02/11/2025
People With Disabilities Deserve Equal Rights and a Normal Life
By: Abdulazeez Hikmah
Hassan Aminu's (pseudonym) parents spent a lot of money, to the extent of selling their property, all just to return Hassan's eyes; unfortunately, all their efforts were futile, and he is destined to be a blind person. As a human being, when Hassan turned 22, he planned to find a partner to get married with.
He tried his luck with many girls, but got instant rejection from many, while many played his feelings, loved him for his money not for who he is, he was on that till his 25 when he met with Asma'u, both of them start their love journey, but where was the driver took them to?
Despite the fact that Asma'u's family is wealthier than Hassan's family, she loved him for who he is. Meanwhile there's a key that spoiled the dog's teeth.
Asma'u agreed with Hassan with a date he wants to visit her parents, since Asma'u is well known to his parents already, on the introduction day, as Hassan arrived at her compound, the embarrassment started from the gate man, addressed him as a beggar “Àwọn Madamu kò sì nílé padà wá lọ́lá (The bosses are not around, come back tomorrow)”, Hassan felt sọ bad, he couldn't tell Asma'u when she came to take him in, as if the first embarrassment was preamble.
He has not been offered a seat before Asma'u mother said, “Who is this Asma'u? Don't tell me this is who we have been expecting since morning, so I waste my whole day not going shop to make money just to see this useless blind man, God forbid, over my dead body you will marry a disability”.
Asma'u wanted to marry him but due to her family disagreement, the love journey stopped, on the introduction day, and they couldn't fuel it.
So, my question is what is disability, and why do people living with disabilities deserve to live a normal life?
The word disability is a condition that limits a person physically, mentally, or emotionally in carrying out daily activities and interacting with society. People with disabilities sometimes cannot practice as others do, and this condition can be congenital or occur later in life.
Unfortunately, people around disabilities nowadays often see them as nothing, making them feel unwanted. This treatment makes some of them shed tears. People with disabilities deserve to live in many ways because they have the right to live like every other human being. Society should stop discriminating against them.They also have dreams and feelings.
However, due to discouragement and negative attitudes, many are made to feel helpless, and this is not how things should be. They are supposed to be treated equally. Every human being has dreams.
There was a girl with a hairdressing dream, but people doubted her abilities because of her inability to hear and speak. They questioned how she would learn the job. However, her parents believed in her and took her to a hairdressing shop to learn. Whenever she passed by, people mocked her, saying she was wasting her time. She remained determined and became perfect, even before finishing her training, customers had started coming to her house to plait hair. Fortunately, she opened her own shop and continued living her life. People were surprised that she made it.
Disabilities do not stop anyone from living. There are many people in the world who are not happy with their condition, but society should make them feel accepted instead of irritated. Some parents have many children but treat the disabled one differently, refusing to send them to school, which is unfear, even religiously it's unfear.
Imagine giving birth to an imbecile, but the mother and siblings made her feel unwanted, the family denied her right. Her plate was separated from her siblings, she couldn't share bed with them, staying at home while they went to school, but sometimes she would sneak out to learn a skill. God so good she succeeded, and the family regretted their discrimination acts.
Disabilities are paying tax, acquiring a citizen certificate, possessing a voter's card, so, why the society is denying them of their rights, why can't we treat them as others.
Therefore, being disabled is just a challenge. In this life, everyone has equal rights, be it deaf, dumb, imbecile, and all people with disabilities. They are human beings who deserve respect, care, and consideration for their feelings. We should see people with disabilities as people first, not labels.
Disability is not inability.
About Writer
Abdulazeez Hikmah is a 200-Level student of Mass Communication at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.