A group, Joint National Association of People With Disabilities (JONAPWD) on Wednesday solicited for an all-inclusive government at the state and federal levels.
JONAPWD Kwara Women Leader, Mrs Joy Bolarin, stated this in an interview on Wednesday in Ilorin.
Bolarin said there was a need for an all-inclusive government that would involve people with disabilities on every policy formation.
She said there was also a need for the implementation of disability act which she described as paramount importance to the wellbeing of people with disabilities.
“People’s perspective about people with disability most times is a wrong one; they focus attention on physical disability and neglect their inner strength.
“They discriminate against them most times which is affecting them emotionally and mentally, thus reducing their creativity.
“I want to call on the society to look beyond physical deformity and give them opportunity to showcase the talents they have.
“If people with disabilities are present when policy decisions are made, they will relate with such decisions as it affects them and not allow others make decisions on their behalf,” she said.
The JONAPWD Women Leader also called for the creation of a Disability Commission to look into and handle issues affecting people with disabilities.
“We sincerely appreciate appointment of Special Adviser on Special Needs, but just like Oliver twist, we appeal that the Disability Commission should be created in the state.
“Amendment and implementation of Disability Act is also of paramount importance to this government to be able to make life better for people with disability
“Also, the appointment of people with disability in the next cabinet will be well appreciated; this will make the voice of people with disability to be heard.
”We are agitating for the implementation of five per cent reservation for people with disability in every government affairs.
“There should also be adequate monitoring of projects pertaining to people with disability to avoid diversification to another place,” she said.
Bolarin, also the founder of Jibore Impeccable Foundation, however, called on PWD to discover themselves and stop entitlement mentality and self-pity for them to be accepted in the society.
“For people with disability to be accepted, they must discover themselves and know their self-worth through potential discovery and maximization,’’ she said.
