In line with our ongoing project, Disability Rights initiative project with our main focus on Accessibility, FAECARE Foundation carried out an advocacy visit to the National Television authority (NTA) Port Harcourt.
This visit to the NTA station underscores the goal of the project to push for accessibility of the physical environment and to promote the rights of persons with Disabilities in Rivers State. Trained FAECARE Disability Advocates together with some staff and volunteers were warmly received by the NTA team led by Dr (Mrs) Evelin Nwosu the Zonal Director NTA Port Harcourt. The media is an identified stakeholder for disability advocacy and crucial in pushing the right narrative and promoting disability rights.
Discussions hit on the importance of inclusion and positive media representation of persons with disabilities. Promoting accessibility of the physical environment, and accessibility in all media contents including the building, sign language interpretation, promote accessible events, to ensure that media content is accessible to everyone.
After highlighting challenges and issues around accessibility, some recommendations were made by the FAECARE team. Recommendations where made by the advocates. Some key points recommended and discussed include:
The need for NTA to Air programs and documentaries that reflect and focus on the lives of persons with disabilities.
To work towards pushing accessibility for Port Harcourt and its environs, at least the minimum standards of accessibility for buildings and services.
Promote accessible events and initiatives.
Provide a sign language interpretation for news and other programs.
Feature more persons with disabilities as guests on TV programs.
Support awareness campaigns for disability rights.
By providing disability sensitizations and inclusion training for staff of the NTA Port Harcourt and beyond.
Develop guidelines and standards and standards operation plans and policies that will ensure inclusion for persons with disabilities in the Station.
To provide a balanced portrayal of persons with disabilities, challenging negative stereotypes, reducing stigma, promoting inclusivity and accessibility for PWDs in rivers state.
At the end of the discussion the team responded positively to the points highlighted above and made several commitments. The Zonal Director NTA Port Harcourt noted the premium NTA Port Harcourt places on disability programs, pledging to support the cause of the project.
In her own words “there is ability in disability, you don’t have to beg to live, you don’t have to let anyone bring you down because you have any form of disability, and as a station. NTA Port Harcourt has always believed in the rights of PWDs we will never shy away.”
She further pledged to support the Foundation by giving program opportunities to discuss more on aspects of Disability Rights.
She noted that there has always been a sign language interpreter during their broadcast and will maintain it as a standard.
NTA Port Harcourt expressed willingness to maintain on-going dialogue with FAECARE Foundation to address any emerging issues related to disability inclusion.
This advocacy visit marks a significant step towards fostering, inclusivity, accessibility in and advancing disability rights in Rivers State. We strongly believe that through continuous advocacy, collaborations and commitment, we would achieve our goals of ensuring persons with disabilities have access and are not discriminated.
We thank the NTA team for their support and willingness to engage with us on these important issues. Together we can create a more inclusive state.
