As schools across the country reopen for the new academic term, the story of Bernard Entsie, a student at the Cape Coast School for the Deaf, is highlighting the power of community support and the importance of prioritising education for learners with special needs.
Bernard, who hails from Gomoa Dawrampong, is beginning his term with renewed hope and the necessary supplies, thanks to the dedicated support of Ms. Gifty Akosua Adzigbey, a public health nurse and a passionate advocate for disability inclusion.
Recognising that learners with special needs often face unique hurdles in accessing education, Ms. Adzigbey stepped in to ensure that Bernard’s return to school was seamless.
She provided him with essential stationery, groceries, and other school items, and personally accompanied him from Gomoa Dawrampong to Cape Coast to see him settled back into his campus environment.
For Ms. Adzigbey, this gesture is part of a larger mission to ensure that no child is left behind due to a disability.
She maintains that the education of learners with special needs must be treated as a priority by both the state and the general public.
“Education is a shared responsibility,” Ms. Adzigbey remarked, emphasising that the burden of supporting children with disabilities should not rest solely on their families, but on society as a whole.
The story serves as a reminder of the “DeafCanDo” spirit – the belief that with the right tools and a supportive environment, students like Bernard can excel and reach their full potential.
As the new term begins, advocates are calling on more Ghanaians to emulate Ms. Adzigbey’s example by identifying and supporting learners with disabilities in their communities, ensuring that every child has an equal path to success.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
