Ministry of Social Justice and #UNICEF launch guidebook on ‘Making Schools Accessible to Children with Disabilities’
Ministry of Social Justice and UNICEF launch guidebook on ‘Making Schools Accessible to Children with Disabilities’
NEW DELHI, 20 December 2016: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in partnership with the UNICEF launched a guidebook on ‘Making Schools Accessible to Children with Disabilities’, today in the presence of media, government officials, school administrators, school management committees and parents. The guidebook seeks to address the physical/infrastructural barriers that children with disabilities may face within schools.
“Right to quality inclusive education is every child’s right irrespective of class, caste, race, gender, geographical origin and abilities. The guidebook aims to help create accessible schools that give a fair chance to all children, including children with different abilities “, said Hon’ble Minister Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot
The launch comes in the backdrop of the passage of The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, by the parliament on 16 of December. It will help fulfill the promise of the Bill, as well as of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and the Prime Minister’s Accessible India Campaign.
“Children with disabilities are amongst the most marginalised and excluded when it comes to education. The curriculum, teaching and learning materials for children with disabilities need to be inclusive and responsive to their individual needs so that all children can learn together,” said Louis Georges Arsenault, UNICEF India Representative. “School infrastructure and facilities within schools should be accessible to all, which is the focus of the guidebook launched today,” he added.
Inclusive education is critical to promote the participation and learning for these children. The guidebook details the infrastructural barriers children with disabilities may face in schools and provides practical solutions for making the physical environment of a school safe and accessible for these children. The book also provides a checklist which is a simple tool to check accessibility in schools.
“We often face challenges for fully participating in school. Measures which make schools are accessible to all children and are inclusive will go a long way to support our learning in school”, shared Yaswant Karketta, a 15-year-old child with visual impairment.
About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org
