Education Suppport to Children with Disabilities

The United Nations Convention recognizes the rights to education for children with disability. It is an issue of fundamental right and justice. India is a signatory to that charter. Earlier, the disability issues was treated as issues of medical importance, and the focus was on providing medical care to the disabled. Now, the dimensions are shifting towards developmental, right based, identity, dignity, participation and human rights issues.

Due to lack of awareness, poverty, and structural barriers, many physically challenged children are left out of school. They are often considered not fit for education. On the contrary, it is only education which can help them overcome the challenges imposed by their physical conditions.

To encourage the education of those who are physically challenged, in addition to being socially and economically backward, Margadarshi continuously engages in supporting such children by putting them back into the mainstream education system through counselling, scholarship, residential and other required support services. Since all the children under the education program are with disability, various types of therapy and provisions of assistive devices are integrated with the program. The other major supporting factors for education of these children are their parents. In order to equip them with skills to manage disability, and to develop the attitude to respond to the educational needs of their children, a series of structured parents’ training workshops are being conducted by Margadarshi. Our final aim is that they should end up in gainful employment.

Short Term

• District and block level authority will support inclusive education.

• 200 Children with disability (CWD), from being resigned to their fate, will get emancipated to a life of self-esteem, dignity and productivity and be a role model to other children with disability which leads to a greater impact in their communities.

• Maximum mobility and functional ability for CWDs

• Improvement in confidence level and co-ordination ability for 200 CWDs.

• Children will participate in inclusive environment and enhance leadership in their life

Orientation sessions for 250 schools teachers, school development and monitoring committees (sdmc) in admitting children with disabilities.

• 5 block level child groups and one district level federation function effectively.

Long Term

• Success stories of these 200 children will motivate other children/parents to focus on education

• To engage 200 parents in the entire process.

• Promotion of equal opportunities to children with disability in mainstream school.

• 250 schools will support inclusive education.

• By sharing lessons and results of this project, Margadarshi will sensitize communities and establishments to promote inclusion and ensure basic human rights to people with disability.

• 5 block level child right groups will negotiate with block level, and district level federations, and also negotiate with district level officials