My Passion, Their Voice: Conversation with Dorcas O. Oyebode

Persons with disabilities do not have disease. They are different and being different is beautiful

By David Oletu (DCM)

Challenging the notion that disability advocacy is solely the domain of individuals with disabilities,

Dorcas Oyebode’s remarkable journey proves that everyone has a role to play in creating a more inclusive society.

This young advocate, without a disability herself, has dedicated her career to understanding and addressing the needs of individuals with special needs.

As a passionate special educator, disability advocate, and special needs consultant,

Dorcas OreOluwa Oyebode drives positive change through her empathy and passion.

She actively promotes accessibility, equal opportunities, and inclusive practices for individuals with diverse abilities.

Join us as Dorcas OreOluwa Oyebode inspires us to build a society that values diversity,

promotes equal opportunities, and empowers individuals with special needs to thrive.

My Passion, Their Voice: Conversation with Dorcas O. Oyebode

DCM: Can we meet you?

Dorcas: Hello, I’m Dorcas OreOluwa Oyebode, a graduate of the University of Ibadan, department of special education.

I’m a passionate special educator, a disability advocate and a Special Needs Consultant.

I’m driven by passion and empathy to support individuals with special needs as I firmly believe in equal opportunity for all, regardless of our abilities or disabilities.

This strong conviction served as my inspiration to work with organizations and communities to organize and contribute to initiatives that are aimed at raising disability awareness,

providing essential support and fostering inclusive practices in our society.

DCM: What sparked your interest in disability advocacy, and how did your journey begin?

Dorcas: Unlike most people, my interest in disability advocacy wasn’t sparked by personal experiences such as having a sibling or relative with a kind of disability.

Instead, my journey began when my brother suggested I study Special Education.

Initially, I didn’t understand much about disability, despite seeing individuals with special needs in my community.

However, studying Special Education has opened my eyes to the unique strengths of persons with special needs as well as societal reactions and challenges these people face

This reality ignited a passion within me.

I see Special Education beyond just a course of study, I see it as a calling. And I discovered my purpose to be a voice for those with special needs.

My drive comes from within. I felt a strong desire to advocate for this community.

To do this, I took my time while in school to equip myself with the knowledge and skills to become an effective advocate,

and this year, I officially started my journey of making meaningful and positive impacts in the lives of persons with special needs and their families.

My Passion, Their Voice: Conversation with Dorcas O. Oyebode

DCM: What are some of the most significant challenges people with disabilities face, and how do you address them?

Dorcas: Persons with disabilities face numerous challenges,

but I’ll focus on one important issue: INCLUSION.

Nigeria still has a long way to go in achieving true inclusion. Yes, we’ve made notable progress, but there’s room for improvement.

Inclusion goes beyond Physical accessibility in terms of ramps &infrastructure.

It goes beyond Communication accommodations like sign language interpreters.

Rather, Inclusion is a continuous journey that requires collective effort.

One of the ways we address the challenge of Inclusion is by advocating for inclusive government policies,

to ensure persons with special needs have equal access to education, employment, healthcare, social opportunities and so on

In essence, we seek to bridge the gap by enabling individuals with disabilities to enjoy the same rights and privileges as others.

Inclusion is not a destination; it’s an ongoing process. And hopefully, we’ll achieve more as a country moving forward.

In essence, we seek to bridge the gap by enabling individuals with disabilities to enjoy the same rights and privileges as others.

Inclusion is not a destination; it’s an ongoing process. And hopefully, we’ll achieve more as a country moving forward.

DCM: Can you share a particularly significant success story where your advocacy efforts led to positive change?

Dorcas: Social media is that one place that enables one to reach a wider audience which is why I chose to adopt it in advocating.

When I began advocating on social media, I wondered if my message was resonating.

But it does.

Every small action counts, like a single drop of water forming a river.

I’ve had people reaching out to me about individuals needing services that I’ve discussed.

Some have changed their attitudes towards those with special needs after engaging with me or my content

Recently, a mother who was initially in denial about her child’s condition had a change of heart after our conversation.

I’ve recorded tangible results from my advocacy efforts, and it’s good to see people’s attitudes about this category of people being changed.

DCM: What strategies do you recommend for families and caregivers supporting loved ones with disabilities?

Dorcas: The number one thing I’ll suggest for parents and caregivers is to prioritize self-care. It’s very important.

They need to be in a good state of Mind to care for or support a person with special needs.

Therefore, your mental health matters

Secondly, I’ll urge parents and caregivers to join a support group for valuable resources and emotional backups.

In a support group, they’ll have the opportunity to connect with other people going through similar experiences like theirs.

Last but not least, I usually urge parents to be an expert of their child’s condition.

They can do as much as what the professionals are doing only if they commit their minds to it.

My Passion, Their Voice: A Conversation with Dorcas OreOluwa Oyebode

DCM: What misconceptions about disabilities would you like to dispel?

Dorcas: A common misconception about disability is that all disabilities are physical.

In the real sense, some disabilities are not obvious. Such as Autism, ADHD, dyslexia and the likes.

DCM: How can society better understand and support individuals living with disabilities?

Dorcas: It’s nothing but EMPATHY

Empathy is the key to truly supporting individuals with disabilities.

By putting ourselves in their shoes and understanding their emotions, we can provide genuine care and support.

Most times, we confuse sympathy with empathy.

We merely feel sorry for someone without understanding their experiences.

True empathy requires imagining yourself in their situation, genuine understanding of their emotions and sharing their feelings.

With Empathy, we can better show care and support for individuals with special needs.

DCM: How can the education systems better accommodate students with disabilities?

Dorcas: The education system can better accommodate persons with disabilities by putting some structures in place.

For example, the curriculum should be adapted to be inclusive to all.

The use of assistive technologies should be considered to better enhance learning for persons with special needs.

Accessibility, both the physical and digital accessibility should be implemented. And many others.

DCM: What message would you like to convey to individuals with disabilities and their families?

Dorcas: To individuals with disabilities and their families:

You are seen, valued and respected. Your abilities shine brighter than your challenges. Keep shining. You’re loved

DCM: Any final thoughts?

Romans 12:10 KJV
[10] Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.12.10.KJV 

Dorcas: To the society:

Persons with disabilities do not have disease. They are different and being different is beautiful

Also Read: Sixteen Characteristics of Love – Diademng (thediademng.org)

My Passion, Their Voice: A Conversation with Dorcas OreOluwa Oyebode

More About Dorcas Oyebode: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorcasoreoluwaoyebode?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app