A Teacher’s Journey: Uplifting Children with Disabilities
When Abdirahman graduated with a degree in special needs education, he was eager to help children with disabilities learn and thrive. But for several years, he didn’t have the opportunity to use the skills he had worked so hard to gain.
“There were no children with disabilities attending my school,” he explains. “About three years ago, I got the chance to teach three children with disabilities… This experience reignited my passion for teaching children with special needs and reminded me of the importance of inclusive education.”
Today, Abdirahman teaches 23 children with disabilities at a primary school in Ethiopia’s Oromia region. His classroom includes children with hearing and visual impairments, Down syndrome and physical disabilities, with every student receiving the individualized support they need to succeed.
“I dedicate intensive time and special attention to meeting each child’s needs,” he says. “Although the job is both tiring and challenging, I am determined and deeply motivated to help the children succeed.”
Abdirahman has been supported through Save the Children’s Brighter Outcomes Ethiopia project, funded by Global Affairs Canada. The project is helping refugee and temporarily displaced children access gender-responsive, disability-inclusive education across Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regions.
Last year, Abdirahman took part in a month-long refresher training delivered through the project with partners Action for Development (AFD) and Humanity & Inclusion (HI). The training introduced new approaches to teaching children with disabilities while building on the knowledge he had gained years earlier.
“This opportunity not only refreshed my skills but also equipped me with new strategies to better support children with disabilities,” he says.
The results have been encouraging. More children with disabilities are enrolling in school, and Abdirahman has seen his students grow in confidence alongside their academic progress.
“Witnessing their progress inspires me every day,” he says. “I firmly believe that disability is not inability—it is simply being differently abled.”
Abdirahman hopes to expand his impact even further by helping identify children with disabilities who remain out of school and encouraging their families to enroll them in classes where they can receive the support they need.
His story reflects the wider impact of the Brighter Outcomes Ethiopia project. By working with teachers, schools and communities, the project is helping more children, including girls and children with disabilities, access quality education in safe, inclusive learning environments. As more children enter the classroom and take on leadership roles, communities are building a future where every child has the opportunity to learn, participate and reach their full potential.