Centre for Disability Justice — Kenya
The Centre for Disability Justice — Kenya (CDJ-K) is a disability justice and inclusion-focused council within the Open Gate Foundation ecosystem. Its work centres dignity, accessibility, participation, and the leadership of people with disabilities.
Justice, led by the people it serves.
CDJ-K reflects an approach to disability justice that places people with disabilities at the centre of conversations about inclusion, accessibility, rights, leadership, and community development.
What we're building toward
A Kenya where persons with disabilities participate fully in society and experience dignity, accessibility, inclusion, and meaningful opportunities to lead.
To strengthen disability-led participation, challenge barriers to inclusion, and support community-driven approaches that advance accessibility, rights, dignity, and autonomy.
Advancing Disability Justice
Championing Accessibility: Promoting environments, services, information, and systems that can be accessed and used by people with different abilities.
Advancing Rights and Inclusion: Supporting greater awareness, participation, dignity, and protection from discrimination and exclusion.
Strengthening Leadership: Creating space for people with disabilities and their allies to contribute to decisions, community action, and social change.
Supporting Community Solutions: Encouraging locally informed approaches to the barriers affecting people with disabilities and their communities.
Four pathways toward inclusion
Digital Accessibility & Inclusive Technology
- Promoting accessible digital experiences
- Building awareness around inclusive technology
- Encouraging technology that considers diverse accessibility needs
Inclusive Livelihoods & Economic Participation
- Supporting conversations around inclusive economic opportunities
- Promoting participation in community economic life
- Encouraging pathways toward greater economic autonomy
Accessible Spaces & Universal Design
- Promoting accessibility in public and community spaces
- Encouraging inclusive design principles
- Raising awareness of barriers that limit participation
Peer Support, Dignity & Resilience
- Creating spaces for shared experience
- Encouraging peer connection and mutual support
- Centring dignity and lived experience in community-led action
Access is not a favour. It is a right.
Inclusion becomes meaningful when people can participate, contribute, lead, and access opportunities without unnecessary barriers.
Turning inclusion into action
CDJ-K's contribution to the OGF ecosystem is centred on practical approaches that strengthen participation, accessibility, leadership, and community voice.
Accessibility
Promoting greater awareness of physical, digital, communication, and social barriers to participation.
Participation
Supporting meaningful involvement of people with disabilities in community and decision-making spaces.
Leadership
Encouraging disability-led perspectives, leadership, advocacy, and community action.
Rights
Supporting conversations and actions that promote dignity, equality, inclusion, and protection from exclusion.
Community Voice
Bringing lived experience and community knowledge into the centre of social development conversations.
Collaboration
Connecting disability justice with the wider OGF ecosystem and other community-led pathways toward change.
Autonomous in focus. Connected in accountability.
CDJ-K operates as part of the wider OGF ecosystem, bringing a disability justice perspective while remaining connected to the organisation's broader governance and accountability framework.
Community Perspective
Disability experiences and community knowledge inform the council's areas of focus and contribution.
Programmatic Leadership
The council contributes its own priorities and approaches within the wider OGF ecosystem.
Shared Accountability
Council activities remain connected to OGF's wider governance, safeguarding, financial, legal, and accountability systems.
Our approach: Autonomy within OGF means creating meaningful space for council-led priorities and community leadership while maintaining the institutional systems required for responsible and accountable work.
Lived experience should not simply be consulted. It should help shape the conversations, priorities, and solutions that affect people's lives.
CDJ-K centres lived experience as an important part of disability justice and inclusive community development.
Help build a more inclusive Kenya.
Whether you are a community member, organisation, advocate, partner, volunteer, or supporter of disability inclusion, there are different ways to connect with the Open Gate Foundation ecosystem.