World Disability Day: Physically-challenged seek fair treatment

By PETER DURU

MAKURDI—Over 100 physically-challenged students converged in Makurdi, Benue State capital, to mark the World Disability Day yesterday, with a plea to Nigerians to change their discriminatory disposition towards them.

The disabled students, who met under the auspices of the National Association of Physically-Challenged Students, NAPCS, were drawn from higher institutions in the country.

National President of NAPCS, George Marvel said disability was not a curse. He advised the physically-challenged to resist being objects of pity.

Marvel recalled that in the just-concluded paralympics, the physically-challenged persons brought glory to the country by winning several medals even when the able-bodied men and women failed to make any impact at the games.

Guest Speaker at the gathering, Dr. Osmond Ukanacho, lamented the discriminations experienced by the disabled population in schools, adding that it amounted to social injustice.

“Once we have the right orientation, it would be easy for us all to willingly work together to improve the status of the challenged population.

“It is their right and as social justice demands, we need to allow them access to more benefits of the society than ourselves to cover up for their deficiencies.”

Ukanacho regretted the experiences of the physically-challenged in the school environment, where they were sometimes forced to learn while sitting on bare floor.