By Yusto Mwakesi
In many communities, people with disabilities are often left out, facing barriers that make them feel invisible and excluded. They struggle to access health services, education, and opportunities to fully participate in everyday life. I highlight the story of Maureen and her daughter Celestine who are beneficiaries of assistive devices courtesy of an initiative by Basic Needs Basic Rights (BNBR) Kenya and CBM Global Disability Inclusion with funding from Irish Aid that seeks to improve meaningful participation and access to services by persons with disabilities. This story shows the importance of making sure that people with disabilities are seen, heard, and treated equally — with access to affordable, quality, and inclusive health services, just like everyone else.
Struggle and Acceptance
Maureen, mother to Celestine who was born with a hearing and speech disability, explains the struggle she faces as a mother to a child with a disability.
At first, Celestine did not attend a special school. She started her education in Bamburi School while the family was living in Mombasa. Later on, when they moved back to the village, Maureen learned about St. Michael’s Mwabaya Nyundo Special School.
Maureen says the reason she did not initially enrol her daughter in a special school was because she was not ready to accept that her daughter had a disability. It was very hard for her to do so. In spite of teachers in school noting that Celestine struggled with both speaking and hearing, she did not budge. But after some time, and after moving back to the village, she had to accept the reality, fully accepting that her child needed special education and the support that came with it. It is at this point that she enrolled Celestine at St. Michael’s.
At home, life wasn’t easy for Celestine. Other children looked down on her, mocked her, and treated her as if she was different. When people called her, she couldn’t hear them, so they bullied her.
As a mother, Maureen could understand her child even though communication was hard. But the world outside was not so kind. People didn’t understand her daughter’s disability, and this brought Maureen so much pain. She often had to confront people, explain her child’s condition, and defend her. There were no other children with disabilities in the neighborhood, so many people could not understand her situation.
In school, Celestine continued to struggle. She knew how to write, but barely heard the teacher during lessons. One of her teachers advised Maureen to get her daughter a hearing aid to help her communicate better.
Finding Help and Hope
It is at this point that BNBR stepped in. Maureen had never heard of the organization before. The team visited Celestine’s school to support children with disabilities, and that’s how Maureen got involved. She was chosen as the secretary of the school’s support group for children like Celestine.
Through the group, Maureen met Chimera, a mental health champion volunteering with BNBR. She shared her story with him, and he assured her that her daughter could be helped. He guided her step by step through the process. Maureen later traveled to Kilifi, where Celestine was assessed and it was confirmed that she had mild to moderate hearing loss and was consequently fitted with a hearing aid on her right ear. The clinicians were confident that even with an aid in just one ear, it would make a big difference in her life.
Maureen was very grateful because she had no other support, and she wanted her daughter to continue her education. This was therefore a very timely intervention.
Maureen is now very happy as Celestine can comfortably hear and understand when her teacher is teaching. She can read, write, and also hear her mother when sent on errands. Her friends, who once looked down on her, now understand her and play with her peacefully.
Maureen now lives a peaceful life with her child. She is thankful to BNBR and CBM Global for their support and prays that they continue helping other children with disabilities just like her daughter was helped.
