International Resources for Education of African Deaf And Blind Children: I-READ-ABC

The mission of International Resources for Education of Africa’s Deaf And Blind Children (I-READ-ABC) is to establish, facilitate and promote educational opportunities for all Deaf-Blind Children in order for them to develop to their fullest potential into self-sufficient adults within their communities.

History of I Read ABC

I Read ABC was founded in August 2002 after the initial visit to Africa by President and founder, Opiyo Oloya, a Canadian educator.  Upon returning to Canada, he reported to his colleagues and co-educators the pressing need for educating African children with disabilities especially deaf and blind children.  After initial attempt to find an organisation that would channel help to these children, Opiyo Oloya, Dan Ryan and Paul Houlihan (rtd), all administrators with the York Catholic District School founded the International Resources for Education of African Deaf and Blind Children (I Read ABC).

The application for incorporation in Ontario was submitted in September 2002. I Read ABC was granted Ontario Not-for-profit Letter Patent No. 1541577 on October 11, 2002 and which was received in December 2002.  In December 2002, I Read ABC filed Ontario Corporation Form 1 (also known as Initial Return).

The application for incorporating I Read ABC as a charity with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) started in December 2002. The by-law of I Read ABC was drafted in December, pending legal review.  I Read ABC was granted a charitable status by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency on May 1, 2003.  The formal letter confirming the status of I Read ABC was sent December 1, 2003.

The first fully funded scholarship was issued in 2004 for 3 teacher candidates at Kyambogo University in Uganda.  The same year, I Read ABC opened it first partner school at Kyambogo University.  The school currently has 50 children.  Since then, I Read ABC has supported children at Madera School for the Blind, Soroti District, Eastern Uganda, Ikwerra School for the Blind, Apac District, Northern Uganda, Aber Primary School, Oyam District, Northern Uganda, Kisoro Demonstration School, Western Uganda, and Agururu Primary School, Tororo, Eastern Uganda.  

The charity raises all its money through activities by Canadian children and children around the globe.


Introduction—Background information

Education for all should apply to every child in the world.  The reality is that the disabled child is given less than equal access and opportunity to learn and to develop into a fully self-sufficient adult.  This is particularly true in developing nations, and specifically in Africa where the disabled child is considered a drain on family assets and left to fend for themselves.  The challenges facing children with disability in general, and the deaf and blind African child can be summarized as such:

  • Disabled children are always at great risk of discrimination and are particularly vulnerable when there is a shortage of resources. An estimated 97% of disabled children in developing countries are denied even the most rudimentary rehabilitation services. 

  • Disabled people have lower education and income levels than the rest of the population. They are more likely to have incomes below poverty levels and less likely to have savings and assets than the non-disabled population. These findings hold for both developed and developing countries.

  • The World Blind Union has found that, "less than 10% of the world's blind persons are literate and fewer than 15% of all visually disabled children ever have access to education." WBU asserts that, "Every blind person has the right to access written communication: Braille empowers blind persons to become active communicators, to receive an education and to have access to employment."  
  • According to statistics released by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), less than one-fifth of all deaf people in poor nations receive any education, most deaf people in poor nations cannot read their names, most deaf people in developing nations cannot count to 10 and unemployment in the deaf population in poor nations is very high.

^ to top