The Blind Recount Challenges, Demands Accessible Environment

The National Association of The Blind, NAB, has called for a more accessible environment in order to function.

Making this known in Lagos at an event organised by Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria (NRHJN), the chairman Organising Committee of the White Cane Day, Barrister Lukmon Abolarin, while delivering his speech said, “we are asking Nigerians to make the environment accessible to the blind in order to make them function within the environment.

“This is the kind of event the blind like to associate with so that will educate people on the challenges that we face and in turn help us find solution to these challenges.”

He said, usually, people refer to the blind as persons with physical disabilities but the challenges we face are not because of our disabilities but rather people’s perception towards persons with disabilities as most of the challenge is environmental.

He said, “a blind person cannot see. For instance, this particular hall is well arranged and that the people that can see are in the environment and are conscious of the fact that blind people are around them. They will not put obstacles on their way. Such that with or without the white cane, the blind person can move freely.

“But because of oversight or none chalant attitude of some people, this is not done. A blind man could ply a road without potholes only to return and find potholes everywhere and before you know it he is falling inside a gutter.”

He added that the effect of that challenge is not because the person cannot see but the attitude of others towards the blind.

According Abolarin, “the white cane used to be black but was changed to white by the concept of Lions club International. The function is to act as indicator to other people that the user is blind.

He said the guide cane is what is used in navigating the way for the blind, adding that the independence of the white cane brought to the blind cannot be over emphasized.

He however said “in advance countries, once the blind wants to cross the road and stretch forth his cane, all drivers stop for him”, hence stressing the need for motorists to know the significance of the cane, adding that NAB intend to engage in charity walk through residential areas and let people see us use our canes to demonstrate the importance of the cane this year.

He called on Lagos State government for a change in the Laws which see the blind as special people, adding that the State’s Special People’s Law should be Lagos State Law for People with Special Needs.