C: Information regarding persons with disability
[Questions P-37 and P-38 were asked of all individuals.]
P-37. What type of disability does [person] have?
[] 1 Visual
[] 2 Hearing
[] 3 Speech
[] 4 Physical
[] 5 Mental
[] 6 Self care
[] 7 Others
[] 8 None
List not more than three.
32. Section C: Information regarding disability
Columns P37 to P38 contain questions pertaining to disabilities. These questions are to be asked of the head of the household or any other responsible person.
32.1 Introduction
Questions regarding disabilities have to be asked very carefully and with caution. You should not ask "Do you have a disability, or are you disabled, or are you blind, or deaf" nor "are you lame?'. This will generate very low rates of response because you will not get the correct answer. The word "disability" is regarded negatively in most communities particularly in developing countries. People may feel stigmatized or be ashamed to be identified as having a disability. In some cultures, disability is seen as punishment for sins committed in previous lives.
Also, even if people do not feel stigmatized, the word "disability" often implies a very significant condition. Persons who can walk around their homes but are unable to walk to the market may perceive their situation as not severe enough to be considered as having a disability.
Disability is interpreted relative to what is considered normal functioning (or different). This may vary across various cultures, age groups, or social class.
32.2 Definition of disability
The Disability Act 2003 defines disability as: physical, sensory, mental, or other impairment, including a visual, hearing or physical disability, which has a substantial long term adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out usual day to day activities. Disability is, therefore, viewed as a physical, mental, or psychological condition or impairment that substantially affects a person's daily activities or limits a person's ability to perform one or more basic life activities (referred to as activities of daily life? ADL) such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, earning a living, or working and interacting with other persons.
In this context, activities refer to a wide range of deliberate actions performed by an individual as opposed to particular body functions or structures. These are basic deliberate actions undertaken in order to accomplish a task such as dressing or feeding oneself.
In the 2009 Kenya Population and Housing Census we will classify one as having a disability if they have any of the following: visual, hearing and speech impairment; physical, mental and other disabilities, and self?care difficulties.
32.3 Types of disabilities
- Visual impairment
Visual impairment describes the various degrees of vision loss. A person is considered to have an eyesight or vision disability if he/she doesn't have normal vision even if he/she wears eyeglasses or contact lenses. Visual impairments are caused by injury, disease, through accident, muscular degeneration or cataracts or are congenital. Congenital blindness could be noted at birth or within the first five years of life. Vision impairment can be treated by medicines and therapies though impairments caused by birth or accident are less likely to cure.
- Hearing impairment
Hearing impairment refers to complete deafness or partial hearing in one or both ears. Hearing impairment can be caused by birth or are due to inheritance. In some cases extremely high frequency sound waves may also cause hearing disability. Persons who are able to hear well with the aid of devices are not considered to be having this disability.
- Physical disability
Physical or mobility impairment refers to difficulties in moving (i.e. walking, climbing stairs, using hands, sitting upright or standing). This disability restricts one's physical movement, say body movement, or paralysis of legs, hands, or the whole body. Persons with this type of disability can use assistive equipment and supportive devices that assist them to move around.
- Mental disability
Mental disability affects people's ability to perform activities like other people of similar age groups. They may have difficulty in remembering things or concentrating on what he/she is performing. It includes many different functions such as our abilities to pay attention, learn and retain information, solve problems, and use language to express thoughts. This disability hampers clear thoughts in the mind. It also exhibits problems in comprehending any new ideas or opinions or finding solutions and therefore restrains a person from learning or even coordinating functions/activities.
- Self-care difficulties
This refers to difficulties in dressing, bathing, eating, grooming and hygiene, toileting or getting around the home or inside the home. The difficulties may have arisen as a result of other disabilities or impairments. These types of difficulties maybe present in most disabilities. It may be more pronounced in mental disabilities and severe physical disabilities. The question on self? care disability should be asked of all persons.
- Speech impairment
Speech and language disorders refer to problems in communication or difficulties in producing oral speech sounds or problems with voice quality. They might be characterized by an interruption in the flow or rhythm of speech, such as stammering. These delays and disorders range from simple sound substitutions to the inability to understand or use language. Some causes of speech and language disorders include hearing loss, brain injury, learning disability, substance abuse, physical impairments such as cleft lip (deformed lip) or palate, and vocal abuse or misuse. Persons with speech disabilities are often not able to communicate well with others.
- Other disabilities
This refers to any other disability not mentioned or covered above. These could be any of the following: albinism, epilepsy, autism, or chronic health conditions/ailments of more than six months etc. e.g. mental illnesses, cancer.