Using Video to Sensitize Society About Mentally Challenged Children
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Date
2010
Authors
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Publisher
Institute of Social Communication
Abstract
Virtually every one of us has encountered mentally challenged children at
different times and places in our lives. Jordan refers to the mentally challenged
people as "human beings whose rights have been violated or sidelined by society
and persons whose wellbeing seems to be no one's responsibility" (Jordan 1961, 2).
In order to change these negative attitudes towards this group of people, there is a
great need for society to discover and understand who these mentally challenged
children really are.
This research is aimed at identifying means through which mentally
challenged children can live in harmony with the whole of society. The researcher
has had opportunities to see for herself the transformation of mentally challenged
children when they have been supported/trained. The transformation of these
children who have been assisted has raised interest and desire in the researcher to go
into an in-depth analysis of the whole situation.
The Kenyan Government enacted the Disability Act 2003 with a view to
providing the legal framework within which to address issues relating to persons
with any kind of disability. However, the 2003 Act does not sufficiently provide for
aspects relating to mentally challenged people. For example under section 2 the Act
is too generalized and fails to articulate the specific forms of disabilities, particularly
mental disabilities. The Act does not address issues of abuse and exploitation which
desperately affect mentally challenged people. In addition the critical provisions of
the Act are not binding on the Kenyan Government, hence are not enforceable
against the Government.
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Keywords
Mentally challenged persons, Media, mental disability