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Disability
is not Inability |
:: THE DISABILITY MANIFESTO HITS MEDIA:
As disability Agenda gets into the media KTN URAIA civic education
programme finally tackled the topic "Disability"
and surely it was the bomb especially when a survey in progress,
amid a heated debate on special
constituencies and political heat of campaigns hot
up.
The URAIA programme was hosted by the elagant Peter Opondo and
included the who is who in disability movement. The panelaists
saw from Lawrence Mute who has since is no longer
a commisioner in the Kenya National Human Rights Commision (KNHRC),
There was Ednah of KSMH
and Mr. Isaac Mwaura
who has been working with Kalonzo Musyoka in the ODM Kenya. Finally
there was Dr. Kizito the astute director of research in charge
of the on-going disability survey.
The debate started with specific definition
of disability given by Lawrence who brought it out
as a relationship between an impairment and the social environment
of the person. How the environemnt has created discriminating
barriers to people due to their imapirments. The conclusion of
the matter is that the government neither understands nor has
it done much to improve this hostile environment. Better definitions
are needed and they need to be practicalised to enable services
target people with disabiltiies. The
Disability ACT though inadequate was a starting point.
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Several issues came out as the debate progressed. one is that
there seems to be issues of networking between the Disability
organisers and some of the stakeholders. That the Ministry
of Gender sports social services, under which the disability
falls under the NCPWD, is not doing enough to mainstream disability
within government programming and needs to do more. |
That PWD stakeholders are involved in the survey but not as they
would want since like KMSH complained of being side lined in the
survey. Dr. Kizito
confirmed that scientific standards are being used in the disability
survey. The Government was not ready before due to capacity issues
that is why they did not do the survey earlier. The govt is now
prepared unlike in the past.
Mr. Phytalis Were
rooted for development for all. He said what the disability community
needs is being respected as equal members of society. This respect
is best expressed by promoting universal design in managing development.
"if you construct a house that a person with disabilities
cannot access, you have denied the person his rights to services
in that building."
Ednah spoke of the need for more clear definitions
of PWD to ensure all sections are included like intellectual disabilitites
who depend on human readers to execute duties in variouis setting
including election participation.
Vincent
Oduor of DEEDs was more specific
about this issue. He said while there are many intitiatives the
role of government is still lacking. He mentioned the role
of KEDOF in bulding election observation of people
with disabilties and also the role URAIA has in mainstreaming
disabilty in civic education. The govt has not done well for PWD.
| "We have to go through
alot to achieve anything, unlike people without disabilties.
All we want is to have a level playing field where as a person
with a disabilty can access a building to a service or transport
equally. |
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David Wanjawa of Disabled
Voters Alliance – PWD need specifically payers
adjustments need be implemented by various agencies of govt like
ECK. The participation of PWD in electoral process is hindered
by an electoral structre that does not provide adequate adjustments
required to empower participation.
A lady doctor who deal with children with intellectual impairments
said there was need for more awareness and specific definitions
on how particular children need to be cared for. She said there
are very few qualified health personnel dealing with special needs
children and the government need to encourage training of proffessionals
in theis area.
Patrick Mutsungah of Ministry of Health, Rehabilitation
department said “poverty leads to disability and disability
implies poverty in Kenya." He said there were challenges
in dealing providing services to PWDs for various reasons which
the goverment is dealing with. The survey he said is an important
tool in planning management of various public services including
health needs.
Mr. Wathigo the chairman of an association representing
parents of children who are deaf said that "PWDs need a find
much more urgently that women fund or youth fund", while
Joel omondi of disabilitykenya
rooted for participation of peole with disabilties in the ICT
villages being establishjed by the Ministry of Information and
Communication with funding from the World Bank. "This would
bring services to the community therefore overcoming many of the
barriers"
disabilitykenya
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