In and Out of the Mainstream: Disability, Education and Employment in African Contexts

Whether it comes to education or livelihoods, disability is associated with exclusion and disadvantage. As part of a larger study, we were interested in how disabled people negotiated education and employment in trying circumstances in Kenya, Zambia and Uganda. We conducted in-depth interviews with people with physical disabilities in these countries. Our findings demonstrated that the majority of participants from all three countries analysed had moved in, out and between mainstream and disabled people’s organisation (DPO) sectors, in both education and employment. The results were heterogeneous across the three countries, and we found that creative use of local opportunities and challenges was crucial to success.