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{
    "id": 656192,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/656192/?format=api",
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    "content": "(a) to be treated with dignity and respect and to be addressed and referred to in a manner that is not demeaning; (b) to access educational institutions and facilities for persons with disabilities that are integrated into society to the extent compatible with the interests of the person; (c) to reasonable access to all places, public transport and information; (d) to use sign language, Braille or other appropriate means of communication; and (e) to access materials and devices to overcome constraints arising from the person’s disability.” Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if you look at this particular section, you will find that most counties do not have special schools to cater for persons living with disabilities. The National Government should join with the county governments and make sure that at least one or two schools are set up in every county so that we do not have people living with disabilities going to established schools like Kerugoya which is very far of and we know how means of travel is a challenge to these people. When you look, for instance, at the public transport, the way buses are built, it is a challenge for a person with disability to get into the bus. In most cases, you find that these people are in the rural areas. They remain at home because of lack of transportation to the city. They cannot also get to services in the city, for example, to look for jobs because they lack education. These people have not had access to education because of lack of special schools; they come from poor backgrounds and/ or due to stigma, you find that parents do not expose these children. In the past, parents did not want to expose their children to the outside world because they felt that people would laugh at them or demean the stature of the family. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, persons with disability also have great challenges, particularly the deaf and the blind. They do not engage in public participation exercises since most counties do not offer sign language interpreters during public forums and do not have Braille equipment. So, it is important that the National and county governments partner to provide such services to persons living with disabilities. These are our people and our children. When you go out there, you find that there is no data. You do not know how many disabled people are there in every county. So, if there is a formation of a body which is going to cater for their services, I think they will be able to get the data and let us know who are disabled and in what manner because some of them are not born disabled. You have seen accidents that can make someone disabled yet you were born a very normal person. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, you have seen our colleagues here struggling with wheelchairs and yet they are Senators. How about the poor people out there? So, I think it is important that the National Government takes this matter seriously to facilitate the disabled people out there. In my county, they are numberless and they do not come to the city because they do not have the means of travel. It is high time that the national and county governments collaborate and take this matter seriously. The electronic version of theSenate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}