Deaf Awareness Walk By Organizations Representing Persons With Disabilities
The Kenya National Association of the Deaf (KNAD) concluded International Deaf Awareness Week in style with the theme “Building Inclusive Society for the Deaf.”
The International Week of Deaf Persons is held in the last week of September and is commemorated through various activities like marches, campaigns, and entertainment.
During this year's commemoration, the KNAD organization called for the participation and involvement of stakeholders which included families, professional sign language interpreters, and organizations representing persons with disabilities.
KNAD together with the invited persons held a procession from The Holy Family Basilica walking through the Nairobi Central Business District and back.
In attendance were progressive organizations like Kenya Society for the Deaf Children (KSDC), National Council for Persons With Disabilities(NCPWD), National Fund for Disabled of Kenya(NFDK), Kenya Society for the Blind (KSB), and Kenya Sign Language Interpreters Association(KSLIA).
The NFDK Assistant Manager for Advocacy, Publicity, and Fundraising Sharon Wairimu during her speech reminded the Deaf community of their incredible services which looks forward to empowering and supporting their income-generating activities.
NFDK under a national relief program offers tools for trade and mobility aids as well as financial grants to Persons With Disabilities across the country.
Through its advocacy branch, NFDK also fights for the rights of Persons With disabilities.
At the same time, Rhoda Kamiti from the KSDC discussed the three main prospects of the council (KSDC) which include; health welfare, and education of deaf children.
Kamiti urged Deaf Persons to register under the NCPWD to be eligible for acquiring assistive devices such as hearing aids.
Sign Language Interpreters on the other hand were called upon by KSLIA Vice Secretary Minnie Mbesa to enroll as members of the association to increase the number which is currently at 82.
KNAD’s program coordinator Eunice Mboya emphasized the need for hastened action to cut communication barriers within the Deaf community.
Mboya further urged the Deaf to work harder and raise the numbers of their representatives in the government citing that the just concluded election only had two nominated Deaf Persons.
Meanwhile, the Kenya National Council of Human Rights (KNCHR) hinted at their impressive partnership with the Muslim Association of Kenya, they will be launching a Deaf Muslim school in Malindi in a bid to exercise social inclusion for the deaf.
BY CHRISTINE OMONDI
Tags: Ncpwd Nfdk Ksdc Ksb Kslia Knad
