Foundation Advocates For Inclusivity And Accessibility
Katherine Abayomi
There is an exposed grim reality that PWDs in Rivers State are systemically excluded from society due to a lack of accessible infrastructure, social inclusion, etc.
The Disability Rights Initiative project: Accessibility ( DRIPA), a project powered by Faecare Foundation and supported by the Disability Rights Fund (DRF) for a year, changed the narrative for physical accessibility, in turn increasing public awareness, where this consciousness is embedded into societal infrastructure and public consciousness.
The Executive Director of FAECARE Foundation, Ndifreke Andrew, Stated disturbing statistics from a survey that 43.5% of people in Rivers State are unaware of the discrimination against persons with disabilities law. Those who are aware of it know about it through social/traditional media, like conferences or organisations like the FAECARE Foundation.
Freke mentioned that with consistency since 2002 with the visibility right project, the organisation has gained a milestone through Advocacy and different strategies.
She further stated that some places that were unaccessible after Advocacy have proof to show their compliance, and persons with disabilities were trained and are now advocates regarding disability rights as a result of the project.
The Executive Director retorted that the initiative’s next phase will be to go further to rural communities where persons tend to be disfranchised and provide information on these Disability Rights to women, men, and children in ten local governments in Rivers state.
She called on the Rivers State government to remove barriers and create inclusivity in all sectors by adopting a Rights-based Disability law. She also called on the state to establish a well-funded Rivers State Disability Council critical to overseeing compliance and driving continuous improvement and Mandate accessibility in public infrastructure projects.
She also called on the Civil Society and private sector to demand accountability from policy makers and government officials and incorporate Disability inclusion into all projects and programs rather than as an afterthought.
Barrister Oby Adiela, in her keynote address titled ” Disability Accessibility: Taking it further in Rivers State,” stated that the Rivers State Persons with Disability Welfare Enhancement Law 2012 and the national law, prohibition Act 2018 compliance remain inconsistent.
Oby further calls on the government, legal practitioners, civil society, and citizens to amplify awareness campaigns and adopt inclusive practices in private business. The government should prioritize passing the 2024 Disability bill and establishing the Disability Commission within 90 days, she retorted.
The Chairman, Dr Bernard Moses, stated and encouraged all PWDS to never think that they are disabled and that Disability is only present in the mind, he retorted.
