INCLUSION OF YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES - FACING THE CHALLENGES AND UTILIZING THE OPPORTUNITIES : The experiences of young people with physical disabilities in Thika, Kenya

Abstract

Henna Elina Hasari. Inclusion of Youth With Disabilities – Facing the Challenges and Utilizing the Opportunities. The experiences of young people with physical disabilities in Thika, Kenya. Järvenpää. Autumn 2011. P. 66. 2 appendices. Diaconia University of Applied Sciences. Diak South. Järvenpää Unit. Degree Program in Social Services, Bachelor of Social Sciences.

The aim of the study is to understand the everyday challenges Persons With Disabilities (PWD) face in the Kenyan society and to learn the possible opportunities and support networks which can be used more effectively when working towards the inclusion of PWD and the rights-based approach in the field of community development and social work with PWD. Special consideration was made in the fields of education and social participation.

The research is based on qualitative methods of data gathering which included individual interviews and focus group interviews with Young People with Physical Disabilities (YPPD). In addition, the study was made in cooperation with the native professionals in the Special Needs Education (SNE) field and with the actual professionals of the issue who are the PWD themselves.

The results of the research are categorized into the main challenges and opportunities based on the experiences of the interviewees. In addition, the paper also suggests ways for inclusion based on the earlier researches as well as the interview material gathered during the study. The main challenges discussed by the interviewees were attitudinal and economic barriers which were visible school life and in their social life which also included the leisure time activities such as going for shopping or participating in social events. In addition, the structural barriers such as poor infrastructure came up during the study. Furthermore, the opportunities and support factors found during the study were possible social support networks (instant family, peer support, faith in God) and support devices which eased the social participation of YPPD considerably.