Worldwide, it’s estimated there are 93-150 million children with disabilities. Although accurate data is not available, one reputable recent study found that approximately 40 per cent of children with disabilities in low and middle income countries are out of school at primary level, and 55 per cent at lower secondary level. Another study of 15 low and middle income countries found that disability reduces the probability of school attendance by a median 30.9 percentage points. In West and Central Africa, children with disabilities are kept out of school by poor policy and political commitment and action, inadequate data, inaccessible facilities and services including protection and prevention of gender based violence, poor governance, conflict and crises.
Publication date: October 2020
The Put Us in the Picture website teaches schoolchildren in Ireland about inclusive education and disability in low income countries.
An inclusive education project in Malawi is challenging stigma and changing lives by enabling young children with disabilities to attend pre-school alongside their peers.
As leaders from more than 80 countries gathered at the summit, Sightsavers highlighted the need for policy commitments on the rights of children with disabilities.