The county governments in Nyanza should ensure there are integrated schools to accommodate children with disabilities.
Orpa Ogot, Inclusive Education Advisor to Leonard Cheshire Disability said people with disability, especially girls face many challenges.
Ms Ogot, who implements the Girls Education Challenge project in five sub-counties in Nyanza said most girls with disabilities do not go to school, and have no access to information and health services due to their condition.
Speaking during stakeholders forum on promoting education for disabled girls on Monday in Kisumu, Ms Ogot said integration will ensure the students get more skills.
She asked the national government to revise the curriculum and provide better facilities in schools to accommodate disabled students.
She said parents with disabled children have difficulties in getting schools for their children.
Ms Ogot said the government should enact laws requiring schools to have equipment for disabled children.
She also urged school management committees to consider accessibility for the disabled children during construction of buildings.
“We have cases where many children with physical disabilities cannot access buildings in schools. Most schools have ignored the interests of physically challenged children,” Ms Ogot said.
She added that most pupils with disabilities have to be assisted to access classrooms. She said disabled students drop out of school because of poor facilities.
Ms Ogot said the county government should incorporate special students’ needs in the mainstream curriculum for inclusive education.
She said disabled girls suffer discrimination from their parents and the society and most special schools are far away from their homes.
M sOgot said they have trained teachers in Kisumu East, Mbita, Migori, Siaya and Kuria East sub-counties on how to handle students with disabilities.
She said girls with disabilities are very vulnerable and need a helping hand from the society.
“There are increased cases of defilement of girls living with disability in the region,” she noted.