{
  "abstract": "Background and Objectives ‘Voice of Ubuntu’ seeks to explore the power of community for children with developmental disabilities and their families through storytelling and portrait photography. ‘Ubuntu’ is a pan-African term embodying a true sense of ‘togetherness and belonging’ that is described by the families participating in our Baby Ubuntu programme and related research. This project seeks to give a voice to those caring for a child with developmental disabilities, providing an opportunity to hear their stories, and explore their narratives around hope and resilience to shift the narrative from negative social experiences to one of true togetherness and belonging.Methods A one-day workshop (Sept 2025) with Baby Ubuntu families will explore their lived experience through group discussions, co-facilitated by expert parents and youth researchers with disabilities. Small group discussions, storytelling and inclusive play activities will capture stories, quotes and photography embodying the sense of ‘togetherness and belonging’.Results Project outputs will include: an ‘Ubuntu storybook’ featuring the full-length family stories; an online exhibition of portrait photography around the theme of ‘togetherness and belonging’; and a ‘story-telling toolkit’ to guide implementation partner organisations in collecting their own caregiver and family stories.Conclusions Capturing and sharing the lived experiences of families of children with disabilities is crucial for deepening our understanding family’s needs. Capturing family experiences with dignity and ensuring families are recognized as experts in their own lives is essential. Family narratives that highlight resilience, belonging, and joy can help in transforming community beliefs and creating truly inclusive communities.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "Rachel Jayne Lassman"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom",
        "MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda"
      ],
      "name": "Carol Nanyunja"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Adara Development/ Kiwoko Hospital, Luwero, Uganda"
      ],
      "name": "Samuel Semakula"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "Lucy Mbabazi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, Uganda"
      ],
      "name": "Jaya Chandna"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "Cally Tann"
    }
  ],
  "title": "94 Voice of ‘Ubuntu’: an exploration of the power of ‘togetherness and belonging’ for children with developmental disabilities and their families",
  "uid": "8c17f2f2-b613-5389-b1f5-6f9570e39399"
}