The Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) concluded a two-week Functional Assessment Outreach, taking essential inclusive education services directly to underserved communities.
The nationwide outreach aimed at addressing the learning and support needs of children with disabilities, saw children and youth in Turkana and Wajir counties benefit.
The exercise, which was part of the ongoing “Pamoja Tusome Project,” an initiative designed to promote inclusive learning through LEGO Braille Bricks, focused on identifying and supporting children with visual and hearing impairments, ensuring that no learner is left behind.
The project is implemented in partnership with UNICEF Kenya, Hapag-Lloyd and The LEGO Foundation.
In Turkana, KISE conducted assessments at Lodwar Mixed Comprehensive and Integrated School, as well as St. Lucy Turkana Integrated Comprehensive School. The team identified learning barriers among children with disabilities and provided targeted interventions using innovative learning tools.
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The use of LEGO Braille Bricks enabled children with visual impairments to engage in hands-on, accessible education, opening new avenues for learning. Over 300 children and youth were reached during the Turkana outreach.
In Wajir, the outreach team visited Got-Ade Primary School and Islamic Call Foundation Integrated School. Equipped with a fully functional Assessment Truck, KISE experts conducted mobility aid distributions, vision and hearing screenings and therapy sessions.
These services, delivered within the community, addressed long standing gaps in access to special needs education support.
Throughout the outreach, KISE ensured that professional services were provided directly to learners and their families, reducing the need for long distance travel to urban centers. The intervention was designed to build sustainable support structures within the communities by empowering schools and caregivers.
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The Functional Assessment Outreach forms part of KISE’s broader strategy to promote inclusive education through innovation and partnerships. By integrating practical tools like LEGO Braille Bricks into learning, the initiative continues to foster inclusive environments where children with disabilities can thrive academically and socially.
KISE’s efforts in Turkana and Wajir underline the importance of community-level interventions in enhancing access to education for learners with disabilities, aligning with Kenya’s commitment to inclusive education as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
By Benedict Aoya
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