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Zainab Abioye
The Opeyemi Disability Redemption Initiative has scaled up its intervention in special education, providing learning materials, clothing, groceries, personal care products and sports equipment to children with disabilities in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The donation was made to students of the Daniel Akintonde Model School for Children with Special Needs, Adigbe, Abeokuta, as part of the organisation’s Special Education Support Programme.
ODRI President, Aina Opeyemi, said the initiative was designed to improve the well-being and educational opportunities of children with disabilities, urging individuals, corporate organizations and other stakeholders to increase their investments in special education.
Opeyemi spoke during the organisation’s visit to the school on Wednesday, where he said sustained intervention is essential to ensure children with special needs are not left behind.
He said the Special Education Support Program is one of seven initiatives implemented by the ODRI to support persons with disabilities.
“This is one of our seven programs, and it’s called the Special Education Support Program. We do this for our special kids, we do this for our special schools, and this is just one of what we do,” Opeyemi said.
According to him, the program has been running for more than two years and was partly inspired by his personal experience as a person with a disability and his determination to support others facing similar challenges.
Opeyemi said greater collective investment in children with disabilities could significantly improve their prospects and quality of life.
“I simply believe that if everyone could invest in supporting children with special needs, things would never be the same,” she said.
He listed the organization’s other interventions as the Support Program for Children with Intellectual Disabilities, the Mobility Aid Enhancement Program, the Special Sports Support Program and the Health Support Program for the Disabled.
He explained that the mobility program provides mobility aids to people who need them, while the special sports initiative supports athletes with disabilities with sports equipment and other aids.
He added that the Disability Health Support Program provides assistance to people with disabilities who need medical care, especially those who cannot afford hospital bills or those whose disabilities result from accidents.
The principal of the Daniel Akintonde Model School for Children with Special Needs, Adetiba Florence, described ODRI’s intervention as timely, saying the donated items addressed some of the immediate needs of the students as they resumed for the new academic session.
Adetiba expressed appreciation to Opeyemi and the organization for remembering the school and its students.
“We are really impressed with what our father and the initiative have done for us today. It’s a very good and welcoming idea,” he said.
The principal, however, appealed for individuals, organizations and the government to continue to assist, stressing that the needs of children with special needs go beyond one-off donations.
He revealed that the school will celebrate its 50th anniversary from November 9 to 15, with activities expected to include an internal sports competition.
According to her, the school was seeking financial and material assistance from the public, organizations and the government to support the anniversary program and other activities.
Adetiba also commended the Ogun State Government for its intervention in the school, stressing that new facilities have been provided for both students and staff.
He however called for sustained support from the Government and greater community participation to further improve the learning environment and well-being of children.
The school’s appeal highlights the continued need for stronger partnerships between government, non-governmental organisations, private institutions and communities in providing inclusive education and appropriate support to children living with disabilities.
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