We should stop labelling persons with special needs

By Abubakar Umar Gbs

In the recent days, especially in Africa, persons with disabilities find it difficult to show up in public at times due to discriminatory terms especially labelling. The labelling which is calling them with their disabilities instead of their names is widespread.

Especially in Hausa land, you could hear ‘Musa Kurma’, ‘Danladi Gurgu’, ‘Isah Makaho’ and other ugly terms that are against human persons as if they don’t have names or they are not humans. Even in schools, these can be heard, especially in the case of the deaf.

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This is a destructive weapon that is against the persons with  special needs. What if they are normal? Which name can we use to identify them? I think it is the responsibility of government and NGOs to stand up firmly against this ugly terms.

They are humans and have names to be called, have nick names to be called and should be called with the names they love instead of calling them with such names that are discriminatory.

Abubakar Umar Gbs can be reached through [email protected]