The Abia State Commission for the Welfare of Disabled Persons said it will engage therapists for persons with intellectual disabilities across the 17 local government areas (LGAs) of the state.

The commission’s chairman, David Anyaele, made this known during a town hall meeting with persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Ukwa East LGA.

He said that the initiative was to help them speak, play and live independently of their parents or caregivers.

Mr Anyaele also said that the commission would train healthcare officers to provide services to enable those with disabilities to go to school without discrimination.

The caregivers had complained about the harsh economic situation faced by members of the intellectual cluster, as they neither hear nor talk.

Mr Anyaele, who was accompanied by some board and staff members of the commission, said that the commission was visiting the LGAs across the state to hear directly from the PWDs and the peculiar needs of their clusters.

Different disability clusters in the LGA, including the blind, the deaf, and physical and intellectual disabilities, were present at the meeting.

Mr Anyaele said that Governor Alex Otti had shown commitment to supporting PWDs, to the extent that he ensured the establishment of a Zonal Office of the National Commission for PWDs in Umuahia.

The chairman said that the commission carried out some activities since inception, including data on PWDs, capacity building for PWD leaders, training of all LG mayors and permanent secretaries on disability laws, inclusion and others.

He said that the primary health centres were being made accessible, stressing that the commission would keep making its suggestions to ensure the buildings and toilets were accessible too.

In a remark, a board member of the commission, Stanley Onyebuchi, said that the purpose of the meeting was to give room for interaction between the PWDs and the local government chairmen to know their needs.

He further assured that opportunity would be given to the various clusters to present their peculiar needs.

In their presentations, the physical cluster requested that their children with disabilities be sent to school.

They said that most of them were not educated due to the mindset of their parents, who saw nothing good in them.

The cluster also requested constructed wheelchairs and machines and motorcycles as well as skills acquisition opportunities.

Similarly, the blind cluster requested a mini-bus as a source of income as well as allowances for the upkeep of the less educated members.

Also, the deaf cluster requested a school for the deaf and scholarships for members within the local government.

They complained that there were many deaf people, including adults and children, who did not understand sign language.

In a response, the Chairman of Ukwa East Local Government Area, Chibunna Akara, represented by his Deputy, Thelma Ekeke, expressed happiness for the enactment of Abia State Disability Law but hoped for its implementation.

The chairman, who promised continuous support for the PWDs, said that ramps would be provided in the buildings at the LGA headquarters for accessibility.

(NAN)