Disability is not equivalent to inability if we all can reinforce the importance of securing the rights of people with disabilities and ensure that adequate policies and practices are in effect in a community or organization to enable them to exhibit their full potential to society through involvement in everyday activities like their peers.
World Health Organization 2022 stated that about 1.3 billion people which is equivalent to 1 in 6 people worldwide experience significant disability, and some persons with disabilities die up to 20 years earlier than those without disabilities. International Day of Persons with a disability is annually celebrated on the 3rd of December to recognize visible and invisible disabilities thereby, promoting the importance of inclusion in life and the workplace.
Shepherd for Health, Environment, Advocacy and Development, a non-profit organization (NGO) that cherishes sustainability, equity, and inclusion in their interventions that directly improve the society at large and more importantly the vulnerable, joins the tides to commemorate this year’s International Day of Persons with disability with the theme; “Transformative solutions for inclusive development”.
The organization commemorates the day by making donations of items required for the development and growth of the student of Ijesa school for special needs children, Ilesha, Osun state, Nigeria. The commemoration was held by Shepherd for Health, Environment, Advocacy and Development (SHEAD) on the 6th of December instead of the 3rd of December so as to leverage the school program.
To transform society, disability inclusion must be ensured by understanding the relationship between the way people function and how they can participate in society, and making sure everybody has the same opportunities to participate in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities and desires.
How do we ensure disability inclusion?
- Access to free and quality healthcare services.
- Access to free and quality education.
- Provision of employment opportunities.
- Empowerment of persons with disability.
- Freedom of expression of their common human rights.
- Opportunity to hold civil and public positions.
- Provision of necessary aids to help them function well such as virtual ai etc.
- Engagement in physical activities and roles such as sports activities.
- Elimination of discrimination and stigmatization associated with disability.
Conclusion
Disability inclusion is a transformative solution to achieve Sustainable Development Goals of health for all. Hence, we will continue to promote the right and well-being of persons with disabilities through our humanitarian gestures.
Shepherd for Health, Environment, Advocacy and Development, Osun State Celebrates International Day of Persons with Disability (IDPD) at Ijesa school for the special needs children, Ilesha, Osun state, Nigeria.