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International Day of Persons With Disabilities 2020

Are we really ready to build back better for a more accessible, inclusive and sustainable post-COVID-19 society for persons with disabilities?

This was the topic for the International Day for Persons  with Disabilities. As nations, communities and individuals worldwide commemorated the day with various activities, events and virtual webinars, one may remain perplexed with our national response and the lack of awareness to the needs of persons with  disabilities.

COVID--19 seemingly shook the existing structures and systems of life across the world. The pandemic proved to test our physical, environmental, economical and social structures. It tested our national governments, healthcare institutions and services, as well as our collective and individual financial statuses. The pandemic also proved our community strengths and weakness and our family bonds. Seemingly, we are almost out of the storm or learning move on from Covid-19 with the lessons, innovations, adaptations it has generated.

Build back better is one such innovation coined by Building Back Better (BBB) New Zealand. “It is a holistic concept using post-disaster reconstruction and recovery as an opportunity to improve a community's physical, social, environmental and economic conditions and to thereby create a more resilient community in an effective and efficient way.” 

But how does this apply to the future of the disability communities? COVID 19 challenged the systems structure for people with disabilities including:

Firstly, the importance of disability population data, “we cannot serve those who we don’t know.” According to the national census 2019 which states 2.2% of the population, less than a million people are persons with disabilities in Kenya. Yet, global statistics estimate 4.4% of the population are persons with disabilities . A political sum comprises quality data collection in Kenya beginning with budget allocation, legislative structures and development accountability. Yet the pandemic highlights the need and the importance of quality, unbiased disability data - nationally and locally.

Secondly, Covid highlighted the gaps plaguing the social assistance program, “Who determines which disability is qualified?”.  Over the COVID19 pandemic, the government allocated a cushioning budget towards persons with disabilities. The funds transferred through the ministry of social protection and its cash transfer program which assists individuals with severe impairments. The activity only managed to support the existing 128,000 persons with disabilities  who are already in the program. Uproar and discontentment were heard and felt from individuals with impairments, families and caregivers questioning the support criteria and evidence-based decision making for the particular process.

Thirdly, Covid enhanced importance of Accessibility and Accommodation, “In March, when the city council rushed to build washing taps in the city, there was a famous photo of a man in a wheelchair struggling to access the tap.” This one event highlighted the limited conscious thought and consultation with persons with disabilities to ensure their accessibility in the COVID19 precautions. Notably, persons with disabilities  have been inconvenienced in accessing physical infrastructures, services, cushioning resources, assistive devices and much more. Physical and Social isolation has contributed to the situation especially for those who are fully dependent on physical and economic assistance. Beyond the accessibility, Accommodation for individuals and families was strained by the increased cost of living, increased economic burden. Many families have to shortcut their children’s wellbeing and dignity to meet the basic needs.

The three key challenges correlate to immense struggles faced by persons  with disabilities and the gaps in the system. Building back better for persons with disabilities  consists of building quality and effective disability data structures, collection tools, monitoring and evaluating techniques nationally and locally. Building back better includes adequate budgeting and financial allocating for persons with disabilities. Building back for persons with disabilities is a collaborative approach working with persons with disabilities  to ensure their accessibility and accommodations needs are effectively achieved.

This International day of persons with disabilities was a challenge to stakeholders beyond disturbing sanitizers and handwashing resources (which are also very important), restructuring the charity structure, brainstorming sustainable solutions towards building back better for persons with disabilities  and all this achieved collaboratively.

Maria Njeri


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