Figure 1.Musa doing his laundry on a Saturday morning

Doubt! A feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction, We have all experienced doubt at some point in our life, whether by ourselves or from the people around us. Think of the times someone really doubted your ability to execute something, Think of the time people doubted you so much that you actually believed them and accepted you are not able to…! That is the life of many people with disability and more so people with intellectual disability.  I am overly encouraged by Musa (an adult living with cerebral palsy and intellectual disability) who has refused to let the noise from outside stop him from living his best life, trying new things or challenging himself, Musa has been able to try things most people would rush to say he is not able to because of his condition, things like Dancing, being a DJ, Acting, Doing his laundry, walking on his own feet as way of exercise and Cooking just to mention but a few. In some activities he has been able to achieve perfectly and in some, the trials were worth it, after all nobody is good at everything.

Every day as we interact with people we are faced with two options whether to look at their inabilities and what we think they are not able to do or see the opportunities and encourage each other to live our best possible life.

In L’Arche Kenya every day we chose to focus on the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities, find opportunities and spaces for them to contribute in a meaningful way both to themselves and to the people around them as we live an inclusive shared life.