Early Milestones plans to support 40 children aged 0-8 years Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy from Kiandutu Slums in Thika, Kenya by providing 1 year therapy services that are 100% catered for to promote their Independence. These children are desperately poor and cannot afford the much needed healthcare services that will help them thrive. As a result, they are at risk of disability. Their Mothers will also be trained and educated for free on the best way to take care of their children at home.
Cerebral Palsy is the most common childhood motor disability.In Kenya Children with disabilities experience stigma from birth and are more prone to exclusion, concealment, abandonment, institutionalization and abuse.The cost of rehabilitation and assistive devices is a major barrier for children with disabilities from low-income families.This means that "at risk" children fail to get early intervention which would greatly improve their quality of life as well as increase their independence.
Early Milestones Intervention & Development Center provides therapeutic therapy and assistive devices to children from poor families. The children's parents/caregivers are trained in skills necessary for the development of the child to their fullest potential. Awareness programs are also done to the public to promote understanding of children with Cerebral Palsy in the community so as to stop stigma enabling full participation in the society.
By recruiting parents as active interventionists in the rehabilitation process at the earliest point in time, much less costly intervention will be needed as the child grows. As the 40 children manifest their innate skills and talents are brought out, they will find a path to become contributing members of the society. Benefits to society include reducing economic burden through a decreased need for special education and increased eligibility for employment as the children mature into adulthood
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
