Over 90% of children with disabilities in developing countries do not have access to education. (Source: UNESCO Website
Link: http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=24155&URL_DO=DO_PRINTPAGE&URL_SECTION=201.html.)

Denial of education denies basic employment skills. As a result people with disabilities often remain powerless to break the cycle of poverty.

Children with disabilities face many barriers in terms of education:
 

1. Physical barriers: For example, the distance to school and steps prevents access for wheelchair users.
2. Social and cultural barriers: Community attitudes, prejudice low expectation from parents often contribute to exclusion. Girls are especially likely to be excluded.
3. Teachers’ attitudes, poor resources, and inappropriate curriculum also prevent children with disabilities from quality education.

Leonard Cheshire Disability facilitates inclusive education of children with disabilities by:

• Training teachers
• Making schools physically accessible through construction of ramps and adapted toilets
• Promoting socialisation among children through recreational clubs
• Lobbying with the government at policy level 

Click here to download “Breaking Barriers – Inclusive Education in South Asia”, a SARO publication.