TQM report,
Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI) on Tuesday 24th August in Abuja organized a Deaf Inclusion Summit, that comprise of Deaf community, Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), Health providers, Media, Civil society organization (CSOs) and other Stakeholders.
This is part of the activities of a project being implemented by DWAI, funded by Disability Rights Fund (DRF).
The Executive Director, DWAI, Hellen Anurika Beyioku-Alase in her opening speech welcomed participants to the first ever Deaf summit with special focus on accessibility and inclusion for the Deaf. Deaf inclusion summit was borne out on the need to create awareness, raise consciousness about Deaf issues and improve access to health, social care and employment for Deaf people.
The summit will also highlight the importance of embracing and recognized sign-language and culture as well as improving on services delivery for the Deaf community and challenge the perception about Deaf people in Nigeria and promote the positive aspect of Deafness and campaign for better accessibility and social inclusion by giving people a better understanding of the impact and helping Deaf people to ensure they feel involved, engaged and supported. To showcase that Deaf people are not at disadvantaged in everyday situations that hearing people take for granted.
Speaking further, she said that Deaf people especially women and girls in Nigeria are current living in obscurity, derivation and silent misery. One of the most obstacles preventing their full participation and integration is because of their invisible disabilities of hearing impairment that cut them off from people and activities, and to maintain one’s sexual and reproductive health people need to access to accurate information and the safe effective, affordable and acceptable contraception method of their choice.
Finally, she said that they are beckoning on government and non-government organizations, international communities, volunteers, agencies or institutions for collaboration/partnerships and ensure full participation Deaf inclusion with sign-language to ensure that the content of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 yielded the best outcomes.
Mr. Theophilus Odaudu, Program officer, DRF, in his goodwill message appreciated DWAI for the initiative, and he emphasized on importance of sign-language to millions of Deaf people across Nigeria, he advocated for the promotion of sign language saying that sign-language should be incorporated as one of the languages because it will enhance the communication and productivity of deaf persons in Nigeria. DRF as an organization understands the importance of disability inclusion putting in consideration all clusters of disability that is why as a grant making organization DRF have been funding several organizations of PWDs to enhance the rights of PWDs.
National Orientation Agency (NOA) gave an overview on accessible of information and communication: a pathway towards Deaf inclusion in Nigeria.
Bukola Azeez, Deputy Director, health policy and health system strengthening, health planning research and statistics department, FCT health and human services secretariat, Abuja gave an overview of making deaf inclusion work: advancing health care access among Deaf women in Nigeria.
Participants had an interactive session/ questions and answers anchored by the Executive Director when she facilitated disability inclusion, she spoke about the use of right terminologies and other vital issues about disability.
Dr. Grace Ilori (project officer DWAI) in her vote of thanks/closing remarks appreciated different individuals, philanthropists, organizations and partners such as Ipas, Maria Stopes Nigeria international, FCT Health and Human Services, FCT primary Health Board, Studio24, Dewdrop Foundation, VOICE Nigeria, Television Authority (NTA), Media, OPDs, WOLDI, ROLAC, Dorothy Njamaze Foundation (DNF), Nigeria Association of the Deaf (NNAD), National Orientation Agency (NOA), and UN women for participating and supporting the summit to carry the deaf people along in their outreach and development programme in providing a solution to bridge the gap of exclusion in the society.
