Kyaninga Child Development Centre

KCDC has steadily grown over the last 7 years into a regional centre of excellence for community-based disability inclusion and we are ready to share our knowledge and best practices countrywide. We have reached over 3,500 children with a wide range of physical, intellectual and communication disabilities and their families resulting in increased functional independence, enrolment in school and 25% improvement in quality of life.

We are now constructing a purpose-built centre of excellence that will become a radiating beacon that shows disability does not disqualify anyone from having equitable access to every aspect of life. Winning the prize will help us achieve our vision of a world where children with disabilities (CwDs) and their families can thrive without stigma and discrimination. We’ll be able to help address the specialised needs of CwDs by extending the care that we can provide and reach an additional 10,000 children over the next 10 years. 
Our centre will not only enhance our therapeutic effectiveness, but also provide practical help and information on human rights; access to inclusive education, adaptive equipment, and specialized therapy intervention but also nurture self-advocacy to create a permanent shift in society about what disability is.

Our son Sidney was born with severe epilepsy and developmental delay and my wife and I struggled to find the specialised care he needed in western Uganda. Eventually, we travelled to Kenya and the UK for solutions. When we returned, we realised a significant lack of available resources and a desperate need in our local community for specialised care for CwDs. We found a volunteer physiotherapist, Fiona, to come and help short-term and decided to create a small centre for other struggling families.

Together, we started KCDC in 2014 to provide much needed high quality, specialised and affordable assessment, treatment, education and support to children with disabilities, their families and caregivers, to enable them to lead more independent lives. 
The more families I get to know and the challenges they face, I realise that physiotherapy alone is not enough and for CwDs to thrive, a holistic and multidisciplinary approach that includes; community-based rehabilitation (CBR), parent support groups, assistive devices, economic empowerment, inclusive education and advocacy is essential.
After seeing the positive changes in our families, our goal is to continue to provide hope and opportunity so they don’t feel as helpless as Asha and I did when Sidney was young.

In Uganda, an estimated 13% (2.5 million) of children have a disability and access to healthcare and rehabilitation is extremely limited, especially in rural areas. Widespread local beliefs that disabilities are an untreatable curse, cause CwDs to be excluded from their communities, lead to high levels of paternal abandonment, increased family stress, financial burdens and a reluctance to seek help. This poor understanding of disability is a huge barrier to the progress, learning and independence of many children. 

KCDC provides free and accessible CBR for CwDs in 7 districts in western Uganda, partnering with 25 local health centres and 86 schools to deliver multidisciplinary rehabilitation including; physical, occupational and speech therapy, inclusive education, epilepsy and nutrition management, psychosocial support, economic empowerment, training and advocacy. Our team of 25 Ugandan therapists and special education teachers are committed to improving the quality of life of CWDs and their caregivers and work tirelessly with the local communities to raise awareness and engagement, creating an inclusive and supportive environment where parents of CwDs are less afraid to seek help. 

KCDC has reached over 3,500 children but shockingly this is less than 1% of the total number of CwDs in the region.

CBR is a community development strategy, initiated by WHO, that we have implemented in 7 districts over the past 7 years, delivering outpatient clinics at partner government health centres., orphanages and individual homes. We are the only organisation within this area providing professional and affordable services to CwDs within their own communities which reduces exclusion and discrimination. 

Training workshops and mentorship for healthcare and community workers, teachers and community leaders increases knowledge and understanding of disability and assists with identification and management, thereby improving long-term health and educational outcomes. Our parent-led economic empowerment program, Street Business School (SBS) enables caregivers of CwDs to develop financial security by starting small businesses with only $2 or $3. Parents have also been trained as expert facilitators for our peer support groups which provide knowledge and acceptance of disability and a safe space to share experiences and challenges.

“We are now hopeful, strong and we confidently attend to the mothers. Their trust in us has gone up because when we refer them, they are told the same things we tell them, and they are offered the necessary support so they don’t doubt our services.” (HCW)

All our programs ultimately work to enable CwDs and their families to thrive ensuring their basic rights are realised, including; good health, adequate nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety and security, opportunities for early learning and overall improved quality of life.

Research in LMICs highlight that caregivers of CwDs frequently experience a range of difficulties: high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, physical exhaustion, stigma, and discrimination often shaped by traditional beliefs and poverty (Bunning et. al. 2017). This situation has been exacerbated by COVID-19, increasing the challenges faced by families.

Our CBR approach ensures that those most in need are able to access specialised support services. Therapy intervention helps children achieve developmental milestones and functional independence opening up opportunities for education, social inclusion and employment which would otherwise be limited.

Parent groups provide education about disability that dispel traditional beliefs, empowering parents to share this with communities, breaking down stigma which stops them feeling isolated and alone, that they were ‘the only one with a child like theirs’.  

SBS provides caregivers opportunities to develop financial security enabling them to better provide nutrition, healthcare and education for their families. This also raises self-esteem and self-confidence and no longer feeling ridiculed in their communities.