Osogbo:A non-governmental organization, Community Advancement Initiative for Self-Reliance (CAI4SR), is calling for media collaboration to raise awareness against the stigmatization and discrimination of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Executive Director of CAI4SR, Mrs. Eni Ayeni, emphasized the need for media involvement during a bi-monthly media awareness program on disability rights and inclusive reporting. Held on Thursday in Osogbo, the event aimed to educate journalists on promoting the implementation of disability laws to reduce stigma against PWDs.
Ayeni urged journalists to produce more inclusive reports by educating the public on disability issues and promoting equal rights for PWDs without prejudice. She noted that although the Osun Disability Law, enacted in 2024, provides sanctions against rights violations, its implementation remains inadequate as PWDs face challenges in various life aspects.
She also called on the media to use sensitive and appropriate language when reporting on disability issues. Furthermore, she appealed to the government to not only domesticate disability laws but also ensure their effective implementation, highlighting ongoing engagements with the government leading to significant changes.
Mr. Opeyemi Alabi, a facilitator at the training, added that disability rights laws support the full integration of PWDs into society via the State Bureau of Persons with Disabilities. Despite legal guarantees, PWDs continue to encounter daily discrimination, with their experiences often underreported.
Alabi emphasized the importance of portraying PWDs with respect, avoiding sympathetic narratives, and recognizing their capabilities. He advocated shifting the narrative focus from “fixing the person” to “fixing the society” and stressed the need for meaningful involvement of PWDs in all stages of media production and program design.
He highlighted the media’s critical role in shaping public perceptions, driving policy reforms, and holding institutions accountable for PWDs’ inclusion and protection. During emergencies, health crises, or elections, media should ensure accessibility through sign language interpreters, closed captioning, and audio descriptions.
Alabi concluded by emphasizing that true accountability begins within newsrooms by employing journalists with lived experiences of disability to ensure accurate and respectful reporting.