Disability is not Inability

Presentation by: Ms. Edah Maina – CEO, Kenya Society for the Mental Handicapped (KSMH).
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KMSH believes that continued identification, sensitization and training of human- readers to PWID-voters is of utmost importance for them to have credible leaders who appreciate inclusive policies in delivery of essential services to the population of 2.7 million PWIDs in Kenya.

The Electoral Commission.

- Sensitize officials of the electoral commission on PWIDs rights to supported voting.
- Educate the electoral commission on the practice of supported decision making by PWIDs in the electoral process.
- Assist the officials of the Electoral commission understand the role of a human reader in the PWID’s supported decision making, in access and full participation in the electoral process, that includes voting through secret ballot in the private booths.
- Ensure the human readers support is not any way abused, exploited and/or manipulated.

Elections observation.

- As part of society, the disability groups must be included in the observations of elections. The can be a valuable resource in observing the treatment of persons with disabilities in the elections process.

Media as a tool of education and policy change.

Sensitize the media on the special needs of person with intellectual disabilities that should be mainstreamed into the electoral process.

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