Between 9-10 October 2025, Commonwealth Alumnus Michael Ntodie delivered a two-day training workshop to raise awareness of eye health for children with special needs in Ghana.
His activity coincided with World Sight Day (WSD), celebrated on 10 October and addressed the 2024 WSD theme, ‘Children, love your eyes’. Through his activity, Michael highlighted the importance of prioritising the visual health of children with special needs and reduce the prevalence of vision loss among children.
Michael Ntodie is an Optometrist and Senior Lecturer at University of Cape Coast.
His activity promoted the 2024/25 ACEF theme, Disability inclusion in institutions.
Promoting inclusive learning for students with disabilities in Higher Education in Tanzania
In December 2024, Commonwealth Alumni Stanslaus Francis and Sardina Zabron Tinkasimile delivered a workshop to promote awareness on inclusive learning for students with disabilities in Higher Education (HE) in Tanzania.
Their activity coincided with the UN International Day for Persons with Disabilities on 3 December 2024. Through the workshop, Stanslaus and Sardina aimed to address the challenges of inadequate institutional support for students with disabilities in Higher Education institutions.
Both Stanslaus and Sardina are Prosthetists and Orthotists by profession. Stanslaus is a Tutor in the Training Centre for Orthopaedic Technologists (TATCOT) at Kilimanjaro College of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania, and Co-Founder of Inclusive Rehabilitation Solutions Organisation (iRSO), supporting people with disabilities (PWDs) and promoting community inclusion. Sardina is an Assistant Lecturer at KCMC University.
Their activity promoted the ACEF theme, Disability inclusion in institutions.
Challenges faced by PWDs in accessing education
In Tanzania, PWDs face challenges in accessing and completing their education. According to the 2024 study on ‘Adaptability of students with mobility impairments in higher learning institutions in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania’, students with mobility impairments in HE institutions face significant barriers such as inaccessible buildings, insufficient institutional support, and academic difficulties.
Despite efforts to address inequalities in the education system, many HE institutions still lack the necessary frameworks, such as policies or services, to effectively support students with disabilities.
One-day workshop for HE institutions
On 3 December 2024, Stanslaus and Sardina delivered a one-day workshop for stakeholders from institutions at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) campus. The workshop brought together over 50 participants, including students, academic and administrative staff from KCMC.KCMC University, Kilimanjaro College of Health and Allied Sciences (KICHAS), and Kilimanjaro School of Pharmacy (KSP). They were joined by representatives from the Higher Education Students’ Loan Board (HESLB). Participants included those with visible and invisible disabilities.
Workshop participants
The workshop was significant for stakeholders from the KCMC campus as it provided essential insights into how HE institutions can better support students with disabilities.
In his opening remarks, Stanslaus stressed the importance of increased awareness of disability inclusion in educational settings, noting that many students with disabilities in HE are unidentified or choose not to disclose their disabilities. He underscored the need for institutional support and systemic change to create inclusive environments where all students can thrive.
The keynote speech was read by Sardina on behalf of Sarah Mkenda, Senior Occupational Therapist and Assistant Lecturer at KCMC University. Sarah’s keynote highlighted the diverse forms of disabilities and their implications for HE. She emphasised the significance of inclusion and participation for students with disabilities, noting that education is not just a right, but a tool for empowerment.
Panel discussions on disability inclusion in HE
The first discussion topic of the day was delivered by Mr Harold Shangali, Acting Dean, School of Rehabilitation Medicine, on behalf of Professor Jaffu Chilongola, Dean School of Rehabilitation Medicine at KCMC University , and addressed the need to implement disability inclusive policies within HE.
He called for KCMC University to spearhead disability inclusion by forming a committee to draft comprehensive policies that address both academic and infrastructural needs and the importance of inclusive participation in the policy-making process.
Mr Asanterabi Msigomba, Senior Admissions Officer, presented on the challenges of disability inclusion in the admissions process. He shared that students tend to conceal disabilities due to fear of stigmatisation or rejection, despite online applications providing opportunities for them to declare disabilities to access support.
Enlightened by his session, participants proposed that proactive measures should be taken to reassure prospective students that disclosing disabilities will lead to support rather than discrimination. Suggestions included updating communications to explicitly state commitments to inclusive practices and showcasing examples of accessible facilities.
Rev. Anza Amen Lema, Director of Students Services (DSS), outlined the support systems in place for students with disabilities at KCMC University, including accommodation, assistive devices, and individualised support plans. He emphasised the need for a dedicated policy to address such issues comprehensively, including provisions for mental health support and invisible disabilities.
Mr Gabriel Msuka, IT Specialist and Head of the ICT department, KCMC University presented on designing universal learning materials. He highlighted the role of technology in fostering inclusivity and advocated for the adoption of inclusive instructional materials and shared best practices, such as creating readable content and developing online learning platforms with screen reader compatibility.
The workshop included a talk by Mr Sunday Agger, KCMC Prosthetics and Orthotics Department, on behalf of Mr Prosper Kaaya, Head of Department. His speech addressed how institutions can support students with disabilities to transition to professional careers. He emphasised the importance of aligning academic inclusivity with professional inclusion to ensure that students with disabilities are supported throughout their educational and professional journey.
Workshop handouts
Testimonials were also given by a student with a disability and a parent of a student with disability about the challenges of pursuing HE and navigating life on campus. This was particularly helpful for campus staff to understand the urgent need to implement disability inclusive policies for current students.
Impact of the workshop
Stanslaus assessed the impact of the workshop through pre-and post-workshop surveys. Responses indicated there was a 52% increase in awareness about existing support services and a 56% increase in understanding both visible and invisible disabilities.
Overall, 90% of participants reported feeling more informed about the support services available for students with disabilities after the workshop. The immediate impact was also reflected in the increased confidence of participants to implement inclusive practices in their institutions.
“I feel more confident about supporting students with disabilities now, and I know where to find resources.”
Workshop participant
Influencing inclusion policy in HE
Stanslaus and Sardina’s workshop was important in bringing together faculty and those in leadership at KCMC to recognise and address visible and invisible disabilities. The discussions during the event underscored the importance of addressing critical gaps in policy, infrastructure, awareness, and support systems to foster an inclusive and accessible environment for students with disabilities.
As a result, KCMC University has committed to developing a comprehensive disability inclusion policy, which will be shared at national education forums to encourage adoption by other HE institutions. The findings and recommendations from this workshop will be disseminated to key stakeholders in HE, including government ministries, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Education, disability advocacy organisations, and alumni networks, to ensure the sustainability and ongoing impact of these efforts.
Stanslaus Saria is a 2023 Commonwealth Professional Fellow from Tanzania. He completed his Fellowship at Knowledge for Change. Sardina Zabron Tinkasimile is a 2020 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholar from Tanzania. She completed a MSc in Prosthetic and Orthotic Rehabilitation Studies at University of Strathclyde.
