A non-governmental organisation focused on children with Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), El-Olam special Home and Rehabilitation center celebrated its children with special needs.
In line with this year’s theme on World Day of Persons With Disability – United in action to rescue and achieve the SGDs for, with and by PWDs, the organisation also led a fundraising for a bus to aid movement of its children.
Representing the governor of Lagos State, General Manager, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Dare Dairo applauded the home for its effort towards caring for children with disabilities, especially as government facilities are filled to capacity and can no longer take on more children.
Sharing his personal experience as a child with polio, Dario said, “When a child with disability is born, the first person who bears the brunt is the mother. She bears most of the pain as she is asked questions like, ‘where did you get this child from’? And so, to get over that period, it takes grace. Thankfully, it is getting better today, when I was born, with Polio and there was little information about it, I was taken to various spiritualists to seek help.”
He noted that an important factor is patience when you come in contact with persons with disability and however urged mothers who live in guilt having birthed children with disability to get off the constant battle within self, forgive themselves so as not to pass negative feelings on their children. “You must find a way to lift your spirit. Put yourself in that environment that helps you see the bright side of things.”
While adding the Lagos state government in its second term is recommitted to leaving no one behind, having signed a commitment pact on three key areas – Youth empowerment, Gender mainstreaming and People with disabilities, he stressed that it will only get better and all effort will be made to create a favourable environment with PWDs.
In a keynote delivered by an advocate for PWDs, Abidemi Agidi-Adekunle, whose 18-year-old son was diagnosed of severe autism, it said that it takes a lot of patience and dedication to handle especially young children with disability.
While noting her son’s inability which includes not being able to speak, lack of sense of danger, needing help and assistance, and being impatient, she stressed that with the help of homes like El-Olam special home, and now the United States, they have been able to find out what his passion is, since he cannot communicate in words. He now volunteers in a small farm where he takes care of the crops unaided.
While also speaking on the burden parents face and how important it is to get help, she said, “Last year, my son was diagnosed with stage four cancer and so it took those around me including family and friends who were ensuring they were doing one special favour or the other for me so I do not breakdown and that helped to lift my spirit.”
Founder and CEO, of El-Olam Special Home and Rehabilitation Centre, Grace Edward, said that the theme for this year serves as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to ensure that inclusion, empowerment, and equal opportunities for every individual, regardless of their abilities.
“We have a collaboratively in our hands together to achieve this feat. We recognize their immense contributions to our societies, economies, and cultures and we also acknowledge the challenges they face daily and the barriers that still exist in our communities, preventing them from fully participating and realising their potential, however, all hope is not lost as we work together to surmount these challenges.”
The event also witnessed awards given to deserving individuals who have contributed immensely to PWDs.
