Educating Children with Educating Children with Special NeedsSpecial Needs

Advocacy, Social Mobilization and Innovation for Inclusive

Primary Education

A.H.M. Noman KhanExecutive DirectorCentre for Disability in Development (CDD)

Inclusive education: Inclusive education: The Definition:The Definition:

Inclusive education means that all students in a school, regardless of their

strengths or weaknesses in any area, become part of the school community.

They are included in the feeling of belonging among other students,

teachers, and support staff.

Inclusive Education: Inclusive Education: as a developmental approachas a developmental approach

Inclusive education is a developmental approach seeking to address the

learning needs of all children, youth and adults with a specific focus on those who are vulnerable to marginalisation

and exclusion.

Inclusive Education: Inclusive Education: The principleThe principle

Inclusion involves all kinds of practices that are ultimately practices

of good teaching.

What good teachers do is to think thoughtfully about children and

develop ways to reach all children.

Communication for Development (C4D)Communication for Development (C4D)

Definition : Communication for development stresses the need to support two-way communication systems that enable dialogue and that allow communities to speak out, express their aspirations and concerns and participate in the decisions that relate to their development.

Ref: In 1997, through Article 6 of General Assembly Resolution 51/172, the United Nations adopted the formal definition of Communication for Development.

C4D frameworkC4D framework

C4D framework uses a multilevel analysis of social and behavioral obstacles for quality education grounded in the analytical premises of the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM).

This analytical framework distinguishes four levels:

1. Individual / family2. Community3. Institutional4. Policy / System

Educating children with disabilities Educating children with disabilities in the context of Bangladesh in the context of Bangladesh

A Conceptual FrameworkA Conceptual Framework

Degrees (%) Types of

Disabilities Mild

Moderate

Severe

Profound

Physical Hearing & Speech

Visual Intellectual Multiple

P L A C E M E N T

P O L I C Y

Outcomes

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Referral Service

Assessment

Curriculum Design

Screening

Learning Potential

Mastering competencies for Functional Literacy, Life Skills and Activities of

Daily Living

Inclusion into

Mainstream Education

Integrated Education

Alternative Services (Home

Services)

Special Education

Cognitive Development

Personal Development

Social Integration

Educational Settings

Present Scenario

Socioeconomic Factors

Support Service

A Strategic Structure for Multilevel Involvement in EducationA Strategic Structure for Multilevel Involvement in Education

National Level Secondary Level Primary LevelMinistry, Directorates,

Departments & National CommitteesLocal Administration,

Facilitating NGOs, DPOsTeachers, Parents, SMC,

Community, Learners, Self Help Groups

Policy formulation and execution Creation of scopes and facilities Facilitate execution

Review and analysisof existing policies

Adaptation of local policies Sensitization and awareness raising

Policy Formulation & Adaptation

Development of national execution plan

Adaptation in national budgets

Adaptation of training packages

Human resource development

Creation of accessibility and otherrequired facilities

Technical resource integration at local level

Sensitization and awareness raising

Monitoring and Evaluation

Information exchange at various level

Inclusion of learners

Counseling and motivation

Ensuring teaching and mobility aids

Resource linkages for technical assistance

Monitoring and Evaluation

InclusionInclusion

Creating access to Primary Creating access to Primary Education of children with Education of children with

disabilitiesdisabilities

An Example of Practice in Bangladesh:

Implemented byCentre for Disability in Development (CDD)

Strategies and Actions…Strategies and Actions…

Advocacy:

Policy review and influence for information National and sub-national dialogue Day observations and demonstrations Publication and exhibition Review of teachers training and education curriculum Networking with national and sub-national stakeholders

Strategies and Actions…Strategies and Actions…

Social Mobilization:

Awareness raising & sensitization at all level including media

Formation and strengthening of pressure groups Involvement of parents into decision making process Radio and TV spot Case studies Promoting greater participation of persons with disabilities Learning sharing through exchange program

Strategies and Actions…Strategies and Actions…

Support Services:

Screening and assessment Building capacity of partner organizations and self-help groups Teaching and learning aids e.g. sign language, Braille books,

BEKAS box etc. Rehabilitation services for the children with disabilities Building accessible infrastructure Assistive devices Linkages with safety nets and livelihood programs

