Advancing Rights And Accessibility for the Deaf Children in Kenya
Advancing Rights And Accessibility for the Deaf Children in Kenya
The Kenya Society for Deaf children (KSDC) three day conference has come to the end presenting a number of key resolutions as roadmap for advancing rights, accessibility, and opportunities for Deaf individuals across the nation.
Addressing the press, Rhoda Kabiti the CEO Kenya Society for Deaf Children maintained that all deaf individuals must have access to accurate and affordable or free sign language interpretation services in all public and private sectors. The parliament must prioritize the passing of the PWLDs Bill 2023 to make this a legal obligation.
Advancing Rights And Accessibility for the Deaf Children in Kenya
“We call for the employment of qualified Deaf persons in all branches of government judiciary, executive, and legislative. This will ensure meaningful participation of the Deaf community in decision-making processes and enhance accessibility to government services for all citizens.” She added
Madam Kabiti emphasized that neonatal deafness screening should be made mandatory for all newborns as early detection is critical to providing the necessary interventions and support for Deaf children in ensuring they receive the best opportunities for development.
The society led by Madam Rhoda advocated for promotion of deaf teachers in education.
Advancing Rights And Accessibility for the Deaf Children in Kenya
This is to improve educational outcomes for Deaf children, there must be a concerted effort to recruit and train Deaf teachers, particularly at the primary school level. Additionally, teachers should be required to learn Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) to effectively communicate with Deaf students.
“We advocate for greater regional collaboration among Deaf communities to share knowledge, exchange best practices, and build stronger support systems for Deaf individuals across the country.” Said Madam Rhoda
They have urged the government and private sector to invest more resources in the education of Deaf children, including initiatives that empower parents to learn Kenya sign language.
This will ensure better communication at home and between families and schools, fostering a more inclusive educational environment.
The employers have also been asked to take responsibility for teaching employees Kenyan Sign Language to enhance communication and accessibility for Deaf individuals in the workplace.
This will promote inclusivity and improve service delivery for Deaf customers and clients.
Deaf individuals should not be forced to study languages such as Kiswahili or English that are not accessible to them. Educational policies must be reformed to respect the linguistic needs of the Deaf community, ensuring that Kenyan Sign Language is the primary mode of instruction.
Advancing Rights And Accessibility for the Deaf Children in Kenya
“We call for the establishment of counseling services tailored to the needs of Deaf students. These services should focus on emotional well-being, helping Deaf students identify their talents and cope with challenges such as assault, gender-based violence (GBV), and family abuse—issues that often go unaddressed due to communication barriers.” Said Madam Rhoda
The parliament also needs, to expedite the passing of the People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) Bill 2023 as this will help secure the rights of persons with disabilities, including the Deaf community, and ensuring they can fully participate in society.
The society has called on all stakeholders government, civil society, employers, and individuals to join them in making these changes a reality, for a more inclusive, accessible, and equitable Kenya for Deaf persons.
