THE BENEFIT OF INCLUSION

Before we begin, let us establish some scenarios in our minds eye.
Imagine waking up one day, you try to open your eyes, you feel they are opened but you don’t see a thing; Imagine yourself trying to push out a word from your mouth and as hard as you try, nothing meaningful comes out and you discover like Zachariah in the Bible that you are Deaf; Imagine seeing yourself in the hospital one day, you try to feel your legs but the Doctor approaches you and tells you, “Sorry, you can’t walk again.
Imagine!
Are you saying God forbid? I say God forbid too.

As awful as the above statements appears, there are thousands living these lives, some from birth, some by accidents, some sicknesses, etc. If you were in these shoes, how would you have loved to be treated?
Most times we forget that we contributed absolutely nothing to our creation and no matter how we try, we can’t control tomorrow, we forget that God would have decided to create us different, short or tall, black or white, male or female, blind or with sight, Deaf or with Speech, Crippled or with functional legs, etc. That we are the way we are is completely God’s will not ours or do you think God made a mistake when He created this ‘Special’ sets of persons, do you think there was a mistake in their creation?
Are you seeing where I’m driving at?
Let’s try putting the horse before the cart. What is Inclusion? Naija People will say, “Wetin be this Inclusion sef”? Inclusion from the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary means the action of including somebody/something or of being included. The opposite of this is Exclusion.


IN SCHOOL/EDUCATION SETTINGS

Inclusion happens when all students, regardless of any challenge they may have, are placed in age-appropriate general education classes that are in their own neighborhood schools to receive instructions. Successful Inclusive education happens primarily through accepting, understanding and attending to student differences and diversity, which may be physical, cognitive, academic, social and/or emotional. Inclusion is solidified when basic equipment and facilities are put in place to cater for and include persons with and without disabilities.

IN CHURCH SETTINGS

Inclusion happens when our preachers makes sure the word of God preached/proclaimed gets to all - irrespective of the persons condition. It happens when our church institutions gets interested in the lives and wellbeing of the rich and poor alike, learning the language of all including the language of the Deaf, Blind, etc. Creating a fold where all are equal and treated equally as we are in the eyes of God. Nelson Mandela in one of His Quotes said “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language - that goes to his Heart”

IN OUR SOCIETY

Inclusion happens when we make the environment convenient for all to breath, live and enjoy life to the fullest, when we accept all no matter the color, race, stature, etc. Inclusion happens when Government and cooperate bodies make laws having the disabled of the society in their minds and treating all the same. Creating enabling environments for all to grow together. Creating an inclusive world where the disabled are encouraged and not pitied.

The list is endless.

IN CONCLUSION

In our daily lives, let us always remember that whoever we are and however we are, God made us that way. Life is sweeter and more enjoying when we accommodate and encourage others. No one is perfect.
In all we do, let’s always remember that when the game of Chess is over, the KING, QUEEN, KNIGHTS, ROOKS, BISHOPS, CASTLE and PAWNS goes into the same box.