With Deaf Awareness Month (and Sign Language Month) closing, Signs TV shifted its focus from advocacy to innovation, shining a light on the brain changing the communication landscape for the Deaf community.
Appearing on the Signs Breakfast Show, Founder and Managing Director of Signs Media Kenya Limited (SMKL), Luke Muleka, shared the assist ALL app’s journey, since inception.
Being the pioneering force behind the app, Mr Muleka believes "Inclusion is not just good for the society, but an inclusive society is a good society," he said, adding that for Deaf Persons, "decency is in the communication."
He shared that his ultimate joy and success came from the moment the assistALL app was chosen as one of the only four innovations globally celebrated for their work in championing disability inclusion. This international acknowledgment, he noted, validates the app's value for persons with disabilities everywhere.
A latest major achievement for the app, he says, is its inclusion in the Digital Access Program (DAP) by KICTANet and the British High Commission. This partnership is proving to be a game-changer for the Deaf community in Mandera and Busia county’s healthcare sector, where the ongoing program provides free access to the app, connecting users directly with professional Sign Language Interpreters.
The assistALL app has already proven its value across various sectors, including the 2022 General Elections and the healthcare sector. Now, the focus is shifting to fostering an inclusive financial sector.
Through a strategic partnership, the SMKL team is currently conducting Disability Mainstreaming Program training, aiming to build a more inclusive and accessible banking environment for the Deaf community.
As a seasoned social entrepreneur and innovator, Mr. Muleka offered practical advice to new innovators where he said they should prioritize finding an anchor for their solution.
He strongly recommends county government partnerships, explaining that while they may not generate immediate profit, they are essential for scaling the innovation, which is the key to long-term sustainability.
Watch this interesting conversation here... https://youtu.be/iTR38h1g30U and Facebook https://web.facebook.com/share/r/1WRVFyx22z/
Tags: Signs Media Kenya Limited British High Commission Editor's Pick Kenyan Sign Language KICTANet assistALL
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Selestine Nyongesa
Experienced and versatile writer, dedicated to using my exceptional writing and editing skills to inform and advocate. My work focuses on educating and entertaining readers on a range of topics, with a particular expertise in matters of disability.