The stigma surrounding autism will be a thing of the past in Nakuru if a motion tabled at the Nakuru County Assembly sails through.
The motion that was tabled on Wednesday morning by Lakeview Ward MCA Peter Karanja Mburu and seconded by Gilgil town MCA Jane Ngugi seeks to ensure equality in education for all children living with autism.
The bill seeks to ensure that the county government of Nakuru establishes classrooms for special needs, provides early diagnosis of autism and training of specialised teachers to handle such in ECDE centres.
It also seeks to ensure that there is a referral facility for autism cases as well as a compliance disciplinary committee in place to handle non-compliance issues.
“Through this motion, the county government of Nakuru to set up specific classrooms for children with autism, provide early diagnosis of autism and train specialized teachers to handle such in ECDE centres,” said Mburu.
Addressing media minutes after tabling the motion, the Lakeview Ward MCA said many children with autism have been neglected and others stigmatised.
He observed that if the motion sails through, it will help address these issues.
“As we focus on ECDE centres we also have children with special needs who should be catered for and this motion will ensure the county takes responsibility,” said Mburu.
Nakuru County becomes the seventh county to have such amotion according to Director Autism Lights Incorporation Maratu Chege.
He says as an organisation, they commenced advocacy on the same since autistic children have been left out in many spheres of the society.
Autism Lights Incorporation has seen awareness created in Nakuru County besides training of teachers for the autistic kids.
“Nakuru becomes the 7th county on the motion and we are already doing more on awareness,” noted Chege.
According to the World Health Organization, one out of 40 people is autistic.
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