Working towards including disabled people in society, Bolivia

Over 15% of Bolivia’s population is disabled. Most disabilities are caused by preventable diseases such as polio and German measles, and high malnutrition rates in children are a major contributory factor.

In 2007 International Service Bolivia began a three year project aimed at improving the lives of disabled people and on bringing disability issues into mainstream Bolivian society.

One of International Service's partners is an organisation called Ayninakuna - which means ‘help one another’ in the Quechua language. They work to improve the quality of life of disabled children living in mountainous, rural areas. Most communities are a two-hour walk from the nearest road, making access difficult for Ayninakuna staff and almost impossible for disabled children and their families.

International Service has placed a professional physiotherapist with Ayninakuna to support their programme in physiotherapy. She is training Ayninakuna staff to recognise the early stages of disability, and helping them train families to carry out simple rehabilitation exercises and make adjustments to their homes so their children manage better. She also works with local schools to help them be able to include disabled children.

Javier's story

Javier is a seven year-old boy who lives with his grandparents. Like many young women in the area, Javier’s mother was only 16 when she gave birth, and she was unable to cope. At the age of two, he did not appear to be moving properly so his grandparents took him to the curandero (a traditional healer). He said Javier was like this because of a strong wind, and recommended herbal medication; the local doctor had little experience of Javier’s condition and could not do anything.



Javier suffers hemiplegia which affects his left side and his expressive language. He communicates using picture cards or by acting out what he wants to say. It can take time to interpret what Javier means, but he is tolerant and doesn’t get frustrated if people don’t understand him straight away. Ayninakuna is supporting him at home to develop the fine hand skills and motor skills to learn to read, write and live independently.

Javier’s grandfather says “Most of all I want him to learn to read and write and be able to live.”

Working with his grandparents, Ayninakuna and International Service's development worker use simple rehabilitation equipment and materials found in the home to help with the skills necessary for learning to read and write – muscle strength, controlled movement, hand-eye coordination. For example, encasing a spoon handle or pencil inside a sponge makes it easier to grasp. Simple adjustments like this go a long way and help bring confidence.

Javier now goes to a nursery 15 kilometres away in Sucre. Travelling there is expensive and difficult, and his Grandparents are keen to send him to a school nearer their home. Ayninakuna and International Service plan to work on strengthening Javier’s education through continued physical rehabilitation, and by working with the school to help them understand his abilities and potential in terms of learning – rather than focusing on his disabilities.