Pepea in Schools: Understanding the Special Education Landscape for Students with Autism in Kenya

Mandy Rispoli (School of Education and Human Development), with collaborators from Indiana University School of Medicine, USA and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya 

Autism has a growing global prevalence rate of 1 in 100 children. Autistic children often require specialized supports and instruction, yet access to these supports varies widely and is severely limited in Kenya. While student enrollment in Kenyan public schools is rising, students with disabilities are noticeably absent from educational settings. The purpose of this interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaboration is to conduct focus groups and semi-structured interviews with Kenyan educators to gain a deeper understanding of strengths, needs, and barriers to educating students with ASD. With our Kenyan partners, we will use these results to develop the “Pepea in Schools” teacher professional development program.