Centre Calls for Inclusive Education, Assistive Technology for Blind Students

The Resource Centre for the Blind has called on federal and state governments to invest in inclusive education, assistive technology and specialised teacher training to improve learning opportunities for visually impaired students in Nigeria. The centre’s Executive Director, Temitayo Ayinla, made the call while highlighting the barriers that prevent many blind students from accessing quality education and pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Speaking at an event marking World Sight Day and International White Cane Day at Methodist Girls’ High School in Yaba, Lagos, Ayinla identified the shortage of special education teachers and the limited availability of accessible learning materials as major challenges. She said many visually impaired students were discouraged from pursuing careers in fields such as medicine, mathematics and science because of assumptions about their abilities. “Visual impairment should not restrict career aspirations, but we must provide the structural pathways to make these ambitions achievable,” she said. Ayinla urged governments, schools and private organisations to move beyond policy declarations and provide practical support, including Braille textbooks, accessible educational resources, assistive devices and improved employment opportunities for people with visual impairments. She said the centre was working to address some of these challenges through initiatives such as a train-the-trainers workshop designed to help educators teach mathematics to visually impaired students. However, she stressed that sustained technical and financial partnerships were necessary to maintain specialised equipment, expand programmes and increase the production of accessible learning materials. The centre’s appeal also extended to the workplace, with Ayinla encouraging more employers to adopt inclusive recruitment practices and provide opportunities for persons with disabilities. She called for improved urban infrastructure, including pedestrian crossings equipped with audible signals, and urged motorists to exercise greater caution around blind pedestrians. Ayinla further advocated public awareness campaigns to challenge misconceptions about blindness and reduce discrimination against visually impaired people. The event featured free eye screenings, clinical assessments and demonstrations on the use of white canes for mobility. The Principal of Methodist Girls’ High School, Sabo, Yaba, Oluyemisi Padonu, commended the initiative, saying people with visual impairments possessed abilities that deserved recognition, respect and support. She urged the public to recognise individual strengths and promote an environment where people with disabilities could participate more fully in society.