Accessibility and inclusion are becoming the new watchwords across the world. To bring a large section of society, that remained neglected for centuries, to the mainstream life and economic activities, accessible public infrastructure is the first step forward. It is commendable that many countries are taking steps to make their public infrastructure accessible, Kenya being one of them.
Svayam has collaborated with National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Govt. of Kenya for “Promoting Accessibility in public infrastructure of Kenya to make mobility and transportation more inclusive and to realise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. To add wings to the National Council’s efforts in achieving greater accessibility in Kenya’s public infrastructure & services, Svayam and the National Council have jointly launched a detailed Action Plan titled as ‘Accessible Kenya Mission’ with an aim to contribute in capacity building of stakeholders and facilitate the strategies for achieving accessibility in built environment, public transportation and services in Kenya.
To this end, Svayam will conduct Accessibility Training Courses to prepare a fleet of Access Auditors both from the Social Development Sector as well as Public Officials who are engaged in creating, managing or monitoring the public infrastructure.
About the Basic Access Auditor Course:
As Kenya is aspiring to provide more inclusive and friendly built environment to people of all ages and abilities, need of professionals who have an expertise on the specific needs of people with disabilities is growing. Traditional courses in rehabilitation, medical and para-medical, civil engineering, design, architecture, special education etc. do not exhaustively cover the subject well. The NCPWD has a mandate to issue adjustment orders to ensure accessibility in existing buildings; however, there is shortage of hands who can evaluate a built environment and offer recommendations to make the environment accessible.
This 3 to 5-day unique crash course based on ISO 21542 (approved standard by Govt. of Kenya) fills that gap and will prepare a fleet of trained basic access auditors who could be deployed for access audits of built environment to promote accessibility in public infrastructure of Kenya to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The courses are being organized by NCPWD Kenya in collaboration with Svayam-Global Centre for Inclusive Environments, India
Medium of Instruction: Courses conducted in English language only.
Minimum Eligibility
- Education – A Graduate Degree in Science, Design, Urban Planning, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Social Sciences, Rehabilitation, or a related field.
- Age: – 21- 51 years
- Experience: Minimum 5 to 10 years in the sector
- Nationality: Kenyan or any other African nation
Preference to :
- Exposure in Developmental sector;
- Persons with disabilities
- Public Officials dealing with built environment
Selection Process
Application received within stipulated are scrutinized and telephonic /video interviews conducted to further analyze the suitability of the candidates for the course. Seats are limited and shall be filled on first come first served basis. The decision of the Chief Coordinator, Accessible Kenya Mission, on selection of a candidate for the course is final and not open to adjudication.
Course Duration and requirements
This course is full time from 9 AM to 6 PM being held in Kenya. The days are long and busy with course work, assessments and field visits. The candidates therefore, must be able to withstand the course requirements. The candidates also have to individually pass both the theory and practical examination (minimum qualifying marks 60%) for successful completion of course.
Course Fee
No Fee is charged for this course at this moment; however, the selected candidates have make their own arrangements of travel to the training venue. Tea, Snacks, Lunch are provided. The candidates completing the course are required to undertake at least 10 access audits of buildings identified by the National Council free of cost and submit access audit reports as their contribution to the Accessible Kenya Mission.
Certification and Inclusion in the List of Basic Access Auditors
The successful candidates at the end of the training are issued a Certificate of “Basic Access Auditor” jointly by National Council for Persons with Disabilities, Govt. of Kenya and Svayam – Global Centre for Inclusive Environments, India. After the successful training, the candidates remain on probation and are required to complete at least access audits of 10 public buildings under guidance of Svayam and submit the reports to NCPWD for remedial action. On successful completion of the 10 Access Audits duly accepted by NCPWD/Svayam, the name of the auditor is entered on the Register of Access Auditors under Accessible Kenya Mission.
A certified candidate will be competent to conduct access appraisals of the built environment from the perspective of its usability by persons with disabilities and make recommendations consonant with the requirements of ISO 21542 and the National Act on Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2003. The certified candidates will undertake to actively engage in conducting the access audit of built environment under the Inclusive Kenya Mission’ to help achieve an accessible Kenya for all.
Report on the First Course
First Course in this series was conducted during 24-28 June 2019 at Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, Nairobi, Kenya. For a report on the program, visit here.
Watch out this place for details of next Access Auditor’s Training in Nairobi, Kenya. A training is being planned in November 2019 and an update will soon be shared seeking applications.