Every disabled and able child has the right to go to school

Image credit: CBM (Courtesy of UNICEF Australia)

LIVING with a disability in the developed world can be a struggle. Living with a disability in poverty can be an unimaginable struggle.

International Day of People with Disability was on Monday, December 3.

The day aims to promote an understanding of people with disability and encourage support for their dignity, rights and well-being.

Disability is a growing issue in our region and extreme poverty can cause disability through poor nutrition, inadequate working conditions and a lack of access to clean water, sanitation and health care.

According to AusAID, children with disability are less likely than their peers to start and to complete school.

In fact, in low income countries only 46 per cent of males with disability and 33 per cent of females with disability have completed primary school, compared with 56 per cent of males and 42 per cent of females without disabilities respectively.

“A child who has to struggle with a disability and poverty should be totally unacceptable and non-existent in today’s world,” Ms Maree Nutt, National Manager of RESULTS, said.

RESULTS’ Education for All Report released earlier this year recommends mainstreaming disability into education by adapting buildings and classrooms appropriately so that students can attend and that teachers and support staff are adequately trained in adaptive curricular and resources, i.e. braille.

“There needs to be better monitoring of disability plans in developing countries education programs,” Ms Nutt continued. 

As a leading donor on education, Australia should use its influence at the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to push for greater measures so that disabled children can go to school.

“Every child, disabled and able, has the right to go to school,” Ms Nutt affirmed.