Ensuring Inclusion Defining concepts and Identifying Indicators

The Right to Education Convention on the Rights of the Child Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 28 Article States Parties recognize the right of the child to education… and on the basis of equal opportunity 1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to education… and on the basis of equal opportunity Article 23 Article Recognizing the special needs of a disabled child, assistance shall be designed to ensure that the disabled child has effective access to and receives education… preparation for employment…conducive…to achieving the fullest possible social integration and individual development… 3. Recognizing the special needs of a disabled child, assistance shall be designed to ensure that the disabled child has effective access to and receives education… preparation for employment…conducive…to achieving the fullest possible social integration and individual development…

Definitions No satisfactory, workable definition of disability applicable to all situation and inclusive of all variables exists No satisfactory, workable definition of disability applicable to all situation and inclusive of all variables exists Available statistics are not sufficient Available statistics are not sufficient Indicators are theoretical and do not relate to a socially operational and universal understanding of disability Indicators are theoretical and do not relate to a socially operational and universal understanding of disability

Defining Disability Definition of disability for statistical purposes should take into account: Definition of disability for statistical purposes should take into account: Disability is a condition not a description of the child Disability is a condition not a description of the child Disability implies the existence of an impairment or limitations Disability implies the existence of an impairment or limitations restricting activity and participation restricting activity and participation reducing function reducing function

Defining disability Disability as “handicap” Disability as “handicap” When social, economic, environmental and cultural circumstances place persons with impairment or disability at a disadvantage compared to others When social, economic, environmental and cultural circumstances place persons with impairment or disability at a disadvantage compared to others Defining disability from a medical perspective Defining disability from a medical perspective does not address environmental and social factors does not address environmental and social factors places the emphasis on the individual places the emphasis on the individual does not address the relationship between the individual and the environment does not address the relationship between the individual and the environment

Definition  Disability involves a dysfunction at one or more of these levels: impairments impairments activity limitations activity limitations participation restrictions participation restrictions All of which should take into consideration issues of “access”, “inclusion”, “needs”, “services” All of which should take into consideration issues of “access”, “inclusion”, “needs”, “services”

Disability and Education It is important to note: It is important to note: the type of impairment the type of impairment the definition of the impairment the definition of the impairment criteria governing the impairment criteria governing the impairment equally important is the extent to which: equally important is the extent to which: Impairment and environment are a barrier to learning Impairment and environment are a barrier to learning

Education And the kinds of indicators required to achieve: And the kinds of indicators required to achieve: Access Access Meet learning goals Meet learning goals Ensure inclusion and full participation Ensure inclusion and full participation

Identifying indicators Indicators should be: Indicators should be: Qualitative & quantitative Qualitative & quantitative Simple & complex Simple & complex Clear, relevant Clear, relevant Lend themselves to interpretation Lend themselves to interpretation Easy to calculate from reliable, timely data Easy to calculate from reliable, timely data Able to measure change over time Able to measure change over time

Education Indicators relating to the Standard Rules The office of the UN Special Rapporteur has devised the following questions to gather indicators on education inclusion for persons with disabilities: The office of the UN Special Rapporteur has devised the following questions to gather indicators on education inclusion for persons with disabilities:

Question on Rule 6 What actions has your government taken to ensure the education of persons with disabilities in integrated settings? What actions has your government taken to ensure the education of persons with disabilities in integrated settings? ( ) Adopting policies ( ) Passing legislation ( ) Adopting programmes ( ) Allocating financial resources ( ) Modifying and adapting schools to the needs of children with disabilities ( ) Training teachers & school administrators ( ) Providing accessible schools, classrooms & educational materials ( ) Involving organizations of persons with disabilities in planning & implementing

Rule 6 In your country, is education available to: In your country, is education available to: ( )Children with disabilities ( )Women with disabilities ( )Low-income, working class and poor persons with disabilities ( )Disabled persons from all ethnic groups ( )Disabled persons from all religious groups ( )Disabled persons in all communities (urban, rural, agricultural, tribal, indigenous, migrant, refugee, illegal aliens) ( )All types of disabilities (including psycho-social & developmental disabilities)

Rule 6 In your country, does education for persons with disabilities include the use of In your country, does education for persons with disabilities include the use of ( ) Sign language interpreters ( ) Educational materials in Braille ( ) Lessons on tape ( ) Educational materials & teaching methods appropriate to children with intellectual disabilities ( ) Programmes for children whose needs cannot be met in integrated settings

