Why are so many disabled children being denied an education?
Cultural beliefs, prejudice, indifference, and inaccessible schools all have a part to play in the exclusion of disabled children ....
Indifference: Even many community leaders and teachers are indifferent to the needs of disabled children, believing wrongly that they have little potential and cannot be taught.
Lack of access: Steep steps, narrow doors and inaccessible toilets - in some of the poorest countries of the world, schools are often in very basic buildings, which are inaccessible for disabled children who use wheelchairs or crutches.
School's may also lack basic features which help disabled pupils to learn,
such as well lit classrooms to help visually impaired children – or specialist equipment like Braille kits.
Prejudice: For disabled children, there is a wall of prejudice to face. Tom was bullied and called names because he seemed ‘different’. Disabled children are often shunned by communities, seen as ‘lesser beings’ and denied basic rights to healthcare and education.
Lack of health care: Lack of health care may also mean that conditions which can and should be controlled, such as epilepsy, are not treated.
Disabled children may also miss out on essential services such as physiotherapy which can help them to improve their mobility.
Cultural beliefs: Parents are often made to feel ashamed of having disabled children, as if it's a punishment for something they have done wrong. They feel pressured to hide their children, to keep them at home instead of encouraging them to go to school.Children are even made to believe you can 'catch' a condition like epilepsy.
"We thought that disability meant inability. We know differently now"
such as well lit classrooms to help visually impaired children – or specialist equipment like Braille kits.
Prejudice: For disabled children, there is a wall of prejudice to face. Tom was bullied and called names because he seemed ‘different’. Disabled children are often shunned by communities, seen as ‘lesser beings’ and denied basic rights to healthcare and education.
"We used to call disabled children names such as 'imbecile' and 'idiot'. Even our sympathy was a form of neglect. Disabled children need opportunity not sympathy."
"There are many cultural beliefs about disability; old wives' tales that 'disability is a curse from God'."
Cultural beliefs: Parents are often made to feel ashamed of having disabled children, as if it's a punishment for something they have done wrong. They feel pressured to hide their children, to keep them at home instead of encouraging them to go to school.Children are even made to believe you can 'catch' a condition like epilepsy.