Visiting programs and interesting people

I spent most of today visiting programs of both the Nairobi branch of the Kenya Association of the Intellectually Handicapped. I was accompanied by the National Chairperson, Stephen Kaboi Burugu, a forceful and wise family member and leader. Some photos of the day are posted. We started with a meeting with a half dozen families. Their concerns echo the concerns of families I meet everywhere, the US included: 1) Inclusive Education; 2) Meaningful work for their adult children; 3) What will happen for their children after the parents are dead?: and 4) How to translate rights into action and programs. Quite impressive.

We then saw a program where young people are being taught some vocational skills. They make things with beads and hairdressing also seems to be popular. But there were no people with significant disabilities and the building is not accessible.

We then went to the Riabai Youth Polytechnic

, a vocational two year program, run by the government, for people with and without disabilities. Taking off my western frame of how facilities should be (these were condemnable) the program offered little in the way of meaningful traiing for anyone.

We were then off to a meeting of families getting training about government benefits for their children and rape prevention and reporting. Truly an inspirational group. Like other KAIH groups, and there are parent groups all over the country, KAIH works to teach and empower families, not to do it for them, though they do when families simply cannot. They also combine, with these parent groups, microenterprises so that the groups can be self supporting and the many poor families can derive some income.

Finally off to the KAIH national office where I saw a small program for self advocates run by two young people, both of whom are siblings. This was the best program of its kind I have seen in a long time. The Kenyan constitution grants and references people with disabilities specific rights. This program teaches people about their rights, responsibilities and how to make those rights truly a reality. Very impressive.

Off to a reception and then a midnight flight to Brussels.

Until next time.