By Erick Nyayiera
The County governments have been urged to consider introducing basic sign language as a subject at the Early Childhood Development Education to assist the children with hearing impairment.
The leadership of the Caucus of persons living with disabilities in Nyanza region led by Margaret Oketch appealed to the leadership of various County governments to fast-track modalities of incorporating sign language as one of the language of communication beginning with the ECDE.
“The Caucus of Persons living with disabilities wishes to appeal to the leadership of County governments in Kenya on the urgent need to introduce sign language for purposes of inclusivity as a integral means of communication alongside English and Kiswahili as enshrined in the constitution”, said Oketch.
This she added must begin from the early childhood learning centers which are a preserve of the devolved units.
She has called on the education departments in various County governments to generate bills to their respective County Assemblies on introduction of sign language at ECDE for possible adoption so that the plight of children with hearing impairment can be addressed.
According to Oketch the suffering of persons living with hearing impairment including young children needed to be addressed urgently.
