To achieve quality education for all, disability inclusion is critical

Digital education and disability inclusion: our presentations

In response to the conference theme, our teams delivered five presentations focusing on disability inclusion and digital education covering everything from early years learning to data to gender-based violence:

• My presentation highlighted the dangers that children with disabilities face in being excluded from education systems because of the challenges in accessing appropriate technology. Read Ronnie’s presentation (pdf)
• My colleague Sapana Basnet demonstrated the fact that the digital divide in education further worsens socio-economic inequities for young people with disabilities. Those from rural, low income or otherwise marginalised communities are disproportionately impacted, as are girls and learners who are blind or visually impaired. Read Sapana’s presentation (pdf)
• Julia de Kadt participated in a panel on disability inclusion in education management information systems organised by Sightsavers, sharing preliminary findings from our study on the integration of the Washington Group Short Set questions in Pakistan’s annual school census, highlighting the importance and scale of the undertaking. While the census represented a significant commitment to disability inclusion, challenges with its implementation meant that very few children with functional difficulties or disabilities were identified. Read Julia’s presentation (pdf)
• Steven Kaindaneh presented learnings from our gender-based violence research project in Sierra Leone, funded by Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI). The project uses digital research methods to put the voices of schoolchildren with disabilities at the centre of efforts to combat school-related gender-based violence. Read Steven’s presentation (pdf)
• Sheru Muuo led a poster discussion based on findings from our research in Kenya, which explored teachers’ perspectives on disability-inclusive pre-school learning environments for children with disabilities. Read Sheru’s presentation (pdf)

Signs of progress

There was a lot of interaction between Sheru and other participants around the findings of the research conducted in Kenya, and many people we spoke to really want to do the right things to support children with disabilities but struggle to know where or how to start.

At Sightsavers, we’re committed to inclusive education. We know that disability must be considered, and programmes made inclusive from the start, if we are to address the inequality facing children with disabilities and make progress towards SDG 4: Quality education. We’re keen to share what we’ve learned through our projects, and to collaborate with others who have the same commitment to education that leaves no child behind.

Despite our disappointment around the limited number of presentations addressing disability inclusion – in fact, because of it – we’ll continue attending global and national education events to remind actors in this space, both implementers and funders, that education for all can only be fully achieved when children with disabilities can access their right to learn.