Bolanle Olawuyi of the Department of Social Sciences Education, University of Ilorin, has appealed to parents of disabled children against hiding them due to shame or stigma.

Ms Olawuyi made the call in Ilorin while delivering a paper at the 255th inaugural lecture of the University.

The don, who teaches in the Faculty of Education of the University, submitted that parents should desist from hiding their children who have one form of disability or another.

She asserted that when these children were brought out on time, they could access quality education and improve their lives.

Ms Olawuyi also postulated that people should be conscious of the causes of disabilities and take precautions, especially for adventitious causes that could be controlled to some extent.

She said, “If the societal limitations and barriers are removed from the people with disabilities, they will be able to contribute a greater quota to national development wherever they find themselves.”

She added that research was conducted to compare the outcome of individuals with hearing impairments and their counterparts with normal hearing on several tasks and abilities, including creativity.

“Findings showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the creative thinking abilities of pupils with hearing impairment and pupils with normal hearing,” she said.

Ms Olawuyi called for the need to include Special Education in General Studies in higher institutions so that society could be aware of their counterparts with disabilities and the causes of disabilities.

She also stressed the need to employ other professionals who would provide inclusive education for people with disabilities.

(NAN)