Group Sensitises Parents in Osogbo on Preventing Abuse Against Children With Disabilities
A non-governmental organisation, Association For Parents of Children With Disabilities, has organised an awareness session in Osogbo, Osun State, for parents of persons with disabilities and other stakeholders on how to stop and prevent abuse and maltreatment of children with disabilities.
The programme, themed “GBV Against Children With Disabilities,” brought together parents, caregivers, government agencies and civil society actors to draw attention to the conditions many children with disabilities endure.
Stakeholders at the event advocated for support, protection and empowerment of children with disabilities, insisting that “every child matters, adding that if children with and without disabilities live together in inclusive communities, their future will be bright. They stressed the need for the state government to provide well-equipped schools for children with disabilities and facilitate a robust curriculum that will promote public awareness and discourage abuse of children with disabilities.
In his address, the Chairman and Executive Director of the Association, Dele Olaniru, said the association was founded to assist parents struggling with the challenges of caring for children with disabilities.
He explained that the programme was designed to sensitise parents on why it is wrong to mistreat or maltreat their children because of disability. Adding that, “we have started this association, trying to see how parents of children with disabilities can be helped or assisted with the problems they are going through as a result of trying to take care of their children with disabilities,” Olaniru said.
“This programme is talking about gender-based violence against children with disabilities. Why it is wrong against children that don’t have disability, it is equally wrong against children with disabilities and ways how this can be done and why we called in the speakers to sensitise them and address the parents, telling them the consequences that can happen as a result of them maltreating their children or wards with disabilities,” he stated.
Olaniru who described the fight against abuse as a three-way approach involving parents, schools and government, emphasised that “It is a three-way thing. Number one is what we have started with the parents. If the parents are not having good orientations, there is a tendency for them to hold their children with levity which will make them vulnerable to the people that are already waiting to take advantage of them but if they are already taking care of their children, nobody will take advantage of them,” he said.
He called for the establishment of properly furnished and equipped schools with sound curriculum activities for children with disabilities. Highlighting that this will uplift the inclusiveness of children with disabilities. It will help curb gender-based violence against children with disabilities. Number three is government. The government must help make the environment conducive for children with disabilities.
While commending the Osun State Government for its efforts so far on disability inclusion, Olaniru appealed for more, particularly the inclusion of disability awareness in the school curriculum.
“Already, the state government has done wonderfully well concerning the people with disabilities. However, we still need more, particularly if they are able to help us put it in the school curriculum, it will help the younger generation to relate better with children with disabilities. If it is taught in schools, they become more aware of it and it will help the children and they will have self confidence,” he said.
He added: “Children with disabilities should know that God made them for a particular purpose and they also can fulfill purpose the same way a child that does not have disabilities will fulfill their purpose. Once it is included in the curriculum and it keeps ringing in the ears of able children, it will help to prevent bullying, abuses, discrimination, intimidation against people with disabilities.”
In her remarks, a stakeholder, Funmilayo Abdullahi, said parents are critical stakeholders in the fight, noting that many abuse their children without realizing it.
“We are speaking with different stakeholders and parents of children with disabilities that they are in fact very important stakeholders because in their homes, they are also abusing their children without even knowing that they are abusing them. We can’t really blame them because they don’t know and due to the stress and frustration that come with taking care of children with disabilities,” Abdullahi said.
“But now that we have exposed them, we have brought them into enlightenment that you too you are abusing your children by saying things that are causing them emotional and psychological pain. We are telling them to disseminate the information to other parents and caregivers of people with disabilities. We really urge other parents, NGOs, government and other stakeholders to support this association so they can move forward,” she added.
Also speaking, Mrs Oyerinde, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Association, echoed the call for an end to maltreatment of persons with disabilities, while calling for intensive sensitisation and acceptance.
“What I think should be done is sensitisation for parents who abuse their children with disabilities. They don’t even have the knowledge that these children are not to be disdained, that they should first of all accept that God Almighty that gave them the children does not make mistakes. There is a need for acceptability. They should accept that God purposely gave them the child for a reason. Once there is acceptability of faith, then every other thing will fall in place. Compassion will come in,” she said.
She urged society to stop blaming mothers for birthing children with disabilities, stressing that it must become a collective responsibility. She opined that these children are not mistakes. The parents and families of children with disabilities and the society, should be sensitised that when it happens, it is not the fault of the woman, it becomes a collective responsibility and all hands must be on deck to help people with such a situation,” Oyerinde said.
She further used the medium to appeal to government to lead with compassion and become the mouthpiece for people with disabilities.. Reiterating that the government should acknowledge the people with disability. We thank the government of Osun State, the stakeholders, we see that the governor in Osun State is enthusiastic, he is compassionate about the people with disabilities. I will give it to him but we are appealing to him to do more,” she said.
“If the government becomes the mouthpiece of the people with disabilities, every other citizen will follow suit. If the government says something, everybody will definitely accept it. So, the government should come to the aid of people with disabilities especially in the aspect of creating job opportunities for people with disabilities, inclusiveness. Let people know that because they are disabled does not mean they do not belong to the society. We all belong to the society. People should learn to live and let people with disability live. I think with that, the society will be a better place for us to live,” she concluded.