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About Us

A sincere request for braille books at a rural library event in 2008 led to the creation of inABLE, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation based in the USA and Kenya, advancing digital accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities across Africa. Through Digital Skills Training, the Assistive Technology Village, Accessibility Policies and Standards, and the Inclusive Africa Conference, we equip students, innovators, and communities with the digital tools, skills, and access to opportunities they need to participate fully in education, employment, entrepreneurship, and Africa's growing digital economy.

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Inspiration

The inspiration behind inABLE began when our founder, Irene Mbari-Kirika, hosted a reading day at the Kenya National Library in Thika. A group of students who were competitive, intelligent, and outgoing captured her attention, and several of them emerged victorious in the various activities for the day. Interacting with them opened our eyes to the plight of students with visual impairments in Africa.

She learned from their teacher that there was an acute shortage of Braille books and resources for visually impaired students countrywide. Due to cost, a single Braille textbook often had to be shared among four or more students, and Braille books are so bulky that carrying them to class is burdensome.

This inequality spills over into the workplace. Students who are blind in Africa graduate from college to join a workforce that is largely unfamiliar with Braille.

We felt an urgent need to connect students with visual impairments to the rest of the world by breaking down barriers to communication, education, and employment.

Irene and her friends raised the first round of funds and established our first Assistive Technology Lab at Thika Primary School for the Blind, enrolling 100 students and teachers. With basic computer skills training, they could use various digital applications independently: sending emails, completing school assignments, accessing information, reading online newspapers, and more.

More than a decade later, our mandate has widened. We now envision a world where individuals with disabilities have access to the same educational, technological, and employment opportunities as those without disabilities, and where blind and low-vision children do not end up on the streets but become contributors to culture and society.

To date, we have:

  • Enrolled more than 23,400 students and teachers and provided more than 52,000 hours of digital skills training.
  • Established the Inclusive Africa Conference as a continental platform promoting digital accessibility across Africa.
  • Developed Kenya's Digital Accessibility Standard (KS2952).
  • Led the development of Africa's Digital Accessibility Standard with ARSO and 25 African countries.

Be Part of the Impact

Your donation helps provide assistive technology and digital skills to students with visual impairments.

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