The Kenya Institute of special education wants parents not to hide children suffering from various forms of disabilities.
The body said such children need to be identified and supported.
The children, KISE says, need to be assessed and get placement in their respective special schools so that they are taught and talents identified.
Christopher Lengoris, KISE dean of students said the institute is currently carrying out a countrywide campaign to have all children with disabilities assessed and provided with the necessary support.
He said the majority of the disabilities are a result of mothers seeking traditional birth attendants instead of going to maternity.
“The disabilities could be as a result of prolonged labour, home-based deliveries and failures by mothers to visit clinics during pregnancies, issues which could be avoided if proper medical care is done,” Lengoris said.
He spoke at the A.I.C Kapsabet School for the deaf during an assessment of children suffering from various forms of disabilities in a campaign aimed at demystifying the challenges and having them placed in schools.
Lengoris blamed ignorance, drug and alcohol abuse, use of banned medical drugs and traditional birth attendants as some of the causes of delivering children with challenges.
“Cerebral palsy, Autism, Physical disabilities and mental challenges have all the bearings around parents' failure to realize the need to have healthy babies. They are neither curses nor forms of traditional beliefs,” Lengoris said.
KISE is carrying out assessments across the country and wants administrators and the Ministry of Education officials to help in identifying the children with special needs so that they can be supported.
Nandi county director of Education Harrison Muriuki said many parents continue to hide their children living with disabilities behind closed doors.
“KISE has a curriculum and institutions for all children with special needs and should be brought forward assessed and get placement instead of chaining them,” Muriuki said.
KISE says Nandi County has several children still not assessed due to stigma hence the need to sensitize the parents on the importance of bringing them forward.
Elizabeth Kimani, KISE outreach officer said, some of the children born with certain disabilities in Nandi county were a result of malnutrition by their mothers while others were due to mistakes made during deliveries at home.
“Some children due to had their heads pressed during deliveries while other children have their legs twisted due to complications while delivering at home, these could be avoided,” Kimani told parents.