I took a visit with some of my friends to Special School of the Deaf, Onitsha. I saw young beautiful and determined girls, neatly dressed with lovely smiles.
I was amazed as usual with the continuous movement of their hands as an expression of the sign language communication.
Video clips of successful Deaf entrepreneurs barristers, interpreters, community advocates were played and they were so amazed about these success stories. They were all amazed that it was possible to live with disability and still become great advocates and barristers.
Even though the learning condition of Nigeria higher institute do not have rooms for persons living with disability, it becomes very unrealistic for some of them to reach that level. I have interviewed a blind student whom his lecturer till now frustrates him from graduating because he was unable to bribe the lecturer. I also have a story of a friend on wheelchair who was stressed by the school management and school lecturers regularly. They knew he was on wheelchair, so why having lectures in an up stair class which doesn’t have ramp? There are many stories of university undergraduates that I hear their stories regularly.
I met a 400 level female student of Mass communication. What attracted me to her was her smiles even while she pushed her wheelchair under the sun. She was so beautiful, filled with energy and was so happy. In fact, I admired her courage and simplicity. We had a chat and it was amazing.
Before we left the Special School of the Deaf, I was so fulfilled that at least the students have realised that there are no walls to their success. They have come to believe that they can achieve everything if they strive too. While interacting with some of them, I found out that some of them were entrepreneurs and some others where artisans and paid their school fees from the profits. They now believe that they could become engineers, lawyers, doctors, social advocates and lots more.
While we celebrate International Day for Persons Living with Disability by Dec 3, let’s try to make a very strong impact to these areas. There is a Disability Law in Nigeria but how active is it? We should remember that they are part of us and we should treat them nicely always.
