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GEORGE KASERA - My Blog
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DISABILITY & MEDIA COVERAGE IN KENYA
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Reporting on disability plays a crucial role for the inclusion of
disability issues in the development agenda and in the society.
Proper communication is needed to raise awareness on disability,
which is too often perceived as merely a health issue, approached
with denial, stigma and basically unknown to the public at large.
Communication campaigns are the basis of educating people on
disability prevention and encouraging, acceptance of disability as
part of the diversity of human condition.

In Kenya, People with disability are often excluded in the development agenda due to lack of proper communication formats and channels.
Additionally, proper use of language and culturally acceptable
terminologies is a necessary prerequisite if persons with disability
are to be included in the information agenda.

Current facts about the impact of exclusion prejudice and
discrimination on people with disability have serious effects on their
families, caregivers, friends and communities. These and many
other issues can be made available in discussion and campaigns
through the existing mass media instruments.
There is clear indications that there is an urgent need to
fund media campaigns on gender and disability which first target
journalists themselves, then to the champions of the disability
issues and finally through a combination of both groups. It calls for
proper structures to be put in place to allow for closer networking
among journalists and the people in the disability world. There is
demand for formation of a strong, effective, efficient and
focused network between the stakeholders in disability and
members of the fourth estate. It would be prudent to work with
existing networks (disabled persons organization, gender activities
and media organization) which can be useful in fostering the ideals
of such a thematic approach.

Many reports done in the resent past vouches for a paradigm shift from reliance on experienced journalists to young and upcoming cadre of journalists
who can be impressed upon from their early age in the profession to
embrace and report internationally the disability issues throughout
their career. This, it is hoped, will dismantle the current apathy
displayed by the current crop of journalists. This can not come
overnight and therefore it calls for proper planning, patience and
intensive and sustained training aimed at changing the attitude of
journalists on disability.

In a nutshell, for journalists to communicate disability issues more
effectively here in Kenya and abroad, there is need to develop their capacities, have a reliable and sustained information flow targeting them as well as a provision
of resources.

GEORGE KASERA
DISABILITY & HIV/AIDS PROGRAM MANAGER,
KENYA DISABLED ACTION NETWORK (KEDAN)

July 19, 2008 | 11:00 AM Comments  0 comments

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LIving in the same world (Tallberg forum 2008)
Related to country: Kenya

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Hey
My name is George Kasera, I work for Kenya disabled Action Network; a youth initiative that works towards the empowerment and sustainability of young people with disabilities in Kenya.

To me, attending and contributing in the Tallberg forum 2008 was a great honour which I found very interesting, both the plenary and workshops. The Forum is truly unique and i had the most remarkable experience; i must say.

Tallberg in-deed is tall and still growing tall because it unites people from different backgrounds; rich & poor, leaders & the led, disabled & able bodied etc, and make people to see others problem before their own. Tallberg forum unites world leaders and mainly focuses on youth empowerment and sustainability.
According to me global worming has two meanings depending on where you are regionally; for instance in Europe and US it is a climate issue but in Africa and Asia it is an economic issue.
I leave Tallberg Sweden a very different person who now understands the real meaning of “living in this same world”.



July 1, 2008 | 6:47 PM Comments  1 comments

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