Promote social inclusion for People with Disabilities

 It is regrettable that in this mod­ern age and advancement, some segments of society still adhere to unhealthy cultural and traditional practices that have a detrimental impact on People Wth Disabilities (PWDs).

It is time society adopted a more accepting stance toward PWDs.

PWDs, including the blind, the deaf, and albinos, face discrimina­tion on a daily basis in the work­place, like the health and educa­tion sectors, and other settings due to unfavourable cultural norms that really cause them pain and make life intolerable for them.

Mothers of children with dis­abilities experience anxiety and discomfort since many people think that PWDs should not be living. Even so, is it someone’s fault if they are disabled?

While individuals without dis­abilities are entitled to the funda­mental freedoms and human rights as citizens as outlined in the 1992 Constitution, it appears that those with disabilities face discrimination on all fronts.

People who are albinos face even more challenging situation be­cause some people in the commu­nity feel that they are taboo, and should not be allowed to live.

“I suffer the same, therefore I know it’s true. People do not want us to be close to them for any reason, and we are treated as second-class citizens,” Mr. Joseph Atsu Homadzi, national president of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFDOs), told our correspondent.

“In some communities, it is believed that when you are going out in the morning for any activity and you meet a person or somebody with a visual impairment, it means a misfortune is about to befall you; for which reason you must return home,” he stated.

How is it possible for someone in this modern world to have such a bad opinion of PWDs? Some people still believe that being disabled is a curse or a punishment for what­ever they have done wrong and that hanging around with them will bring the same fate or punishment.

In actuality, it is critical for society to know that although some people are born deformed, others acquire disabilities as a result of environmental mishaps or certain medical disorders, such as glau­coma, measles, or cataracts that cause blindness, deafness, or both.

The national president claims that despite their infirmities, PWDs can still make significant contribu­tions to the development of this nation if given the chance, and that efforts to educate people to stop these regrettable activities have been ineffective.

The Spectator expresses con­cerns about these developments which have the potential to harm those with PWDs and impede their aspirations.

Therefore, we make a plea to the media, religious organisations, and other institutions to draw at­tention to the predicament of PWDs in order to shift public opinion and win over hearts.

PWDs require our respect and decency; we must put ourselves in their position.

Fostering positive attitudes towards PWDs is crucial in order to advance social inclusion.