Lawyers With Disability Cry Out Against Discrimination

President of the Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN),  Daniel Onwe on Saturday, said that a major challenge facing lawyers with disabilities (LWDs) borders on discrimination and inability to access workstations.

Onwe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that most LWDs are denied employment in big law firms obviously as a result of their circumstances,

He added that it is often difficult for LWDs to easily access legal work stations such as courtrooms, and called for improved welfare of members.

“LWDs still suffer discrimination regarding employment at law firms and it is also difficult getting the legal workplace accessible to our members.

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“A vast majority of the court environment, practice and procedures are still not enabling for lawyers with disabilities

“Although, i would not say they are necessarily discriminated by clients, this is because, from my personal experience, if you are good as a lawyer, it does not matter to your clients whether or not you have a disability, ” he said

Onwe, however, said that in spite of the present challenges, I must admit that things are better now than It used to be for LWDs.

“For once, we have an NBA President who has sat down with members of ALDIN to identify the peculiar needs of LWDs and deliberated on how to meet these needs.

“Even though, we are yet to see the consequential changes, we are optimistic and convinced that the lot of LWDs will be much more improved under the current NBA dispensation.

“The NBA President has shown a shining example of dialoguing with LWDs, on how to better their lot, and It is now expected that the branch chairmen should follow suit, so that they can be conversant with our challenges and solutions thereto,” he said

He said that currently, there are tangible improvements in the system

“The NBA national secretariat, headquarters of the National Industrial Court, and the ECOWAS Community Court now have ramp specifically for PWDs,” he said

Onwe said that these facilities provides members with some reliefs as it also gives provides ALDIN as an advocating organisation, some sense of fulfilment.

He, however, called for more improved welfare for members.