By Rukayat Moisemhe

Mrs Anastasia Koya, a retired teacher at Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted Children, has called for increased public awareness and acceptance of persons with disabilities to enable them to live meaningful and independent lives.

Koya made the call on Tuesday in Lagos at her 80th birthday celebration and the launch of her book.

The book is titled: “Behold the Hand of God: My Decades of Teaching the Visually Impaired at Pacelli School for the Blind and How It All Began”.

She said that ignorance, prejudice and negative perceptions were still affecting how persons with disabilities are treated.

The retired teacher stressed that disability should not be associated with spiritual affliction or regarded as a reason to discriminate against anyone.

She urged parents to accept and support children with disabilities rather than abandon or neglect them, noting that with appropriate care and education, they could become professionals and contribute meaningfully to society.

“Don’t look down on anyone who has a disabled child. Don’t think the woman has committed a sin, that’s why she has this. No, nobody has committed any sin,” she said.

Koya, who spent decades teaching visually impaired children, said her experiences at Pacelli School had taught her patience, compassion and the importance of recognising the abilities of children with disabilities.

According to her, many of the children she taught had grown into successful adults, including lawyers and professors, demonstrating the importance of providing them with opportunities to learn and develop their abilities.

“I got to love them, I got to embrace them, I got to know more about them and I was learning from them,” she said.

She said the book was inspired by her son, who encouraged her to document her experiences and share practical lessons on caring for persons with disabilities with a wider audience.

Koya also urged parents to seek appropriate medical care during pregnancy and follow professional medical advice to reduce preventable health complications that could lead to disabilities.

She emphasised that anyone could acquire a disability through illness or an accident, making it necessary for society to treat persons with disabilities with dignity and compassion.

Mr Elijah Akinyemi, a former Permanent Secretary in the Ogun civil service and spokesperson for Friends of Mrs Koya of Pacelli School, described the author as a seasoned educator, goal-driven professional and authority in education.

Akinyemi said Koya was one of the school’s longest-serving teachers and had demonstrated the qualities of its founders, sisters Carmel and Rosario, in caring for and nurturing the children.

He said the book would help government, the general public and religious organisations better understand issues affecting persons with disabilities.

“The real problem in this country is ignorance. People do not know much about disabilities, and those who are there to educate the general public are not doing their best,” he said.

Akinyemi stressed that disability had no connection with religion or spiritualism, adding that public education was necessary to address misconceptions and discrimination.

Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, commended Koya for dedicating decades to the education and welfare of children with disabilities.

Orelope-Adefulire said the author’s work had helped children acquire education and develop the capacity to live meaningful lives and become self-reliant.

She urged guests to obtain copies of the book and support efforts to improve the welfare of vulnerable children.

Oba Emmanuel Olusanu, the Ajalaiye of Ilugun South, Ijebu, Ogun, described Koya as an amiable personality whose work had positively affected many lives.

He prayed for her continued good health and longevity, describing her dedication to teaching and caring for visually impaired children as exceptional.

The traditional ruler said that the book documents Koya’s decades of experience teaching visually impaired children at Pacelli School and highlighted the importance of education, acceptance and care for persons with disabilities. (NAN)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran