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Leonard Cheshire project – SHR
- Oumar
- Senegal and Sierra Leone.
- February 1, 2026
Situation
Across Senegal and Sierra Leone, people living with disabilities face structural exclusion from essential health and social services. Discrimination, inaccessible facilities, communication barriers and limited financial resources prevent many from obtaining timely, dignified sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care. These barriers reinforce marginalization and undermine the rights and wellbeing of one of the region’s most vulnerable groups.
Assignment
Leonard Cheshire and Marie Stopes engaged the team to explore how SRH services could be redesigned to become accessible, inclusive and responsive to people living with disabilities—both at community level and within clinic environments.
Approach
The work followed a structured human-centred process. A literature review established existing evidence and gaps. Field research with clients, caregivers and providers surfaced lived experiences, access barriers and service expectations. Co-creation sessions informed ideation, followed by iterative refinement of concepts to ensure feasibility, cultural relevance and inclusivity. The final stage translated insights into actionable service and product recommendations.
Result
The team developed communication tools to support both community outreach workers and clinic staff in engaging effectively with people living with disabilities. Adapted clinical equipment and revised spatial layouts were proposed to improve comfort, privacy and accessibility. Clear recommendations were provided to guide clinics in delivering a more positive, inclusive SRH experience—setting the foundation for disability-responsive service delivery across both countries.