Provide 500 therapy sessions to disabled children

Over the past 3 months our therapy and rehabilitation team at Kyaninga Child Development Centre (KCDC) has provided life-changing support to 1,054 children with disabilities across Western Uganda.

Our multidisciplinary team including speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, nutritionists, orthopaedic officers and nurses have worked together to offer therapy tailored to each child’s needs. Services were delivered through outreach clinics at local health centres, outpatient clinics in Kabarole and Kasese, and home and school visits.

Of the children seen, 274 were new referral many identified thanks to our disability awareness campaigns. These sessions reached 326 caregivers, local leaders, traditional healers, and religious figures who are key people that influence community attitudes and are many times the first point of contact for families.

Sadly, many children with disabilities remain hidden due to stigma and misinformation. But through these campaigns, awareness is growing. Families are learning that disability is not a curse, and more children are being brought forward for help early in life. We’ve seen a rise in referrals, stronger community partnerships, and increased support for children and their families.

We also run regular peer support groups including for autism, spina bifida, nutrition, youth, and fathers. These groups offer education and emotional support, helping caregivers share experiences, break down isolation, and work toward their children’s therapy goals together.

One Family’s Story

Ambrose (not real name) is a three-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. His father first heard about KCDC during a visit to the local health centre for medical and nutrition support. Until that moment, he believed what his community had told him: that his son was cursed and there was nothing that could be done.

Ambrose’s mother had left the family when he was a baby, pressured by relatives who said she would only ever give birth to “children like him.” Left to care for Ambrose alone, his father was deeply stigmatised. In his village, he was mocked, excluded from decisions, and told he wasn’t a real man because he had a ‘disabled child’. The shame was overwhelming and he considered walking away too.

But after attending our disability awareness session, everything changed. Ambrose was enrolled in physiotherapy, speech and language sessions, and nutrition support. Today, he can sit independently, eat more easily, and is beginning to play with other children around his home.

Ambrose's father is now a member of our Fathers’ group, we invite him to speak at community events and encourage other parents to seek support. His confidence is growing, and so is Ambrose’s future.

Links:

• KCDC 2025 Issue 1 Newsletter