Disability is not Inability

::FIRST OBJECTIVE - ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL
COUNCIL FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Establishment of the Council

3. The Act establishes the National Council for Persons with Disabilities. The Council is a body corporate (a parastatal).

Composition of the Council

4. The maximum number of 28 members of the council is 27. All members of the Council are appointed by the Minister. 11 of the members represent organisations of or for persons with disabilities. 8 members represent various government ministries.

Term of office of the Council

5. Representatives of organisations of or for persons with disabilities serve for a term of 3 years and may be re-appointed for a further term of two years. Representatives of government ministries serve as long as they have not been recalled by their ministries.

The Director of the Council

6. The Act establishes the office of Director of the Council. The Director is an employee of, and is appointed by, the Council. The Director is responsible for the affairs of the Council on a day-to-day basis since the members of the Council do not work full time.

Functions of the Council

7. The main functions of the Council, as provided by the Act, are as follows:

(i) to issue orders requiring the adjustment of buildings which, in the view of the Council, are unfriendly for use by persons with disabilities; and

(ii) to develop programmes aimed at improving the conditions of persons with disabilities; and

(iii) to carry out the registration of persons with disabilities, the registration of institutions that deal swith disabilities and the registration of places at which disability services are offered; and

(iv) to implement measures intended to benefit persons with disabilities; and

(v) to raise public awareness regarding persons with disabilities.

The Source of Funds for the Council

8. There are two sources of funds for the Council. Firstly, the Council is funded through allocations made by Parliament. Secondly, the Council is allowed to raise funds through donations by well-wishers, both locally and internationally.

The Council Must Maintain Proper Accounts

9. The Council must maintain proper books of account. The Council is required to ensure that its books of account are audited within three months after the end of a financial year. The audit should be conducted by a qualified accountant appointed by the Council with the approval of the Minister.

The Council Must Prepare an Annual Report

10. The Council must prepare an annual report on its activities. The report is to be presented to the Minister and also to government departments concerned with the work of the Council, for example, government departments concerned with housing, health, education and local government.

December 2006

DISABILITYKENYA.