31/12/2025
Dear esteemed members of the Persons with Disabilities community in Bura Constituency, distinguished guests, partners, and friends,
As we gather here today to mark the end of 2025, I stand before you with a heart full of gratitude.
First and foremost, I want to extend my deepest thanks to each and every one of you for your unwavering collaboration, association, and tireless hard work in supporting and uplifting our fellow PWDs. Your dedication—whether through advocacy, community outreach, or personal sacrifices—has been the backbone of our progress. Together, we have built bridges of hope and solidarity, and for that, I am profoundly appreciative.
This year, 2025, has not been without its hurdles. We have faced significant challenges that have tested our resilience as a community. Among them, the disability regulations, laws, and policies remain incompletely established and implemented, leaving gaps in protection and support. Our community has often been neglected by authorities due to the absence of clear legal procedures at the county level, leading to misconduct, misinformation, and breakdowns in communication, especially in rural areas where illiteracy rates are high among PWDs. We've seen exclusion from public participation, which has hindered our involvement in economic and social development, compounded by political and ethical barriers. Employment opportunities remain scarce, public facilities—including government buildings—are far from disability-friendly, and the lack of sign language interpreters has denied our hearing-impaired brothers and sisters access to efficient services. High illiteracy and poverty levels persist, with no special or inclusive education available in the constituency, making it nearly impossible for many to pursue careers. The high cost of transport has prevented countless PWDs from being assessed, registered, or migrated from old registries, barring them from government benefits. Many still lack national identification cards, further excluding them from NCPWD registration and essential services. Without an Education Assessment and Resource Centre (EARC) in our constituency, parents face immense difficulties in getting their children assessed, often prioritizing able-bodied siblings for education and perpetuating illiteracy—where only about 1 in 100 PWDs in our area is literate. Finally, the boda-boda industry, while a vital lifeline for mobility, poses life-threatening risks and contributes to the growing PWD population through accidents.
Yet, in the face of these adversities, we are not without solutions. To mitigate these challenges, we must push for urgent advocacy at county and national levels to fully establish and enforce disability laws and policies, ensuring clear procedures and accountability. We can combat neglect and misinformation by launching community-led awareness campaigns, utilizing local leaders and digital tools to bridge information gaps in rural areas. Inclusion in public participation can be achieved through mandatory quotas for PWD representation in forums and decision-making bodies. To address economic barriers, we should partner with NGOs and private sectors for vocational training programs tailored to PWDs, while lobbying for affirmative action in employment. Making public facilities disability-friendly requires audits and retrofitting initiatives, funded through government allocations. Deploying trained sign language interpreters in key agencies will ensure equitable service access. Tackling illiteracy and poverty demands the establishment of inclusive schools and scholarships, with subsidies to reduce costs. We can lower transport barriers by subsidizing mobility aids and creating mobile assessment clinics. For those without IDs, targeted registration drives in partnership with the National Registration Bureau are essential. Establishing an EARC locally would streamline assessments, empowering parents to support all children equally. Lastly, regulating the boda industry with safety standards and providing alternative safe transport options will protect lives and prevent further disabilities.
Looking ahead to 2026, our expectations are high and grounded in optimism. We anticipate greater governmental responsiveness, with policies finally translating into action. We expect increased funding for PWD initiatives, more inclusive public spaces, and a surge in employment opportunities through targeted programs. Education will become more accessible, reducing illiteracy and empowering our youth. Overall, we envision a year where our voices are not just heard but amplified, leading to tangible improvements in quality of life.
For future plans, I suggest we focus on building sustainable networks: forming cooperatives for PWD entrepreneurs, integrating technology like apps for real-time assistance, and fostering alliances with international organizations for best practices. We should also prioritize mental health support, climate-resilient adaptations for PWDs, and ongoing data collection to track progress and needs.
In conclusion, as we step into 2026, let us commit to a strategic planning framework that drives real change. Our goals include assessing and registering at least 100 PWDs by year's end to ensure they access benefits; distributing 50 assistive devices to enhance mobility and independence; empowering 10 PWDs with vocational skills for self-reliance; providing education to children with special needs through scholarships and inclusive programs; helping establish at least one resource center in Bura Constituency for assessments, training, and support; and ensuring the full implementation of disability laws and policies through advocacy and monitoring.
Finally, a heartfelt vote of thanks: to our PWD community for your strength and perseverance; to our partners, donors, and volunteers for your invaluable support; and to all who believe in a more inclusive Bura. Together, we will overcome. Thank you, and may 2026 bring us closer to equality and dignity for all. God bless you.
M. I. J
The Secretary
AL-FATAH DISABILITY AWARENESS CBO.