Strategies and Actions…Strategies and Actions…Few Innovations: Development of Basic Education Kit to Access in School (BEKAS) Development of Bangla Braille soft ware e.g. Braille to text and text to

Braille Pilot program on non-formal inclusive school e.g. Promotion of

Disability Inclusive Education Program (PRODIEP) School Pilot program on Anandashala School for autistic children in a public

university for sensitizing university teachers and students Formation of Local Ambassador (LAM) groups and Disability Friends

Club (DFC) in public university Capacity building of production of Braille slates, tailor frames, sign

language and sign language manuals and booklets

Some notable Achievements…Some notable Achievements…(2009 - 2013)(2009 - 2013)

Facilitates Mainstreaming Education in 500 schools with over 3000 learners with different disabilities

Children with disabilities identified with disability and learning assessment

Children with disabilities are enjoying mainstream primary education with teachers and peer learners

Drop out rates of learners with disabilities are negligible (6% only)

Trained teachers available with confidence to address learners with different disabilities

Some notable Achievements…Some notable Achievements…(2009 - 2013)(2009 - 2013)

Greater awareness about education rights of children with disabilities

Functional ability of Children with disabilities increased

Parents are in SMC Active pressure groups: self-help groups, Disability

Friends Club, Local Ambassador Groups and civil society organizations

Linkages with existing resources and opportunities Recognition of PNGOs

Challenges..Challenges.. Inadequate no of trained teachers Teacher – student ratio Drop-out and transfer of trained teachers Migration of learners with disabilities Distance and access road condition Protection of girls with disabilities Addressing individual disability specific needs Attaining government support Dealing with poverty issues Education in disaster situation

The way forward..The way forward.. Effective linkage with pre-primary-primary-secondary

schools and higher education Greater advocacy at Government sector for policy

implementation Inclusion of disability issues in Government Teachers

Training process Practice teaching opportunities Training of required no of teachers

The way forward..The way forward..

Greater emphasis on needs of girls with disabilities…gender perspective

Involvement of DPOs and Self-help groups Accessibility to and within education institutes Focus more on quality of education Education and Health-Nutrition-WAT_SAN-Recreation

Some Pictures……….Some Pictures……….

Children with disabilities & other School children are participating in rally

in community on their right to education

A low vision child is playing with other non-disabled child in school.

A low vision child is reading with the help of

trained teacher.

Teachers and members of school management

authorities are engaged in a group work in an advocacy

workshop

School children are preparing to start a rally on primary eye care in community

Social communication meeting on identifying eye diseases in a village

with housewives

PRODIEP school, when it was started….with it’s learners

PRODIEP school, After two years….with adapted

environment for the children with disabilities

School children are participating in art competition on “My friend with Disability”

A total blind girl is attending a inclusive

school & reading with the help of trained teacher

A physically challenged child is using ramp to go to classroom. His friends

are helping him.

Trained rehabilitation worker is sensitizing

the school children on Inclusive education by

using flashcards.

Teachers are involve in a group work in training session

on Inclusive education

Blackboard has been adapted as per the

height of the low vision child.

A low vision child is writing on board

Trained teacher is helping two low vision child while

other non-disabled children are writing their class work

A low vision child is reading with magnifying

glass with the help of trained teacher

A low vision girl is playing with her friends is school.

Trained teacher is helping a physically challenged boy & the trained supervisor

(total blind) is helping a total blind learner in classroom activities.

School children are participating in essay

competition on “My friend with disability”

A visually impaired girl is going to school

with her friend in school.

Trained teacher is helping a speech and hearing impaired

child in class.

An intellectually disabled child is sitting in front of the class

with other non-disabled children and drawing with the

help of trained teacher

A girl with cleft lip is busy in class.

Adapted toilet in a primary school in

community

A hearing impaired girl is indicating map of

Bangladesh to trained teacher in a secondary

high school.

All children are playing… hard to identify the

disabled child!!

Children with disabilities are performing in a cultural program

Thanks

Lets work together to build a Lets work together to build a barrier free and inclusive society barrier free and inclusive society

for allfor all

School for all!!!

Thanks..Thanks..