Barriers to Accessing Services by People with Disabilities in Nigeria: Insights from a Qualitative Study

Abstract

This article examines the experiences of people with disabilities in Nigeria and specifically the barriers they encounter in accessing various services in the country based on the framework of the social model of disability. Qualitative methods were utilized in the data collection and interpretation. The results indicated that people with disabilities in the country encounter a plethora of barriers in accessing various important services. These obstacles to accessing essential services deprive people with disabilities the opportunity to acquire services that would enhance the development of their potential and leading productive and contributing lives. These barriers to accessing services and the implications of strategies that could ameliorate these adverse conditions are discussed.

Mechanisms for mobile phone use in empowerment: A critical realist study of people with disabilities in Nigeria

“…There seems to be a lack of implementing policies guiding the day‐to‐day activities of PWDs in Nigeria. Even though the Nigerian government has adopted the United Nations' rights on PWDs, enacting some of the policies continues to be a call for concern (Eleweke & Ebenso, 2016). As such, the ASACPC has developed its own policy.…”

“…The high estimate of disability in Nigeria is ascribed to prevalent diseases and illnesses that can cause disabilities (Eleweke & Ebenso, 2016). Furthermore, inadequate immunization measures continue to be a major factor that can amplify disabilities (Thomas, 2005).…”

Disability Inclusion in Nigeria

“…Employment is crucial to poverty alleviation and independent living. However, attitudinal and physical barriers have been cited as some of the challenges preventing gainful employment of persons with disabilities in Nigeria, including denial of job opportunities; inappropriate job placement; lower expectations at work; and a lack of reasonable accommodations, including assistive devices and technology (Eleweke and Ebenso 2016). This may also take a gender dimension for women with disabilities, who may not meet the standard of beauty required by some firms for employing women; and women with disabilities may be less educated than women without disabilities and men with disabilities (Eleweke and Ebenso 2016).…”

“…Elsewise and Ebenso (2016) document the absence of adequately trained sign interpreters as a challenge for the hearing impaired population in Nigeria in accessing public information and communications. Similarly, public information is seldom available in formats that are accessible visually impaired persons or to those with cognitive impairments (Eleweke and Ebenso 2016). In addition, information meant for the general population is not available in language simple enough for people with intellectual disabilities to access.…”

Determinants of Health Care Seeking Behaviour and Unmet Need Among People With Physical Disabilities in Nigeria

“…Disability issue in Nigeria is generally viewed as a charity and welfare instead of rights, which has led to ineffective enforcement of disability discrimination law and exclusion in government programs and services (Eleweke, 2013;Lang & Upah, 2008). People with disabilities in the country encounter a plethora of barriers in accessing various important services, essentially depriving them the opportunities that would enhance the development of their potential and leading productive and contributing lives (Eleweke & Ebenso, 2016). Disability was found to affect individual's ability to participate in education, work, family life and healthcare seeking in some states in Nigeria (Smith, 2011).…”