Action plan to ensure buildings, roads are friendly to the disabled

A National Plan of Action to ensure all buildings, means of transport and roads are disability friendly is being drafted at the conference on disability and accessibility rights. The conference being held at the KICC aims at increasing awareness of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2003. It also aims at ensuring the provisions of the Act concerning reasonable accommodation to ensure accessibility to public buildings, housing, roads and transport facilities, employment, education, health, sports and recreation. “The conference brings the attention of stakeholders to their role and responsibility in increasing access for persons with disabilities,” Gender PS James Nyikal said.

He said the conference will employ the relevant legal frameworks which include the constitution, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Persons with Disabilities Act 2003. Gender minister Naomi Shabaan said the Persons with Disabilities Act 2003 aims at providing for the rights and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.

She said it also aims at achieving equalisation of opportunities for persons with disabilities and establishing the National Council for Persons with Disabilities as a semi-autonomous government agency The minister said to achieve these objectives, it requires the collective efforts of the government, private agencies and stakeholders.