By Laja Thomas
LAGOS — Governments at all levels in the country have been charged to give special recognition to the physically-challenged and people living with disabilities when formulating policies.

This was the submission of Asabe Shehu Yar’Ádua Foundation, ASYARF, to commemorate the 2011 International Day of persons with disabilities in line with UN Enable held in Abuja, weekend.

The Founder/President of the Foundation, Hajiya Asabe Shehu YarÁdua, said: “Let me make a fundamental observation of the strange dimension things are gradually becoming in the human society. We now live in a world of contradictions.

”Many have lost their souls; they no longer exhibit meekness. How do we rationalise a situation where in the midst of plenty and abundance, a vast population of the less- privileged are deprived, neglected and marginalised, just because of certain forms of incapacity either physically or mentally and even psychologically.”

She said the challenges facing persons with disabilities were not peculiar to Nigeria, noting that it was a global phenomenon.

My greatest worry, however, is that many of us still carry on [defiantly] as if there is no way we could  assist such persons in overcoming their challenges or relieving their pains and calming their frayed nerves. We must accept as a matter of fact that the physically challenged or persons with disabilities are part of our society. The development, civilization and progress of any society is a collective responsibility.

They need access not just education, but a qualitative one that can