The Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) on Thursday in Abuja brought together stakeholders to validate Simplified Accessibility Standard Regulation.
The five years Transitory Period Of Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 will end on 23rd January, 2024 and in preparation of that period, IFA worked together with National Commission For Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD) and other Organizations Of Persons With Disabilities (OPDs) with support from Sightsavers, to produce a simplified version of the National Accessibility Standard Regulation.
The Executive Director, IFA, Grace Jerry in her opening remark urged the participants to amplify their learnings to ensure adequate dissemination of the document.
She also said that this will put the law into the pockets of all stakeholders, enhance understanding of the accessibility provisions and ensure a robust implementation of the Act.
The Executive Secretary, National Commission For Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD) Mr. James Lalu stated in his remark that the Simplified Accessibility Standard which is a pocket friendly version will help the public to assimilate the document better.
He informed that the commission will launch the National Minimum Accessibility Standard Regulation during the National Summit coming up soon to Commemorate the International Day for Persons With Disabilities.
He added that when the five years transitory period is over, there would be no hiding place for organizations who fails to meet the minimum accessibility standard. He vowed that the commission will seal up such places until they comply.
The Program Development Advisor at Sightsavers, Mr. Rasak Adekoya while speaking emphasized the importance of having a simplified version of National Accessibility Standard Regulation.
Speaking further, he said that the Simplified document will aid the implementation of Disability Act and make it easier for stakeholders to hold public institutions accountable.
The Consultant, Mr. Vision Bakham took the participants through an interactive sessions of the Simplified Version Of Accessibility Standard Regulation introducing Universal Accessibility Checklist for the Nigerian Built Environment focusing on hospitality business areas like hotels, motels, guest houses and hostels in Section 1, Banks, Corporate Offices And Professional Bodies in Section 2, Health Facilities like Hospitals, Clinics in Section 3 and Educational And Social Care Establishment like Day Care Centres, Orphanages, NYSC camps, Colleges, Universities and Religious Centres.
The validation meeting brought together critical stakeholders including leaders of OPDs, Independent experts and other CSOs to deliberate on the simplified document to ensure it represents what is contained in the the National Accessibility Standard Regulation.
One of The Participants, Comrade Chris Agbo, the Publisher/ED, The Qualitative Magazine in his assess of the document said that it is coming at the right time because it has provided a tool to ensure compliance towards accessibility and also for engagements prior to the expiration of transitory period. He urged IFA and the funders to extend the checklist to other areas such as the roads because the road posed a lot of challenge to greater number of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
