Our 2022 – 2023 Pageant
Mitchell, was crowned Little Miss Neurodiversity Africa 2022-2023 has joined Autism School International . Mitchell got school fees sponsorship from Peter James Association as an appreciation for emerging the top contestant , garnering more than 12000 votes while sharing her stories and teaching the community about autism. We hope to support Mitchell’s mother further with school fees and other top contestants in the future Little Mr & Miss Neurodiversity Africa contest if we get such support through Peter James Association . Investment in education pays the best interest. So proud of our Princess and glad we could support.
Press coverage and the stories of our 2022 – 2023 winners
Truly, not all heroes wear capes, and baby Shujaa is indeed one of the heroes. Meet little Shujaa, born on Mashujaa day, October, 20, 2019. At the sound of his name Michael, is the meaning that, “who is God?” Indeed, God has been faithful. Shujaa Michael was born with cerebral palsy, weighing 3.8kgs. However, the doctors noticed him to have distress as he did not cry immediately, and had a cord around his neck twice. After some time, his skin started “yellowing” and he kept losing weight since he could not breastfeed. Worse of all, he started having convulsions. Fast forward, Shujaa has grown although he has not fully achieved his milestone including neck holding, despite that he still rises up to give you that bubby smile. When they say beautiful ones are not yet born, I say Shujaa has been born already. Neurodiversity is beautiful. As a mother, I will show him to the world, for he is not disabled, but differently abled. Despite born with cerebral palsy, Shujaa is the sweetest kid to be around. His smile warms the heart. Rising up and creating cerebral palsy awareness is my mission and say no to stigma. Shujaa is my motivation and he loves traveling around creating Memories together. He always pushes me to my limits despite encountering all the challenges that come up with raising a special baby. We choose not to hide our kids because Neurodiversity is beautiful.
Kisii Woman Encourages Parents with Autistic Kids Not to Hide Them in House: “Bring Them Out” Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 12:23 PM by John Green Everlyne Mosiria, encouraged mothers and fathers with kids who have autism spectrum disorders to let them out of the house. The Kisii mother who has an autistic child noted most parents lock and hide their kids in the house because of many fears. Mosiria urged parents to share more about autism with the community to raise and spread more awareness about the disability Not many parents would be courageous and willing to show off their kids if they have some form of disability or medical condition that may attract stigma. Read more:
CONTESTANT NUMBER TWENTY.
Meet princes Shantel
She was born normal, a very healthy baby on 21st Aug 2015 with Cerebral Palsy weighing 3.4 kg She suffered brain damage during delivery due to prolonged labor. Being a first time mum, disability never crossed my mind because I was excited to receive the first fruit of my womb. At 3yrs, we started occupational therapy. Hospital became our second home but we thank God he has seen us through. 8yrs down the line, Shantel has grown although she has not fully achieved her milestone but we are thankful to God. She can sit, crawl, stand with support and now trying to speak. It has not been an easy journey but thanks to her, I see life differently. She is my smiling machine. Unlike her age mates who are proceeding to various classes, Shantel is still at home recovering after ndergoing a surgery to stabilize her legs after doctors found out that her tendon were tight I presented Shantel to participate in 2022-2023 Miss Neurodiversity to help in creating awareness that Disability is not Inability. Let’s embrace children Abled Differently.
CONTESTANT NUMBER NINETEEN.
Hey dear ones. .Meet Chaviv. A very jovial boy, full of life. It was back 11yrs ago when the hard reality hit me and my family about our beloved boy, Chaviv’s Cerebral Palsy condition!! Waaah!! What a dark day it was for us! I had given birth to him through CS after quite a prolonged labour of almost 2days. The nurse in charge had refused to take me for a CS operation irrespective of me willing to go for it, insisting that I must deliver normally coz it’s my first child. Little did I know all that she was doing will create such a big nightmare I wasn’t ready to face neither any of our family members thought of such! I finally delivered a lovely bouncing baby boy 3.5kgs on the 13th of April 2011. He was choked by the umbilical cord and that called for an emergency CS operation to deliver him!! He didn’t cry!
The nurses and hospital didn’t tell us what to expect of him that he never cried during birth. He had lacked oxygen and so he was put on oxygen. He also had developed jaundice and he was put on photo therapy box. We stayed in the hospital for 1week. We got discharged with a discharge form/letter written *asphyxia* . We were not told what that is 4 months later, we took him to Nairobi Doctors Plaza paediatric clinic after noticing he’s having an endless cough. There it’s where the shocking reality came to us like a bombshell !!
The paediatrician told us that our lovely baby boy has a condition called Cereal Palsy!! She told us all about Cerebral Palsy!! And told us what to expect !! Ooh my goodness ! I was with my dear sis there. We cried our hearts out and actually even the paediatrician joined us. All of us three cried. It was too much to handle. I literally chewed blackout and couldn’t get anything the doctor was saying. It took the paediatrician 3hrs to cool us down and make us accept the harsh reality!!
*But* Ooh now 11yrs down the line, that awful experience has turned out to be such a beautiful story. Chavie as we fondly calls him he has become such a blessing in our lives. His amazing smile just makes one feel awesome. He’s our very precious gift from God and as his name suggests
CHAVIV = BELOVED/THE ONE DEARLY LOVED, he is truly so . We love him so much and he loves us and people so much. He has taught us so many things in life and literally has made us to appreciate the things God has given us such as:
walking, feeding oneself, talking, not drooling saliva, etc for these are stuffs he can’t do yet we ourselves does it so effortlessly and we even don’t realize it’s a gift and blessings from God.