With all that has been happening in the world over the pandemic period, all organisations and their programs have had to pivot and move one step at a time and this has been no exception with us. The ability program has continued to work behind the scenes and using our data for disability advocacy, plus research projects around accessibility and inclusive mobility in Kenya. Now, we are thrilled to announce our desire to get back into the field with our mapping work. Ability moves into Africa!

The Ability Show was honoured to attend a panel discussion surrounding mental health, organized by HeadSpace and Karatana The Kenya National Theatre. With mental health conditions been rampant amongst the disabled community, this episode highlights a few of the key discussions from the event to educate you on the signs of mental illness, how to support someone displaying these symptoms and finally, how to identify them in ourselves.

Ability Programme lead Crystal Asige talks us through her thoughts on the launch of MapAbility at Serena Hotel, Nairobi in September 2019.

MapAbility is a digital and interactive map that highlights the accessibility levels of various buildings and streets. Find out how universally designed our city is for everyone no matter their age, size, ability or disability. MapAbility identifies which buildings have ramps, working lifts, braille, audio prompts among other key accessibility requirements. It also highlights which streets have safe crossing points, disabled parking slots, tactile paving, working street lights etc.

This episode describes how employees can easily make their workplaces more accessible to all through simple and cost friendly considerations. It also gives ideas for employees on how to request that their work spaces be made more accessible for them.

The disabled community says that society needs to build ‘mental’ ramps before it can build ‘metal’ ramps. This episode focuses on the very idea that physical change comes only after a shift in Kenya’s historically antiquated mindset surrounding disability.

A new and exciting partnership with Signs Media Kenya on their television network called Signs TV has opened up an opportunity for the Open Institute to begin airing ‘The Ability Show’. Now broadcasting every Saturday at 8 pm on Signs TV, Each show episode will dive into different themes that directly affect the disabled community in Kenya. From mindset, to policy frameworks, to fitness, to public participation, to mental health and more – The Ability Show is here to inform, educate and steadily close the gap of ‘mystery’ and ‘fear’ that continues to overshadow persons with disabilities in the country. It is time to turn Disability into Ability.

Introducing the Ability Show