Collins who has low vision due to Albinism, was among the special-needs student in Kenya who had the opportunity to benefit from the inABLE Computer-labs-for-the-Blind program. For eight years, Collins attended the computer lessons provided by inABLE in partnership with the Thika Primary School for the Blind. During this period he was very committed, disciplined, and self-driven. Collins excelled in coding class and participated in peer-to-peer training, where he helped other blind and visually impaired students improve their understanding the computer concepts.
During his primary-school education, Collins achieved good grades and was admitted into the Aquinas Boys High school, which an integrated school that admits students with special needs. Despite his vision challenges, Collins managed to beat all odds to score a very good grade of A- in the Kenya certificate of Secondary Education test. This achievement will help him fulfill his goal of attending a good University of his choice to work toward his dream of becoming a medical doctor.
Collins ‘ high exam performance was recently highlighted on one of the leading local TV stations.
As an organization, inABLE, is bursting with pride at the accomplishments of all of our students, including today the most capable and ambitious Collins. We join the loud chorus of praise to congratulate Collins and his family. And look forward to the day when Collins is living his dream.
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As the 2019 curtain comes down with a few weeks left to cross over to a new a new year, inABLE.org was fortunate to host a team of guests from a globally respected organization MasterCard Foundation.
MasterCard Foundation representatives Andrew Kaylee Stewart and Andrew Okuzuwa joined inABLE Board Member Joe Kiarie, Tangaza University College Lecturer Brenda Kiema, and inABLE Business Development Manager George Siso joined on a tour of the inABLE computer labs at the Thika Primary School for the Blind. They were all briefed about inABLE’s work toward its mission to empower blind and visually impaired youths in Africa through computer assistive technology. And discussed how the blind and low vision students learn to use the computers and the benefits of computer literacy.
The enthusiastic group engaged with the students, who were busy in the inABLE computer lab doing different assignments, including typing or using Microsoft office word application to coding using basic HTML. Our guests heard about the learning process from the students themselves and also observed how the students utilized different software applications on the computers.
Anthony Wambua, who is a blind intern in the inABLE Computer-labs-for-the-Blind program, had a chance to demonstrate his coding skills and that is what really impressed our MasterCard Foundation visitors. They could not believe how a blind individual could clearly explain how coding is done and how he teaches coding to blind students at the school.
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We were privileged to welcome World Bank Senior Social Development Specialist Kimberly Vilar and Social Development Specialist Annette Omolo to our program in Thika Primary School for the Blind. They came to see how the students with visual impairment are able to access technology.
Our guests interacted with students who were using a variety of computer devices, including desktop, laptop and iPads. Additionally, several primary school pupils were able to demonstrate:
Our students’ did an outstanding job presenting their computer-skills capabilities using assistive computer technology. They exhibited the value of computer literacy for the blind, inclusion and accessibility with confidence. We are so very proud of all of these students and their instructors and are even more energized to fulfill our mission “to empower the blind and visually impaired students in Africa through assistive computer technology”.
Thank you World Bank for your interest, support and enthusiasm for the inABLE computer labs for the blind. We appreciate the recognition and accolades for the impact and many benefits our programs give to blind and visually impaired youths in Kenya.
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As the Swahili saying goes, “chema (or kizuri) chajiuza, kibaya chajitembeza”. Meaning (A good thing sells itself; a bad thing must be advertised.). The saying clearly depicts what inABLE is all about and the strides it has made towards positively influencing the lives of persons living with visual impairments and especially the learners in special schools for the blind in Kenya.
For example, On June 14th we welcomed Insights Manager Clara Aranda Jan from the GSM Association (GSMA), which specializes in mobile technology. She came to see how the inABLE Computer-Lab-for-the Blind program in Kenya uses assistive computer technology at the Thika Primary School for the Blind and how best to collaborate in terms of mobile accessibility, which will eventually benefit the visually impaired individuals. The GSMA represents mobile operators worldwide, including more than 750 operators and 400 companies, who develop and market handset and device makers, software companies, as well as, equipment providers, Internet companies, and organizations in adjacent industry sectors.
Clara was amazed to see how confident the young blind and visually impaired students, ages 7 - 16 years from class 1 to class 7, were interacting with both offline and online computer resources. After keenly observing the students, she concluded that if given opportunity and resources these students could do a lot, especially on mobile technology using different accessible applications, including the educational apps.
She also had a chance to interact with some of our two amazing instructors who are also visually impaired and the beneficiaries of the program since they had a chance to acquire the basic computer skills while they were in the primary level.
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On February 8, Safaricom Foundation representatives joined inABLE in celebrating the official launch a solar power installation that powers the inABLE computer labs at the Thika Primary School for the Blind and Thika High School for the Blind, as well as extending solar-heated water to the kindergarten section of the primary school.
Safaricom Regional Sales and Operations in Nairobi West, led the team from Safaricom. Although the solar installation has been delivering sustainable clean energy for a while, this celebration marked the official transfer of the solar power installation to schools.
inABLE computer lab students at both the primary and high school demonstrates various computer skills they have acquired so far and two students discussed how they have benefitted from the computer-lab-for-the-blind program. Schools administration from the two institutions participated in the events, as well as a few teachers.
Thika Primary School and High for the Blind and the entire inABLE organization are very thankful to Safaricom Foundation for their long-standing support and commitment to empowering blind and visually impaired students through assistive computer technology employable-skills training and computer education.
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