Advocates of child rights in Homa Bay County have urged parents with deaf or dumb children to educate them instead of hiding them at home.
Led by county Chief Officer for Gender Dolphin Ochere, the advocates noted with concerns that many children with hearing and speech impairments do not acquire education.
Other stakeholders who echoed the call during a disability sensitisation forum in Homa Bay town today were County Director of Disability Services in the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) John Paul and the Director of Social Services and Inclusivity in the county government Lucy Odwar.
They noted that many parents are still unaware that dumb and deaf children deserve education.
Ochere said the deaf and dumb children can acquire education and become leaders in society.
“We are telling parents to take their children with hearing and speech impairments to school. They deserve education like any other child in our families,” Ochere said.
She said the deaf and dumb or any other child with a form of disability can be a blessing to the family.
The Chief Officer noted that there was affirmative action in job placement for persons with disabilities; hence, the children should acquire education to benefit.
“Let parents know that a disabled child can become the first person to get a job in a family. They should not be discriminated against,” Ochere said.
Odwar expressed concerns that persons with disabilities (PWDs) undergo many cases of sexual gender-based violence (SGBV).
He said there are people who take advantage of the vulnerability of disabled persons to violate their rights.
Paul called on policymakers to devise mechanisms for providing more scholarships and bursaries for supporting children with disabilities’ education.
“The financial support will enable children with disabilities to acquire education and compete for jobs on merit,” Paul said.
Odwar called on all government agencies and non-governmental organisations to employ sign language interpreters in all their offices to enhance access to information among the deaf and dumb.
The Chairman of Homa Bay County Disability Forum, Tom Okiki, called on residents to learn sign language. He said this will facilitate communication between those with speech and hearing challenges and those who speak.
By Davis Langat
