1.0World Vision Advocacyhttps://www.worldvisionadvocacy.orgKatie Taylorhttps://www.worldvisionadvocacy.org/author/kataylor/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="Cffv3BZm6s"><a href="https://www.worldvisionadvocacy.org/2019/10/28/how-u-s-foreign-aid-helps-kids-dennis-story/usaid-access-program-dennis-and-his-wheelchair-4/">USAID ACCESS Program – Dennis and his wheelchair</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.worldvisionadvocacy.org/2019/10/28/how-u-s-foreign-aid-helps-kids-dennis-story/usaid-access-program-dennis-and-his-wheelchair-4/embed/#?secret=Cffv3BZm6s" width="600" height="338" title="“USAID ACCESS Program – Dennis and his wheelchair” — World Vision Advocacy" data-secret="Cffv3BZm6s" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> https://live-advocacy.d2.worldvision.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/D200-0984-006.jpg423600SUMMARY: Boniface Wambua and Winfred Mutindi knew that something was wrong with their first-born child. His stiffened limbs would neither straighten nor relax. Boniface and Winfred were away from their home in Mwala, Kenya when Winfred went into labor. After eight hours, she finally gave birth to him in a bush. Then they walked for two days to get to the nearest hospital where they learned that Dennis had cerebral palsy. Dennis spent his first five years close to home. He couldn’t be left alone. Life felt limited both for Dennis and his parents. Then in 2011, World Vision started the Mwala Area Program. As they registered children for child sponsorship, World Vision AP staff worked with community volunteers to identify children with disabilities who might need extra assistance. Dennis was one of those children. He qualified for entry into the USAID-funded Accelerating Core Competencies for Effective Wheelchair Service and Support (ACCESS) program. The grant-funded program didn’t stop with the wheelchair distribution. He received a proper fitting, then his parents learned about how to clean and care for the wheelchair. World Vision trainers also worked with families to help them understand the often-hidden possibilities of children with disabilities. “Most families don’t know that these children are very intelligent,” says the ACCESS program officer, James Keitany. Boniface and Winfred attended World Vision-led classes with other parents in the community who also had children with special needs. Boniface says, “I used to see having a child with special needs as a problem and it gave me a lot of sorrow.” Other parents encouraged him. “This child can have a bright future depending on how you nurture him,” they said.