Rule 6 Other than educational authorities, are the following groups involved in the educational process for children & adults with disabilities? Other than educational authorities, are the following groups involved in the educational process for children & adults with disabilities? ( )Parents of children with disabilities ( )Organizations of persons with disabilities ( )NGOs dealing with children ( )The community

Methods of identification: Children with disabilities: Children with disabilities: Instituting a Child Find Policy Instituting a Child Find Policy To ensure that all children, regardless of the severity of their disability, and who need special education and related services are identified, located, and evaluated. This applies to children in private, public, religious schools, mobile children (i.e. migrant, homeless, nomadic, rural, street children, working children), and children suspected of having a disability and are in need of special education

Identification: Child Find Method Child Find should also include practical method of determining whether children are currently receiving needed special education and related services, and what types of special education and related services needed Child Find should also include practical method of determining whether children are currently receiving needed special education and related services, and what types of special education and related services needed

Evaluation A full and individual evaluation of the child’s educational needs must be conducted by qualified professionals to determine: A full and individual evaluation of the child’s educational needs must be conducted by qualified professionals to determine:  Whether the child has a disability  The present levels of performance and educational needs  Whether the child needs special education and related services  Whether additions or modifications are needed to enable the child to meet the measurable educational goals

Assessment The child must be assessed in all areas related to the suspected disability The child must be assessed in all areas related to the suspected disability no single criterion can be used to determine whether the child has a disability no single criterion can be used to determine whether the child has a disability Tests must be “accessible”, relevant, standardized, non-discriminatory and used to gather a variety of developmental and functional information Tests must be “accessible”, relevant, standardized, non-discriminatory and used to gather a variety of developmental and functional information

Disability Types Types of Impairments Types of Impairments Autism Autism Blindness Blindness Deafness Deafness Deafness-Blindness Deafness-Blindness Emotional Disturbance Emotional Disturbance Hearing Impairment Hearing Impairment Learning Disabilities Learning Disabilities Mental retardation Mental retardation Orthopedic Impairment Orthopedic Impairment Speech and Language Impairment Speech and Language Impairment Traumatic Brain Injury Traumatic Brain Injury Visual Impairment Visual Impairment

Criteria Criteria for each type of disability is needed to help identify the presence and degree of the disability and determine the best responses and the special educational needs. Criteria for each type of disability is needed to help identify the presence and degree of the disability and determine the best responses and the special educational needs. What type of disability What type of disability What are the criteria that identify the disability What are the criteria that identify the disability What the needs of the child who has that disability What the needs of the child who has that disability

Universality Global consensus is that education for some is no longer acceptable in any country & in any system Global consensus is that education for some is no longer acceptable in any country & in any system The universal right is recognized in international & regional instruments Yet children and people with disabilities remain excluded from education, even in some industrialized countries

EFA Frameworks EFA Frameworks for Asia-Pacific, for Africa, for Sub-Sahara, for the Arab region all included disability as an indicator for assessing EFA targets EFA Frameworks for Asia-Pacific, for Africa, for Sub-Sahara, for the Arab region all included disability as an indicator for assessing EFA targets But there are still no universal indicators, measures, criteria to assess and evaluate inclusion, integration and full participation of children with disabilities in education at all levels But there are still no universal indicators, measures, criteria to assess and evaluate inclusion, integration and full participation of children with disabilities in education at all levels

No child left behind Moving from slogan to implementable reality requires: Moving from slogan to implementable reality requires: Consensus on definitions Consensus on definitions Consensus on indicators Consensus on indicators Universal instruments of measurement Universal instruments of measurement Universal guidelines for intervention that can be tailored to the realities of the community, country, region, as well as the family, the educational institution Universal guidelines for intervention that can be tailored to the realities of the community, country, region, as well as the family, the educational institution

No child left behind Participation, collaboration of governments, international organizations, educational institutions, educators, DPOs, families of persons with disabilities, users and producers of statistical data and information Participation, collaboration of governments, international organizations, educational institutions, educators, DPOs, families of persons with disabilities, users and producers of statistical data and information

In the absence of these there can be no sound policies for the full integration of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life In the absence of these there can be no sound policies for the full integration of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life