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Living with Disabilities in Gataka { 10 images } Created 24 Dec 2020

In Gataka, there are about one hundred and eight children living with disabilities. This only accounts for the data collected from select homes and schools.

The plight of children - and persons with special needs - is a global issue. According to UNESCO’s 2020 Global Education Monitoring Report , less than 10% of countries have laws that help ensure full inclusion in education.

The report highlights the chronic lack of quality data on those left behind, including children with special needs, stating that almost half of low- and middle-income countries don’t collect enough education data about the latter.

In Gataka, we are working to change these facts by bringing to the light the stories of persons living with disabilities and the experience for their caregivers.
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  • Nkaimurunya Primary school is the only school in Gataka that offers a special unit classroom; A single unit that holds 26 students between the age of four to twenty six years. <br />
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This unit has served as a safe haven for most of the children who are prone to abuse outside of school in addition to offering fine motor skills to the students.<br />
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An estimated 40 other students are still integrated into normal learning classrooms.
    Nkaimurunya Primary School
  • With this card, persons and children with disabilities are allowed easier and faster access to public services and it also ensures that they receive  guaranteed cash transfers from the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to improve the lives of Persons with Severe Disabilities and empower caregivers in order to improve the lives and livelihoods of persons with disabilities within their households.<br />
Unfortunately from our study, less than half of children with disabilities in Gataka are in possession of this card and the few who have it are not enjoying all its benefits.
    NCPWD Card
  • At two years now, a shunt in his head is what allows Arafat close to a normal life. He is unable to sit on his own and endures unbearable pain caused from the drain of water in his head, the treatment for which is too expensive for his parents.
    A shunt
  • For Leila, it has been an emotional journey. Leila closed down the vegetable stand she ran to take care of Arafat. She rarely leaves the house and often has to wait till Arafat is asleep to perform any house chores. In addition to this it is not lost on her the names her neighbours call Arafat, the ridicule and distance she receives from her family since she gave birth to Arafat.
    Leila
  • Janet looks lovingly upon her first born daughter Nisha who has suffered with celebral palsy and autism since birth.<br />
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She reflects upon the journey that has been very trying, straining to provide the proper care and attention to Nisha all while dealing with  unsupportive family and friends, bearing through name calling and a partner who is emotionally unavailable to support her.<br />
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Picture by Mercy Wambui<br />
Narration by Jecinta Wanjiru
    A mothers cry
  • This was after the birth of her firstborn daughter Nisha, who suffers with cerebral palsy and autism. Shortly after her birth. Nisha who suffers sleep deprivation, easily gets angry, inflicting self injuries on herself and faints often when she is alone.
    Nisha
  • According to Janet, Nisha’s father emotionally walked out leaving the sole responsibility to cater for Nisha and her younger sister Sophie.<br />
She finds solace in whatsapp groups of mothers like her who have children with disability within Gataka and its environs.
    Solace and strength
  • Being told her reproductive system is tainted is the toughest statement Janet Katanyi would have to endure coming from family and friends she had known for a long time.<br />
This is after the birth of her first born daughter, Nisha, who suffers with cerebral palsy and autism.
    Mama Nisha
  • Kavuva, as they call Samuel Bindiyo at home, works at a water point where he sells borehole water to residents of Gataka. <br />
Despite being born with cerebral palsy, he is amongst the few young adults living with disabilities who are working to be self reliant.
    Water Fall
  • For many like Samuel, there is however no clear path to their after school life. Special needs students who go through special education do not contest in the National school examination. This means that after completion of school, they often return back home and others continue attending classes where they feel a sense of belonging, despite being past the age of primary school. This has been the case for Samuel who still attends his local primary school when he is not working.
    Thinking of the future