We have 3 programmes in the blindness sector:

Our main focus is to provide school going blind children with core curriculum text books for them to be at par with their sighted classmates.

Where as sighted students have text books available in bookshops blind students are disadvantaged because they cannot use the same books. These books only become useful to the blind students when they are in Braille form. It is out of the need for Braille books that ABC exists. ABC transcribes print text books into Braille books - therefore empowering blind students to learn in classrooms along with their sighted counterparts.

A. EDUCATION PROGRAMME

Our education programmes spans across the whole country and includes both Special Schools and Integrated Schools. We provide reading and learning materials for the blind in these schools.

The task is immense. There are many subjects. Each subject may have two or three curriculum text books. The education system ranges from nursery school to university, and in every class on the way, there is a blind student with need for the text books. ABC comes in to provide these text books in Braille format - the medium for learning for the blind.

ABC's task is to convert the books in need into Braille. The process begins with the transcription of these books into Braille format then printing the Braille format onto special Braille paper to make up Braille books.

Once printed into Braille using special Braille machines, there is yet another task for ABC getting the books to the students that need them in every part of the country.

The job is dauntingly taxing and expensive, and without your continued support we would not be able to have reach the mile stones we have covered. A lot more needs to be done.

Due to a frequent change in school curriculum, there is the increasing need for more books to be transcribed. This is not made any simpler by the fact that there are more subjects being added into the education systems while students keep on maturing into higher classes and needing more advanced books for their education.

In Kenya, we serve both Special schools and integrated prorames. Our main Special Schools served are, The Salvation Army Thika High School, Salvation Army Thika Primary School for the Blind, Kibos School for the Blind,St Lucy's School for the Blind, St Oda School for the Blind, St Francis School for the Blind - Kapenguria and Likoni School for the Blind

ABC supports education, right from early classes to higher learning

The integrated Programmes as managed by the Kenya Integreted Program covers 19 Districts and include among others:

Nairobi, Baringo, Kitui, Kericho / Bomet / Bureti, Narok, Nyeri, Wajir, Embu, Keiyo / Marakwet and Trans Nzoia.

We as well support students in institutions of higher learning as much as resources allow us to such as Universities / Colleges which include among others:

Kenyatta University, Maseno University, Moi University, University of Nairobi, KISE, Machakos Teachers Training College, Mosoriot Teachers Training College , Asumbi Teachers Training College, Kagumo and Machakos Technical Institute for the Blind.

B. ADVOCACY PROGRAMME

Without the existence of the right policies and regulation no organisation can successfully address issues of disabilities in general and in particular issues of visual impairment. We strive to fight for the rights of people with disabilities and specifically the blind. Through lobbying and advocacy ABC fights for the welfare of people with visual impairment especially as regards to their education and general welfare. We are in partnership with like minded osrganizations to further the interests of people with disabilities.

We have been involved in the creation of national policies for the blind and other disabled. We have particularly been involved in policies in the development and enactment of various policies including but not limited to; Disability (Persons with Disabilities Act, 2003), Special Needs Education and Braille Standards.

While striving to place disabled people extra curricular activities that can build their competitiveness as well as for recreation, we are involves in developing annual sporting activities something that is taken for granted.

We are supporting the development of National Goal-ball championships or National Schools Sports for the Visually Impaired

We recognize that we have a role in the eradication of cultural and social stigmatization of people with disabilities. We therefore are involved in the creation of awareness and sensitization of the public of issues that specifically affect the blind and those who surround the blind.

We have been involved in creation of awareness in the following fields in relation to the blind, Albinism, Parenting and living with the blind, Local communities and the blind, The Government and the blind, Employers of the blind, Institutions with blind patrons and General public sensitization.

ABC in a sensitization effort in the rural areas of kenya

C. SECTOR SUPPORT PROGRAMME

We are actively involved in several activities aimed at adding value to the disability, Blindness, Education and NGO sectors. We are believers in networks, collaborations and partnerships because no one organisation can solve the numerous problems afflicting our world toady.

We support other development partners in the sectors by proving Brailling services, equipment supply, trainings and consultancies on running an efficient and effective Braille service.