REACTION TO THE ATTITUDE OF THE NIGERIAN SECURITY OPERATIVES TOWARDS DEAF MEMBERS

This evening, when i was surfing Facebook, one of Richard Ezekiel's posts about Nigerian Security operatives caught my attention, it reminded me of my experience when i was in Lagos. I was passing through one area and had an encounter with soldiers, they were talking to me (i had no idea of what they were talking about), i just told them that i couldn’t hear and that i am Deaf, before i knew it i received one slap from one of the soldiers and he kept talking to me to the point of wanting to beat me up but luckily a big Uncle passed through the same area and came to my recuse. Since then i made up my mind not to speak whenever i encounter them at any point in my life and i think that decision has really helped a lot.

IS PRESIDENT BUHARI BECOMING DEAF?

I was surprised when I read the news from Sahara Reports that President  Buhari cancelled his two-day official trip to Lagos over an Ear Infection and that is why I decided to write this article this morning. 

The news reminded me of the Late President Yar Adu, he was unable to talk or walk before he died, some people labeled him as “Deaf and mute”. And we are aware that our former President IBB cannot walk again, he is on the wheelchair.

VERY INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SIGN LANGUAGE

1. One sign in sign language can have multiple meanings.

2. Sign languages have their own grammar and syntax.

                       
3. People acquire sign language in the same way they acquire spoken languages.

WHICH TATTOO IS MORE SUITABLE: speaker with a tiny x or muted microphone

Last week, I was surfing the internet as usual and I came across this news, a lady named Elisa Menzel shared a picture of her tattoo behind her left ear to let people know that she is Deaf in that ear, while the man shared a picture of his tattoo too, letting people know that he is Deaf.

The difference between their tattoos was that the lady used a tattoo of a speaker with a tiny X while the man went for a microphone option that’s the muted microphone. The lady said since 'Since I'm Deaf in one ear its a friendly (way) to tell the world not to talk to me from the left ear’.

A MEETING WITH THE SENATE PRESIDENT SAKARI

Some time ago, I was blogging about the Executive Director of the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), along with his experience. CCD and I have been advocating on different occasions.

A few weeks ago, the Executive Director and the teams wrapped up a meeting with the Senate President Saraki. With the second reading of the Bill for an Act for the Establishment of a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities in Dec 2015, the 8th Senate has demonstrated its resolve towards ensuring more access for Nigerians with Disabilities.

Moving forward, the Senate president promised to work with the CCD and other developmental partners to examine how they can strengthen the law for our countrymen and women with disabilities. Check it out: Facebook

JANE OTTAH WAS EXPELLED FROM UNIVERSITY BECAUSE SHE IS DEAF. Help Jane gets JUSTICE!!!

I thought it was a joke when someone said Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) expelled a student named Jane Ottah on the ground of health (deafness) in 2014 before I came across a letter as evidence from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. I was shocked as their reason was that there was no special communication facilities (how reasonable is that?). Even if they didn’t have any special communication facilities, isn’t their duty to provide facilities? Isn’t their duty to see what they can do to better a Deaf student who has passed WAEC, UME, Post UME and finally being admitted?

IN RESPONSE TO THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT DEAF DRIVERS

I usually surf the internet in the morning to keep myself updated with news and I was crossing Linda Ikeji’s blog when an article caught my attention: a lady was telling about her experience in a Keke Napep driven by a Deaf driver, not that the title actually caught my attention, it was the comments coming from the readers that did, one named STERN said “How can a deaf man drive! this is very risky, This is how people use their own hands to kill themselves” and the rest of so many other negative comments too.. Someone identified as ANONYMOUS also said this: “Finally, a sensible comment, a deaf person driving is a hazard”. “Driving as a deaf person is really not safe. U cant hear d horns, meaning ur life n that of your passengers are in danger” and so many other endless comments.