•The teabreakers, an arm of the CDC that produces snacks. Shown are some young adults with special needs that have been trained for the job. Pix: Sun News Publishing

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On an ordinary day, Children’s Development Centre (CDC) at 31,Modupe Johnson Crescent, off Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere, Lagos, is usually devoid of noise and the foreboding and vigilant security men at the gate would make any passerby curious what goes on there, as people move in and out quietly.

But on this particular day, Valentine, the serenity that usually envelopes the place was absent as loud sounds from a jukebox could be heard from the gate. And inside, the mood was definitely festive as everyone was in red while red decorations adorned every nook and cranny. It was Valentine and the CDC was not going to be left out of the fun.

And as one’s eyes scan the dance floor (which was already crowded), the spectacle that greets you is that of children and some young adults with varying forms of challenges doing justice to the rave of the moment, ‘Do me I do you’ by Psquare. In as much as the steps may not necessarily be in tune with the music, they danced all the same and they were obviously happy doing it. And food, drinks, and cakes were not in short supply to their delight.

But the day’s gathering was beyond the music, dance and food, explains the director of the centre, Dr.Mrs. Yinka Fadayomi.Capitalizing on the day, meant to show and express love, the centre was remembering all children and young adults with special needs across the country. But more importantly to raise awareness for its Lagos Learning and Living Centre, called the triple L Centre.

However, for the journalists that came to share their day with these special people, it was orientation first, as they were taken on a mini psychological tour of being in special need.

The first dose was the blindfold given everyone, which Akindayomi explained was to experience being without sight. And indeed life without sight is better imagined as each journalist shared his or her feelings after taking a trip outside the building and back unaided.

After this, was the use of a joined fabric worn on the two hands, while an attempt was made to thread a needle, within a specified time. Only very few could achieve this feat! Then writing a song upside down, which at the end of the day makes no sense, were some of the exercises the journalists had to undergo to know what it feels like having a physical or mental challenge.

Aside the exercise, the journalists were also tutored on the use of the appropriate words for people with disabilities. For instance, rather than refer to someone as Mongol, the appropriate term should be Down Syndrome. Instead of saying ‘idiot or vegetable’, it is better to say ‘person with extensive brain injury’. And the word ‘lame’ should be substituted with ‘person with mobility impairment’, amongst others.

However, for Akindayomi, her utmost concern for now is the triple L Centre, a residential place where the young adults can be trained in developing various skills and hopefully be employed.
Showing journalists the model of the facility to be situated on an 8.3-acre site at Ibeju Lekki, Akindayomi says funds are urgently needed to actualize this dream.

"At the CDC, we believe in developing skills and for the young adults amongst them, it has become pertinent to have a place where they can be trained in various skills and also get employment.
Fortunately, the Lagos State government donated the piece of land to us and from the bits of donations that trickle in, we have been able to start something.

The facility would include an administrative block, training facility, recreation facility, residential quarters and so on. The idea is to create an enabling environment where these young adults can live and learn different skills and hopefully create job opportunities for them.

A variety of activities like sports, arts/craft, sewing, jewellery making, pottery, IT, etc, have been developed to build the vocational skills of our students, and that is what the triple L Centre would be for. To create employment opportunities for our young adults ensuring their place in the society."

Such a facility, she says, would not be exclusive such that it doesn’t end up like a leper colony. Rather, the long-term goal is to develop housing communities around it, so that the products of the centre would have access to these communities.

While the triple L Centre will cost about N500 million to complete, she said to get it running, as soon as possible, the CDC is seeking N70 million.

"The facility would cost about N500 million to complete but we don’t want to scare people away with that huge sum. We are looking for just N70 million for now to start something there.
To this effect, we are organizing a fund raising event that we have tagged ‘Ride for Life’ scheduled for April. We would all ride on bikes from the Lekki roundabout to the site at Ibeju-Lekki.
We want corporate organisations and everyone to join us and support us, so that the triple L Centre can be a reality."

The CDC is a place for developing the skills of children and young adults with special needs like Autism, Down Syndrome, Learning Disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple disabilities and a host of others. And has been in operation in the last 15 years.