My story
Adewale Elisha Adeyanju
LagosNigeria
About me
My name is Adewale and I live in Lagos. I became deaf at the age of six after an accident.
My Story
It happened one day when playing with peers. I am around the age of six years 7 months then. There was darkness and a kerosene lamp was being lit. However, there were some errors and the lamp caught fire. Soon before it could be put out, it has spread and that’s how some us children playing together in the house got into trouble as our clothes caught the flames. In desperation, we tried, running helter-skelter, removing our clothing’s. I had to jump from 1st floor of the building and I crash-landed with my head hitting the concrete really hard. I lost consciousness, fainted and I also got my left hand burnt badly and its bone broken.
Needless to say I spent six months in the hospital convalescing. My hand was bandaged so also the head. At the time I was discharged, I started experiencing difficulties in hearing. Nevertheless, I coped at school very well trying lip-reading and sitting at the front row of the class.
Then, I fell sick some years after the accident. It was rash (measles) this later compounded the hearing problem. All the same, I went to hospitals, but I didn’t use hearing aids nor any special device it is a miracle that I still performed wonderfully at school despite these hearing difficulties.
I later attended a college. That was between 1989 – 1992: the Federal College of Education (special) Oyo. It’s here I first got my experience in sign language, deaf education and meeting other special needs or physically challenged students from different places. I adapted quickly; the environment enriched me academically as I learnt a lot about special education etc.
After graduation from college, I worked as a Classroom Teacher in one of the Schools for the Handicapped in the Country – Kwara state school for the Handicapped Ilorin, Kwara state, for only 6 months before I came to Lagos in October 1992. At Lagos, I took up appointment as a classroom teacher for the deaf children at M.D Special School Ikeja Lagos from October 1992 till July 1997 when I left. While in the school, I was responsible for grooming the pupils for external examinations. The pupils used to do well because I employed all my skills and painstakingly ensure they were all well taught. Apart from class teaching, I also combined Home lessons and extra mural classes for deaf pupils and even hearing or “normal” Students.
On leaving the employment as a classroom teacher I tried to return back to school to pick first degree in a University. I had some crises and financial constraints, which then was obstacles to my goals. Consequent upon this, I raised an NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) on which I tried championing the cause of Disabled people, from 1997 till date, I am President Founder of National Handicap Carers Association of Nigeria it is a non-profit making organisation registered as an Incorporated Charity Org. We published Newspaper and distributed free pamphlets, leaflet, poster/handbills, we conducted Seminars, Workshop, etc. and I act as Administrative officer of the NGO.
Meanwhile, I also establish a company I named it publishes “The sign post” magazine – a disability-issues oriented magazine. I’m still active in working with other disabled NGOs, special schools, homes for disabled, vocational centres for the disabled, medical/health practitioners etc. in order to better the lot of Disabled in Nigeria. Meanwhile, I am also looking for opportunity to further my education.
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