The Progressive Excellence Youth Organisation (PEYORG), has said it is important for parents to see children with disabilities as important assets whose rights must be respected and protected at all times.
The non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to children's rights and welfare said child's rights, protection and advocacy are important to the growth and development of children into responsible adults.
Mr James Otchere, Project Officer of PEYORG, said this at an adolescence sexual and reproductive rights education for persons and pupils with disabilities at St. Elizabeth Special Day Care Centre at Atonkwa near Elmina in the Komanda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality of the Central Region.
The engagement was facilitated by PEYORG in collaboration with Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR) with funding from UNFPA.
Mr Otchere said children have the right to national policies on health and education adding that “national policies should in essence be skewed to favour such disadvantaged children for them to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Parents were advised to offer their disabled children the needed education to ensure that they do not grow up to become liabilities.
Disabled children have the right to access quality education and be trained in vocational skills to develop their potentials instead of begging on the streets.
“Parents of children with special needs should not lock them up in rooms but provide them with the much needed love and attention”, Mr Okyere said.
"Gone are the days when parents saw such children as social outcasts and disowned them”, he said.
He called on the government to show more commitment towards children with disabilities adding, “If government could focus on developing the abilities of children with disabilities, the country will be a much better place to live.”
Mr Mark Mantey, Executive Manager of the Centre, commended the NGO for its determination to enhance the lives of children with disabilities.
“We are advocating among others, facilitating the creation of support services and systems to enhance the lives of families raising children with disabilities.”
Mr Mantey said: “Let’s all learn to extend love and support to families raising children with cerebral palsy“.