Jessica Charles Abrams

Woman standing outside a stone home with a blue water barrel and a small child’s chair in the courtyard.

Building Livelihoods Programs That Include Caregivers and Youth with Disabilities

by Jessica Charles Abrams

  • Posted on July 28, 2026

For years, Lea Guyo worked hard to support her family in rural Kilifi, Kenya. But her income from farming and small businesses was seasonal and unpredictable. Caring for her son Samuel, who has Down syndrome, also required significant time and attention, limiting how consistently she could work. Her family often struggled to afford food, healthcare,…



A Graduation Gift They’ll Actually Remember

by Jessica Charles Abrams

  • Posted on April 9, 2026

It’s strange how lasting a thoughtful, personalized gift can be at a special occasion. The wedding gift that means the most to me wasn’t the expensive pitcher or the china plates. It was a pair of handmade pottery mugs, given with a note explaining how they symbolize both connection and difference within a couple. And…



A large group of people of varying ages and races standing inside in front of a projector screen.

From Kenya to the World: How Kupenda’s Expertise Is Shaping Global Disability Research

by Jessica Charles Abrams

  • Posted on March 9, 2026

When global researchers want to understand how to support children with developmental disabilities in African communities, they increasingly turn to Kupenda. In 2022, King’s College London and Aga Khan University invited Leonard Mbonani, Kupenda’s Kenyan director, to serve as an advisor on the SPARK project (Supporting African Communities to Increase Resilience and Mental Health of Kids with…



A person with very short, light blond curly hair stands facing away from the camera in a rural village with red dirt ground and small brick houses. They are wearing a green and blue patterned dress. Palm trees and leafy green trees rise behind the homes, and several children are visible in the background walking and playing between the houses under a clear blue sky.

She Survived Infanticide: A Woman with Albinism Tells Her Story

by Jessica Charles Abrams

  • Posted on February 15, 2026

Editor’s note: We are sharing this story to illustrate the real, life-and-death consequences of disability stigma and why community-based education and advocacy are essential to protecting the dignity and lives of children. Content note: This story includes discussion of violence related to childbirth and disability-based harm. Harmful beliefs about disability are not abstract ideas or distant traditions.…



“Why I Give Through My Donor-Advised Fund—And Why It Matters for Children With Disabilities”

by Jessica Charles Abrams

  • Posted on December 18, 2025

Many people don’t realize they already have access to a powerful charitable tool through places like Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, Thrivent, or their local community foundation. These organizations manage something called a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)—a special charitable account that offers significant tax benefits, allowing for immediate deductions on contributions (cash or appreciated assets),…



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