THE FORGOTTEN HERO'S PAST: DR. PETER MBA, THE FATHER OF SPECIAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Abraham Lincoln, a century and a half after his death, remains a folk hero and a legend - not only in the United States but across the world. President Lincoln isn’t just famous for his incredible exploits in the White House, he remains an idol and god among political scholars and students, including ordinary people and illiterates who believe that democracy, a system of government that has become so fashionable around the world, has been famously defined by Lincoln as “Government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Abraham Lincoln still lives - 152 years after he passed on. So does Helen Adams Keller, the first Deafblind to earn a bachelor’s degree.

SIGN LANGUAGE WAS BANNED BY THE FATHER OF ORAL METHOD IN THE1890s

Oral method in Deaf Institutes (Post-Milan 1880)

This history is fascinating. There was a hearing man who married a Deaf woman, and they were advocating for oral method while there was a hearing man who married a Deaf woman and they were advocating for sign language method, they were called the father of oral method and the father of sign language method respectively. 

HELEN KELLER: THE DEAFBLIND WOMAN WHO INSPIRES THE DEAF COMMUNITY AND THE GLOBE ll

Helen Keller at old age

Every time the story of Helen Keller is told- in the Deaf community, in the blind community, in the community of civic and faith leaders, in the academia, and what have you, it is always impossible to not mention Ann Sullivan. Before Helen Keller had a chance to attend formal schools to get an education, Ann Sullivan had taught young Keller whole lots and lots about lots of things which prepared the Deafblind woman for more formal education in various educational institutions. But in fact, Ann Sullivan stayed on as Helen’s teacher and best friend long after Ms. Sullivan had taught her. Before teacher Ann passed away, the both of them had been very best friends.

HELEN KELLER: THE DEAFBLIND WOMAN WHO INSPIRES THE DEAF COMMUNITY & THE GLOBE

In May of 1888, Anne Sullivan brought Helen Keller to Perkins School for the Blind, where a new world of friendship began.

A staggering number of people in the Deaf community have heard about Helen Keller, but very few of us know about the extraordinary life of this woman. But in fact, Helen Keller isn’t just so famous in the Deaf community, Helen Adams Keller is a world icon. Her incredible spirit will continue to live in the lives of all of us - particularly people who care about the well-being of others, people who have compassion and empathy for other people that deserve justice and a better life.

WOULD YOU RATHER PREFER TO BE DEAF OR BLIND?

Culled from Cartoon Movement

I can remember vividly when I was attending Professor J. A. Ademokoya's class at the University of Ibadan, the primer University. He used to ask us a question then if we had a choice to be Deaf or Blind, which one would we go for? After some thought he answered and said he would rather go blind because he believes that hearing is the most important sense as hearing will empower him and help him to lead everyday life without any form of barriers, limitations or hindrances, it will also enable him to socialize, relate, communicate and stay connected with the world as deafness will isolate one. Even Helen Keller, who was deafblind, often quoted: Blindness cuts you off from things, but deafness cuts you off from people.

ONCE YOU BECOME DEAF, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE DEAF

When i was growing up, i learnt to accept my flaws (my deafness) and it helped alot because i met alot of people in my life who have always tried to use my flaws to discourage me or stop me from doing what i want in life but guess what, it didn't work a bit. Like they said "once you accept your flaws, nobody can use your flaws to against you".

Accepting your deafness is the first step before anything like going for Cochlear implant or whatever so that when it fails, it wont affect you as i have many cases where Cochlear implants worked for some Deaf people and failed some so its 50/50. 

HOW TO PUSH DISABILITY BILL TO PASS INTO LAW!!

This image was culled from CBM & DRAC

I always say that we the Deaf cannot do it alone, we cannot push the Disability bills to pass into law alone, we cannot do it alone at all, we need everyone to join the struggle, we need everyone to  support the cause, i mean we need everyone such as the traditional rulers, religious leader that is when we will be able to make it happen miraculously. How do we do it?? Let us go further!

Society still treat issues with disabilities and persons with disabilities with disdain due to wrong or negative misconceptions they have held for long and festering in the society. Despite contemporary modern times fast paced growth and development, issues with disabilities still takes the back burner in the society why??

Therefore, I want to examine various ways some persons who can help the course and causes of disability, who should be seen as people with the "midas touch", people who can mold opinions and help in immeasurable way to ginger disability to take front burner in the society and most importantly who can help in passing the disability law and change conditions of persons with disabilities for the better.