On the 18th December 2021, Beautiful Outstanding Ladies With Disabilities (BOLD) HEARTS NETWORK hosted 30 women with disabilities in their end of the year Christmas program tagged “BOLD HANGOUT”
The program was a fun interactive learning session among women with disabilities featuring:
A Praise/Thanksgiving Session and
A presentation on the profile of BOLD HEARTS with these highlights
Motto: “Be BOLD Be Beautiful”
Purpose: To come together as women with disability sharing life experience of Joy and challenges under a platform of support group network
After a relaxing game session there were two interactive talk sessions.
Talk 1 – Addressing self-stigmatization and discrimination towards women with disability toward eradicating disability based violence by Osaki.
Excerpts from the Session.
Self-Stigmatization is a component of the broader social phenomenon known as stigmatization. The process of stigmatization involves labelling differences as undesirable and can result in social exclusion, disempowerment, and discrimination. This is peculiar because it’s been imposed by oneself unlike stigmatization that is impose by the society. Also in clear violation of the human rights of the person or people stigmatized. Self-stigmatization if not handled properly will destroy the person involved.
The talk ended with a nice interactive Session on ways to deal with Self Stigmatisation as a Woman with Disabilities.
After the session, the ladies were engaged by Freky in an activity to come up in pairs of ten disrespectful words used on PWDs. It was interesting to see the names. This activity led to the second talk.
Talk 2 – Disability Inclusive Language by Assumpta Ebirikwu.
Excerpts from the Session
Disability Inclusive Language by PWDs, should portrayed in respectful and balanced way by using words that are accurate and objective. There are two ways to identify PWDs; As first person, which distance the persons from disability example: Person with Disability. Or as identify first, which claim disability directly example:: Disabled Person. The first person language is usually preferable and is adopted in Nigeria because we take our precedence from the UNCRPD. eg. I am a person with disability, as opposed to, I am a disabled person. There are words to use and words to avoid eg instead of cripple or lame, use person with disability. Emphasize on the ability not on the disability and also, labelling a person equates the person with a condition and can be disrespectful and dehumanizing.
The Session were robust and engaging.
On departure every BOLD HEART present received a surprise pack containing: Raw Rice, Seasoning Cubes, Salt, Oil, Tomato paste and packs of Indomie.
Women with Disabilities supporting each other is BOLD HEARTS
It was a successful Program.
