion than just infrastructure. We must foster a culture of inclusion. Our communities must be places where PWDs are not seen as recipients if charity but as equals in every sense. They should be involved in every facet of life at work, school, community, recreational activities and spiritual spaces.
" We are all enriched by the diversity of experiences, perspectives, and talents that PWDs bring to our communities. Together, we have the power to change the narrative surrounding PWDs. We can advocate for policies that promote accessibility, and we can raise awareness of the importance of inclusion.
"Through education, dialogue and action, we can build communities that truly embrace every individual regardless of ability and ensure that everyone has access to the opportunities and services they need to thrive. I encourage you to incorporate messages of inclusion into your teachings, to promote accessibility in the physical spaces you oversee, and to provide support for persons with disabilities within your congregations."
Earlier in a remark, the State Coordinator, RoLAC, Dr Josephine Onah, explained that the programme was among their objectives to enhance access to justice to the PWDs.
According to her, PWDs need equal access to justice and environment, especially public buildings as contained in Anambra State Disability Rights Law 2018 which was adapted from the United Nations charter.
"We come to discuss on issues that bother on humanity, as signatory to UN on given equal opportunity to everyone to thrive and be part of the society. We are here to preach inclusions. PWDs do not need pitying but enabling environment to thrive," she stated.
"We are seeing you as key partners to make things work. This activity calls to mind what should be done for fully implementation of Anambra State Disability Rights law. It provided for what the traditional rulers should take cognisance to. What the landlord, community leaders and others should do.
"We want you to do the needful by providing the PWDs with enabling environment to live. We don't need you to give them help or pity but to provide them with enabling environment. When you do it, you will be able to accommodate everyone, and give access to everyone that work," she noted.