_edited.png)
Children with Disabilities Support Organization (CWDSO)
Organization overview
CWDSO was founded in 2014 and registered as a Community-Based Organization and in 2019 was upgraded to a Non-Governmental National Organization.
Based in: Vihiga County, Western Kenya in East Africa
All locations of operation: 5 Counties in Kenya: Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, and Transnzoia
Number of total staff: 14 staff
Number of teachers: Approximately 420 teachers within our 42 feeder special schools
Number of total school sites: 42 schools
Types of school settings: All special needs focused
Educational services we provide: Empowering teachers from special schools with materials and expertise to better serve children with their unique needs.
Other services we provide: Support and economic empowerment to Parents/Guardians with special children, Home-based care support, Mobility and ambulatory aid, Sanitary supplies and linen, Home of Sparrows for abandoned children with disabilities, among other services.
About the population we serve:
Current number of children with disabilities we serve: 306 children
Age range of children: 3 years to 18 years
Types of disabilities we serve: Various, including developmental and other significant disabilities (this includes children with Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephalus, Spina Bifida, Autism, Deaf, Blind, and Physically Impaired)
Other direct beneficiaries: Parents and guardians, schools, community members, and organizational partners
The action plan
Our goal: Conduct DSI’s training in the Training of Trainers model to reach and improve the knowledge and skills of our teachers working in different parts of the country.
Number we plan to train: 80 teachers and organizational leaders, first bringing 30 together in a central location to receive training, who will then share the training with 50 more to disseminate it to all sites efficiently and effectively.
Number of schools this will reach: 42 schools
Number of children who will directly benefit: 800 children with disabilities
Phase 1: Local training in Vihiga to key leaders in Nov 2025, to build their knowledge and skills to later be trainers and coaches in next 2 phases
Phase 2: Trainers ripple training to reach other CWDSO locations during 2026 school break (April, Aug, & Nov)
Phase 3: Support and empower all trained to share with parents & others to further the ripple effects throughout 2026 and beyond!
“Every day as I continue to do this mission work, it seems the needs only continue to grow. DSI’s training model is a very good thing, and it hasn’t been done in Kenya before. I believe this training would help teachers not only to include children with disabilities in school, but also understand how to teach them!”
- Judith Olimba, Founder & Executive Director