The Perception of Social Safety Nets on Persons with Disabilities (Research Paper Sample)

THE PERCEPTION OF SOCIAL SAFETY NETS ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITY
SITIENEI J. JUDIS
BA/1025/13
A PAPER SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY, IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN …………….
MOI UNIVERSITY
MAY 2015
ABSTRACT
The main purpose of the study was to view the perception of the social safety nets on persons with disability. The study employed descriptive research design since the study aimed at establishing the perception of social safety nets on persons with disability. The data were obtained from secondary sources from Nairobi National archives and Margaret Thatcher Library (Moi University). The study also used any other available data relevant to the study and Internet was also another source which provided secondary data. Data was analyzed qualitatively; main findings of the study were that few of the disabled persons get the chance to join Secondary and University level, some do not even get a chance to access these institutions, many are jobless and lacks funds to start income generating activities; there are few training colleges and some cannot be accessed by the disabled persons. The study concluded that there is still higher number of disabled persons not attending university level and poor budgetary leading to fewer schools and medicines; many are still jobless and have no income generating activities and finally the study concluded that there are few training institutions that lack proper facilities and are difficult to be accessed by the disabled persons. The study recommended that the government should ensure that the policy of special care to the disabled persons is implemented to ensure there is enough learning materials and medicines in hospitals, more resources should be allocated in building or expanding the training institutions, there should be creation and increase in employment for the disabled persons and application procedures and other requirements should be reviewed to ease and fast track the accessibility of loans and grants by Persons with disabilities.
DECLARATION
I, the undersigned, declare that this paper is my original work and that it has not been presented in any other university or institution for academic credit.
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SITIENEI J. JUDISDate
Declaration by the university supervisor
This research paper has been submitted for examination with my approval as University supervisor.
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Dr. AdeliDate
TABLE OF CONTENTS TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u ABSTRACT PAGEREF _Toc420667062 \h iiDECLARATION PAGEREF _Toc420667063 \h iiiLIST OF ABBREVIATIONS PAGEREF _Toc420667064 \h viOPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS PAGEREF _Toc420667065 \h viiINTRODUCTION PAGEREF _Toc420667066 \h 1RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY PAGEREF _Toc420667067 \h 13FINDINGS PAGEREF _Toc420667068 \h 15DISCUSSION PAGEREF _Toc420667069 \h 17CONCLUSSION PAGEREF _Toc420667070 \h 18RECOMMENDATIONS PAGEREF _Toc420667071 \h 20AREA FOR FURTHER RESEARCH PAGEREF _Toc420667072 \h 21REFFERENCES PAGEREF _Toc420667073 \h 22
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
CBS Central Bureau Of Statistics
CRPD Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities
DPOs Disabled Persons Organizations
FPE Free Primary Education
ICF International Classification of Functioning
KISE Kenya Institute of Special Education
KNCHR Kenya National Commission on Human Rights
NCPWD National Council for Persons with disabilities
NGOs Non Governmental Organizations
OECD Organization Economic Cooperation and Development
SDA Skills Development Act
TSC Teacher Service Commission
UNICEF United Nation Of Children Funds
WHO World Health Organization
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
Capacity building: process through which individuals, groups, organizations and societies enhance their ability to identify and meet development challenges
Definitions should be alphabetically given
Income generating programs: programs initiated to improve social and economic income of individuals.
Social amenities: in this study, this refers to the facilities put up in an area to be used by the public. These facilities range from luxurious public settings on to necessities for the peoples use.
Social safety nets: are non-contributory transfer programs seeking to prevent the poor or those vulnerable to shocks and poverty from falling below a certain poverty level
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Social safety nets also known as "socioeconomic safety nets" are non-contributory transfer programs seeking to prevent the poor or those vulnerable to shocks and poverty from falling below a certain poverty level. It can be provided by the public sector, the state or aid donors or by the private sector (NGOs, private firms, charities, and informal household transfers) (Grosh, 2008). They include; cash transfers; food-based programs such as supplementary feeding programs and food stamps, vouchers, and coupons; In-kind transfers such as school supplies and uniforms; conditional cash transfers; price subsidies for food, electricity or public transport; public works; fee waivers and exemptions for healthcare ,schooling and utilities (Maria, 2007)
Defining and Measuring Disability has proved to be a very controversial and complex concept to define. Different conceptual models have been developed to define disability (Ingstad, 2007). In the charity model, persons with disabilities are to be pitied and helped by welfare approaches (WHO, 2005). In the medical model, disability is considered to be a problem of the individual that is directly caused by a disease, an injury or other health conditions, and that requires medical care in the form of treatment and rehabilitation (WHO, 2005).An individual with impairment is considered disabled, where impairment is the term used for an individuals’ condition, irrespective of whether the person experiences limitations in his or her life activities. The medical model is usually opposed to the social model, which considers disability purely as a social construct. Disability is not the attribute of the individual; rather it is created by the social environment and requires social change (Ingstad, 2007). For instance, a person with impairment may not be able to find work not because of an inability to work but as a result of being discriminated against or because of the inaccessibility of workplaces. In the social model, disability becomes a human rights issue at the political level (Farmer, 2001). A model of interest is the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) developed by the World Health Organization. Conceptually, ICF is presented as an integration of the medical and the social models (WHO, 2005).This model starts with a health condition that gives rise to impairments, and then activity limitations and participation restrictions (Lee and). Relevant domains where restrictions can be experienced include among others: learning and applying knowledge, mobility, selfcare, education, remunerative employment, and economic self-sufficiency. Disability is an umbrella term, which includes impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions. Disability has gain recognition as development issue at international level and about 82% of disabled people worldwide live below poverty line hence disability still remains overwhelmingly marginalized.
Globally, around 10% of the world’s population or 650 million people live with a disability and they are the world’s largest minority. This figure is increasing through population growth, medical advances and the ageing process (WHO, 2005). In countries with life expectations over 70 years, individuals spend an average about 11.5% of their life span, living with disabilities. World Bank reports estimates that 20% of the world’s poorest people are disabled and tend to be regarded in their own communities as the most disadvantaged, experiencing exclusion on account of their gender and their disability. Survey in USA the year 2004 indicates that 35% of working-age people with disabilities are in fact working compared to 78 % 0f those with disabilities
In Africa 80 million of the population is living with disability. Disabilities are higher among groups with lower education attainment in the African countries. On average 19% of less educated people have disabilities compared to 11% among the better educated. Most schools that admit people with disabilities are funded by churches who also invest in education for both the young and old ones as well protect the ageing population. In Zimbabwe and South Africa (Samalta, 2002), civil society fighting for social and economic rights have established a well structured system of ensuring that the disabled person is well taken care ...