Mrs Salome Francois, Proprietress of New Horizon Special School, has called on the society to ensure that people with intellectual disability have the full range of human rights in civil, social, economic and cultural activities.
She said children with intellectual disabilities were entitled to the same human rights enjoyed by others.
She noted that the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides all human beings free and equal dignity and rights.
“In order to achieve this goal, all communities should celebrate the diversity within the society,” she stressed.
Mrs Francois made the call at a Disability Seminar on the theme: “Social Integration: Making a Difference through Friendship,” in Accra on Saturday.
It was organised by Best Buddies Ghana, an International NGO to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disability through one-to-one friendship.
The participants were drawn from National Commission for Civic Education, School of Social Work, Share Care School, Parent Association of Children Intellectual Disability and Students and Staff of New Horizon Special School.
Mrs Francois said people with disability were the most marginalised in the world adding that their birth was often considered as a tragedy and received discrimination from birth.
“In Ghana, traditional believes are that these children are devils passed by evil spirit or as punishment from ancestral spirits,” she said.
She said due to these prejudices people shy away from children with intellectual disability.
She urged parents and society to support disabled children in formal education in order to participate equally in national development.
Madam Brooke Switzer, International Programme Director of Best Buddies International said the body was committed to support people with intellectual disability to become independent and develop self esteem to contribute to meaningfully society.
She said Best Buddies had an Ambassador Programme to help disabled people to speak to governments in regard to social rights, education, employment and medical needs to promote inclusion of disabled people in the community.
She encouraged parents with disabled children to challenge their children to take new challenges to develop their self esteem.
Mr Kojo Danquah Amankrah. Executive Director of Best Buddies Ghana explained that the seminar was organised to advocate the rights of persons with disability.
He noted that Best Buddies Ghana was committed to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disability by providing opportunities for one-on-one friendships and integrated employment.
He advised parents to provide all the basic needs of children with disability.
Mrs Mariama Obeng, Teacher at New Horizon Special School commended Best Buddies International for their initiative to support intellectual disabled children.
Best Buddies Ghana was established in 2004 to serve as a platform for the youth to contribute to the integration of persons with intellectual disability in the society.
The organisation is involved in creating long lasting friendship programmes among students from the University of Ghana, Legon and New Horizon Special School and promoting the rights of disabled people.