August 29, 2011
Ajoke Alonge was a member of the 2004 Cohort of IFP Fellows in Nigeria. She completed her master's degree in Social Work from the University of Denver, and is now a leading disability advocate in Nigeria.
FROM DISABILITY TO OPPORTUNITY
by Ajoke Alonge
I acquired a physical disability at the age of 14 as a result of a minor spinal abnormality medically referred to as syringomyelia. I ended up in a wheelchair. Despite being in a developing African country where there is a lack of public policies and social services to support persons in my situation, I emerged an achiever.
With pain and great hardship, I received my first degree in Special Education at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria in 1992, as well as a second degree in Social Work in 2002. Out of a concern for the plight of Nigerian citizens with disabilities, I set up an advocacy organization to amplify their needs and provide social services to ameliorate their plight.
For my passion and potential in this area, I won a Ford Foundation IFP scholarship which gave me an opportunity to study at the University of Denver, Colorado in the USA. With this generous scholarship, I was able to satisfy my curiosity about disability policies and services in the United States, including the efficacy of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and various provisions available to help individuals with disabilities in the United States live an independent life.
I had my first year internship at the
Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC) – a leading policy-oriented organization that is involved with full advocacy for individuals living with various forms of disabilities in Denver. Through CCDC, I was assigned to work at the Colorado General Assembly where I was exposed to how disability bills are passed into law, and the process of lobbying and making laws effective in the US. I was able to meet and interact with various top officers with concern for and interest in disability issues.
My second internship was with
Denver Options – a service oriented not-for-profit organization serving Denver County. At Denver Options, I learned about Supported Living Services (SLS) for adults with developmental disabilities, including residential and family support options. My internship experience covered case work and management, home visits and studies about rights and confidentiality of service users.
With my passion and curiosity to learn about the efficacy of disability services in United States, I was able to attend several leadership and diversity conferences in Washington DC, Oregon, and Wisconsin, as well as two visits to the renowned advocacy organization,
Joni & Friends, in California. For my accomplishments and motivational speeches, I was honored with the “2007 Woman of Influence” award by
Wisdom for Women International in the UK.
While studying in the US, I made a musical album titled “Opportunity”. This was dedicated to Ford Foundation IFP. Dedicating this work to IFP is my way of expressing a huge appreciation for the opportunity of western education. On the 6th of June 2008, I graduated from the University of Denver, Graduate School of Social Work with an MSW, or Masters of Social Work.
I returned to Nigeria in July 2008. Now I am involved in media campaigns and leadership initiatives that address the
social needs of Nigerians with physical disabilities; I focus on raising awareness that promotes positive attitudes and empowerment, with an emphasis on disability rights fashioned after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I presently work at the largest hospital in Africa – the University College Hospital – where I serve as a case worker and post trauma counselor.
These days, I aspire to work with an international organization to provide periodic comprehensive HIV/AIDS education for Nigerians with disabilities who are more often vulnerable to sexual abuse.
My IFP experience was an unforgettable one. The Ford Foundation has touched my life and impacted it positively. By this life changing experience, I am able to touch individual lives and make a difference in my society.