In 2007, USDC in the UK became Able Child Africa and began supporting children with disabilities in other countries and with additional partners. In 2024, Able Child Africa rebranded as Able Child as we transitioned towards a new network model.

40 years. One amazing movement to change the lives of children and young people with disabilities.

1984: Uganda Society for Disabled Children, a UK NGO, is founded by Sir David Scott, a former British High Commissioner in Uganda and by Leana Arain, the first female magistrate in Uganda.

1990: The Convention on the Rights of the Child came into force on the 2nd September.

1992: The UN establishes 3rd December as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

2000: USDC is registered as a local and independent NGO in Uganda.

2006: The UN General Assembly adopts the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

2007: USDC UK rebrands to Able Child Africa and starts working with Action Network for the Disabled (ANDY) and Little Rock Inclusive Early Childhood Development Centre in Kenya.

2008: We begin working with Child Support Tanzania (CST) in Tanzania.

2012: In recognition of our work getting young people with disabilities involved in sport, Able Child Africa, alongside our member ANDY, is selected to carry the Paralympic torch during the London 2012 games.

2016: We start working with UWEZO Youth Empowerment in Rwanda.

2018: The first-ever Global Disability Summit is held in London.

2019: UK Department for International Development launches their new disability framework.

2020: We begin working with FEDOMA in Malawi and ZAPCD in Zambia, expanding to Southern Africa.

2021: We develop the first Disability-inclusive Child Safeguarding Guidelines in partnership with Save the Children International.

2023: We begin working with The Action Foundation in Kenya, PODCAM in Malawi and ZPHCA in Zimbabwe.

2024: We rebrand as Able Child and launch the Able Child Africa Network as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary.