Before the COVID-19 pandemic, children with disabilities were less likely to be learning even if they were in school. Since the start of the pandemic, school closures have led to a greater learning crisis, creating increased exclusion, marginalisation and poverty for children with disabilities and a growing digital divide.
And when children are denied their right to education, they become trapped in a cycle of poverty and dependence.
We make schools more inclusive for children with disabilities. We make sure lessons are stimulating and classrooms are as accessible as possible, and we ensure children with disabilities have the necessary equipment, receive specialist support and can learn with their peers.
We promote inclusive education throughout communities. We encourage parents to play an active part in education. ‘Mothers’ clubs’ have been set up in Sierra Leone to make school uniforms for students with disabilities, and community members in Malawi help young children to travel to pre-school using adapted bicycles.
We work with governments to improve education systems. We make sure schools get the support they need: we develop teacher training and help ministries of education collect data on children with disabilities enrolled in their schools, and promote joined-up services by linking health and social services with schools and families.
We work with disabled people’s organisations. We partner with groups across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia to ensure people with disabilities have a meaningful say in education decision-making.
We support children with disabilities in their early years, making sure they're included in pre-schools so they're set up to achieve from an early age.
Our education programme supports children with disabilities to learn in mainstream schools alongside their peers.
In Malawi, we work with partners to ensure young children with disabilities can learn, play and develop alongside their peers.
Sightsavers’ Mariana Rudge shares how world leaders at the Transforming Education Summit responded to our call to take action on inclusive education.
Sightsavers’ Liesbeth Roolvink shares the work we’re doing in programme countries to help transform education systems so that all children can go to school.