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The UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) was marked on December 3rd. Celebrated annually since 1992, this year’s theme was “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world”.  The observance of the day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

The overarching theme of innovation and transformative solutions for inclusive development, covering in three different interactive dialogues the following thematic topics: innovation for disability inclusive development in employment, Innovation for disability inclusive development in reducing inequality, innovation for disability inclusive development with sport as an exemplar case of innovation, employment and equity.

Although the IDPD is gaining credence in Kenya, more awareness is needed for more people to understand the meaning of disability, and the impact it will soon have on the country as the numbers of People with Disabilities (PWDs) increase. There is still a lot of misunderstanding and stigma about disability, which has negatively affected the lives of PWDs and hampered their contribution in national development.

According to the UN, disability is a condition or function judged to be significantly impaired, relative to the usual standard of an individual of their group. The term is often used to refer to individual functioning, including physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, intellectual impairment, mental illness, and various types of chronic disease.

As a result of their vulnerability, PWDs have generally poorer health, lower education achievements, fewer economic opportunities and higher rates of poverty than people without disabilities. Basically, this is due to the oftentimes personal and institutional challenges they undergo due to lack of customised services. PWDs face many obstacles not just related to the physical environment, but also those that result from lack of legislation or policy, including societal attitudes and discrimination.

In Kenya, PWDs are protected in the Constitution under the Persons with Disabilities Act No. 14 of 2003. Among others, the Act spells out the mandate of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, and the rights and privileges of PWDs. The Act aims at creating an enabling environment for rehabilitation of and equalisation of opportunities for PWDs. 

PWDs in the country have come a long way. Over the years, attitudes have changed and society now views people with challenges with more understanding, than with helpless pity. People have realised that those without the use of some of their faculties could be genius in other areas of their lives. By law and in principle, PWDs are receiving the necessary help they need both at social and professional levels. There is still more work to be done though like other vulnerable people for PWDs to feel fully empowered.

Personally, I empathise with the plight of PWDs. My 13-year-old son has been living with autism since he was diagnosed with the condition three years ago. Taking care of him every day as he struggles with milestones other parents and children take for granted has been a challenging, albeit enlightening experience. Even now he is still non-verbal and has to be helped to perform some tasks that children of his age perfected many years ago. He cannot read and write, shower himself, among several other tasks that children of his age perform as a matter of course.

I am not complaining though. I have never taken it as a curse or atonement for sins that I might have committed. It is simply fate, just as no one decides whether or not to be born with a disability. However, by trying my best to show my autistic son utmost love and care, I believe that it serves as an example to his siblings in case they sire a child with any disability in future.

— The writer is a PhD student in International Relations