05/12/2017
It is now estimated that over one billion people 15% of the world’s population live
with some form of disability, and of these, between 110 and 190 million have
significant difficulties in functioning. Though there is a lack of accurate data in this
field, the estimated number of children with disabilities between 0 and 18 years old
ranges between 93 million and 150 million, with roughly 5.1% of all children
aged 0-14 years (93 million) living with a moderate or severe disability and 0.7%, or 13 million children, living with a severe disability. According to UNICEF, more than 80% of children with disabilities live in developing countries and have little or no access to appropriate services.
Most of these children have little or no access to education, and if they do manage to go school, are often amongst the most marginalized and excluded of all groups, and this exclusion can be compounded by gender, age and ethnicity, as well as where the child lives. All children have the fundamental right and ability to learn, irrespective of their individual differences and needs: this is the core principle and assumption underpinning Inclusive Education. Inclusive Education is a dynamic, continuing process which facilitates the presence, participation and achievement of all students in the education system. It therefore looks beyond the issue of basic access to schooling, prioritizing a quality education which enables all children to enrich their learning and achieve their full potential. Successful, inclusion requires a fundamental rethink of school (and learning) cultures to ensure they are flexible and responsive to all students, taking into account the diversity of students’ needs and rights.