As the world marks the 2022 International Day for Persons with Disabilities (PWD), the Federal and State Governments have been advised to adopt the universal design principles in physical infrastructure to aid the daily activities of persons with disabilities in the country.
Mr Opeolu Akinola, Executive Director, Disability Awareness and Development Initiative (DADI), made the call
The call was made in a statement seen by MAP NEWS and issued on Saturday, December 3 by Mr Opeolu Akinola, Executive Director, Disability Awareness and Development Initiative (DADI).
Mr Akinola who is also a visually impaired accessibility expert said the universal design principles should be adopted in physical infrastructure, digital platforms and services to “enable persons of various abilities use them rather than the common condescending charity that only creates a feeling of superiority for the givers and leads the beneficiary vulnerable.”
Also, the Executive Director is urging the governments to prioritise a disaggregated database of PWDs as a priority step for planning disability-related interventions.
He said, Other recommendations include setting accessibility standards for roads and buildings, including accessibility in procurement regulations, consulting professionals when acquiring assistive technology and removing import duties on equipment meant for the use of persons with disabilities while supporting local production of such items.”
This according Akinola is in line with the adherence to disability laws as stated in the Lagos State Special People’s Law 2011 and the Discrimination against Persons with Disability (prohibition) Act 2018) as well as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities aimed at creating a conducive society for people of all abilities to participate and contribute equally towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said that this year’s International Day for Persons with Disabilities theme, “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world” is a call to commitment by the organisation to collaborate with government, corporate entities and persons with disabilities in promoting accessibility and inclusion in the country.
Mr Akinola advised persons with disabilities to seize available opportunities to acquire education and skills with which they can compete equally with sighted counterparts and lead productive lives as well as consciously participate in the electoral process to support candidates who empathize with them.
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