Background

The World Health Organization estimates that one billion people in the world experience some sort of disability. Of those, almost 150 million are estimated to be children. Most developing countries such as India are not adequately prepared to accommodate students with disabilities in schools. Plan International estimates that students with disabilities are 10 times less likely to go to school than those without a disability. Unfortunately, those in low-income groups are more adversely affected. It is estimated that 90 percent of children with disabilities belonging to low-income households do not attend school. 

There are several reasons for this. Historically, children with disabilities have been segregated from the greater community because of the stigma associated with disability. Access to schools and learning opportunities is also scarce because of mobility challenges and a lack of infrastructure to accommodate disability. With no other solution, these children are often forced to stay at home and do not get the same opportunities as children who do not suffer from any disability. 

Education is a fundamental human right and thus access to education is something that every single child should have. It is the responsibility of governments and education systems to ensure that each child is receiving high-quality education irrespective of their background or their disability status. Accessibility means that all students with disabilities should be able to acquire the same information, interact as much in the classroom, and enjoy the same experiences as other students. Although we are still a long way from ensuring complete accessibility to students with disabilities, steps are being taken in the right direction. The government implements several schemes aimed at supporting children with disabilities, and NGOs are also actively working in this realm. However, an area that still requires much more investment and support is the infrastructure that is available to students. This is where the Accessible Schools Network steps in.