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OUR CONDITIONS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR POTENTIALS – PERSONS WITH DISABILITY

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Empathy and in some cases, sympathy is what they usually receive from friends and relatives; but persons with disability believe such actions undermine their capabilities in society.

They say their potentials cannot be felt in society if people keep on judging them based on their conditions regardless of their potentials.

Discussing the impact of the International Day for Persons with Disability on A1 Radio, Patrick Awagdene, a member of the association of Persons with Disability (PWDs) in the Upper East Region, noted strongly that they are full of potentials despite their conditions; and called on victims of disability conditions to maintain their standards in society and live beyond their conditional appearance.

“It is time we let the public know that our conditions have nothing to do with our potentials. Just as a supposed normal person can do, we can equally do the same. We ought to maintain our standards in society and prove to it that we are equal so they should stop showing us empathy and sympathy.” He said.

Touching on avenues that could help improve the lives of people with disability in society, Mr. Awagdene said there is the need for institutions and organizations to make policies that will focus more on inclusiveness and not segregation.

“For long, people with disabilities have largely been provided with solutions that segregate them, such as residential institutions and schools. Policies have to be provided and shifted towards community and educational inclusion.”

Adding their voice to the awareness creation of PWDs, Project Coordinator of Link Community Development, a lead non-governmental organization that focuses on inclusive education for vulnerable people in society, Faara Jochim, explained that being disabled was part of the human condition as almost everyone will be temporarily or permanently impaired at some point in life.

“Impairment does not necessarily mean having part of your leg or hand off; but when you are unable to do things you used to do years back, you are equally a disabled person. We have to understand that in one way or the other we are all impaired. So, treating ourselves as equal will help enhance our social living and make the world a better place.”

Mr. Jochim added that government and other organizations have to redirect the inclusion focused solutions to a more recognized and involved approach.

“Government and organizations which seek to give room in empowering persons with disabilities ought to go extra miles and should not limit the awareness creation to only discussions.”

Mr. Jochim went on to assure that Link Community Development and its partners UKAID and World Education Incorporated (WEI) will continue to focus more on empowering the vulnerable in society.

Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHZ|Ghana

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