A People with Disabilities (PWD) Card is a crucial document for identifying individuals with physical, sensory, mental, or other impairments, including visual, hearing, learning, or physical limitations that adversely affect their social, economic, or environmental participation (Persons with Disability Act of 2003, Act 14).

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Benefits of a PWD Card

Beyond identification, the PWD Card offers several significant benefits:

1. Access to Assistive Devices: Individuals can apply for essential devices such as wheelchairs, crutches, hearing aids, calipers, surgical boots, and prosthetic limbs. These are provided by the NCPWD and its partners.
2. Albinism Support and Sunscreen Provision: In Kenya, registered persons with albinism receive a bottle of sunscreen lotion every month. Distribution is facilitated through 180 hospitals and health clinics nationwide.
3. Economic Empowerment: PWD Cardholders can receive grants to support income-generating activities like agriculture, livestock rearing, bead making, and shopkeeping, helping them achieve self-sufficiency.
4. Education Assistance: Individuals or their guardians can apply for educational support for fees at all levels, from primary school to university. The NCPWD pays these fees directly to the institutions.
5. Cash Transfers: The NCPWD administers the Persons with Severe Disabilities Cash Transfer (PWSD-CT) program, providing financial assistance to improve the livelihoods of persons with severe disabilities by supporting their caregivers.
6. Tax Exemption Certificate: Registered individuals can obtain a tax exemption on their income, up to Ksh 150,000 per month or Ksh 1.8 million per year, under Kenyan law.

How to Obtain a PWD Card

The process to obtain a PWD Card involves several steps and can take up to three months:

1. Book an Appointment: Schedule an appointment at a level 3, 4, or 5 hospital that is gazzeted. Requirements include a medical report, X-rays, CT scans, MRA, a copy of the national identity card, a passport-sized photograph, and a payment of Ksh 600.
2. Medical Assessment: A medical team will assess the applicant and prepare a Persons with Disability Medical Assessment Report (PWDMAR).
3. Recommendation for Registration: The Director of Medical Services (DMS) will issue a recommendation for registration within three months of receiving the PWDMAR.
4. Submit Documents: The applicant submits a copy of the PWDMAR to the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, along with a copy of their national identity card and a passport-sized photograph.
5. Issuance of PWD Card: The applicant receives the PWD registration card at no cost.