Special needs children are those with physical or mental conditions that may hinder their ability to learn successfully in a regular school environment. However, there are schools specifically designed to cater to their needs by providing therapy, education and co-curricular activities.
Enrolling your special kid to school also gives you the opportunity to interact with other parents who are raising special children and thereby building your support village.
Here’s a list of 6 special needs schools for kids in Kenya to get you started with the search.
1. Fairmile Schools
Located along Waiyaki Way, Fairmile Schools provides early learning, development, and medical interventions for children with special needs. The centre has special programs commonly for kids with autism, cerebral palsy, Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorders (ADHD), learning, and developmental disabilities.
It’s also a pioneer of the Son Rise program which, among other things, impacts the proper skillsets for caregivers and parents to communicate and take care of special needs children.
2. Heshima Childrens Center
Heshima is a Swahili word for dignity. The name is rooted in the school’s mission to provide dignity for children with disabilities and developmental disorders. Located in Karen, the special needs school was established in 2008 by Eric and Tracey Hagman, inspired partly by their experience with their son who was born prematurely by 4 months.
Many studies show how stigma is a primary barrier to proper learning, growth, and development of children with disabilities and special needs. Heshima Children Centre restores dignity to both children and their caregivers through:
- Special education
- Therapy
- Medical services
- Employment programs for students
- Design workshops for caregivers to make a living
- Clean drinking water for communities
3. Kenya Community Centre for Learning (KCCL)
The Kenya Community Centre for Learning (KCCL) is a non-profit institution providing alternative education for children and adults aged between 6 and 21 years with various learning disabilities. Because of the diverse ages of their students, the school’s educational practices consist of academic and vocational curriculums.
KCCL’s curriculum is also accredited by Edxcel and approved by the Kenya Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). Some of the learning challenges the centre supports include dyslexia, ADHD, autism, communication disorders, down syndrome and other delayed developmental disorders.
The main aim of KCCL is to provide children with learning disabilities an empowering learning environment that can be lacking in normal schools.
4. Jacaranda Special School
Located in Kilimani, Jacaranda Special School is a public day and boarding learning institution dedicated towards building the sustainability, independence, and self-esteem of children with development disabilities.
It’s Kenya’s largest and oldest public institution for children with physical and intellectual disabilities such as development disorders, down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, and more. With significant funding from the government, Jacaranda Special School has various facilities to improve learning such as large dormitories, a Level 2 dispensary on-site, and a sheltered workshop.
5. Treeside Special School
With a motto based on self-reliance, Treeside Special School in Kasarani equips special needs children with the right academic and vocational skills to equip students for active participation and inclusion within their communities. Besides an academic curriculum, the learning centre also focuses on improving the students’ essential life skills and, potentially, pre-vocational training.
Treeside Special School is also known for its strong commitment to sustainability and environmental initiatives, including a significant partnership to develop a permaculture feeding and learning garden that provides both food for the students and income-generating opportunities.
6. Holmeside School
Holmeside School is a day and boarding education centre dedicated to building self-esteem and confidence of kids with special needs while sensitizing the community on disability inclusion.
The school employs a third-prong approach that starts with knowing the child, understanding their interests, and applying this information to design individual education plans for effective learning. Besides education, Holmeside School also fosters special needs children with social skills through various extra curricular activities, such as swimming, music, creative design, sports, and other outdoor movement.
The school is located in Dagoretti Road, Karen and is well-equipped with infrastructure for boarding, extra curricular activities, and vocational training.
Providing the Right Support for Special Needs Children
As a parent with special needs kids, you may find it challenging to cope. However, it is important to understand that disability is not inability and give your kids a chance to join a school where they can learn to be dependent on themselves.
And when seeking medical care for your little one, choose a paediatrician and specialists who are committed to walking with you by your side for years to come.