[afro-nets] Inclusive Education e-Newsletter

[Victoria Richardson <richardson.v@healthlink.org.uk>]

Inclusive Education e-Newsletter
--------------------------------

Dear friends,

In May 2005, over 60 participants with an interest in inclusive
education attended a three-day roundtable in Cambodia. Their ex-
periences and enthusiasm for the subject prompted the develop-
ment of this electronic newsletter. In it, we examine some of
the issues raised including, the inclusion of deaf children in
mainstream schools, the importance of giving parents a voice,
disabled teachers as role-models, and research opportunities in
inclusive education. We have also brought together a set of re-
sources which include practical guides on how to include dis-
abled children in the classroom, case-studies, guidance materi-
als for managers, policy documents, and specific resources for
parents.

Held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 2005, the event was hosted by
the Disability Action Council, Cambodia and was organised by
Healthlink Worldwide, UK as part of the Disability Knowledge and
Research programme (Disability KaR) funded by the Department of
International Development (DFID). This electronic newsletter was
produced by Healthlink Worldwide and Susie Miles of the Enabling
Education Network (EENET). Summaries of the articles are pro-
vided below with links to the full stories on the Disability KaR
website: http://www.disabilitykar.net

Contents:
1. Any questions at the roundtable?
2. Inclusive education policy and practice in Cambodia and Laos
3. Including deaf children in education
4. Role models - the issue of disabled teachers
5. Parent perspectives
6. Inclusive education research: its role in mainstreaming dis-
    ability
7. Key resource list

1. Any questions at the roundtable?
"When I die, what will happen to my disabled grand-child, who
will support him?" This was the first comment from a Cambodian
grand-parent when asked what she would like to say to the educa-
tional Ministries from Cambodia and Laos. Find out what else was
said at the roundtable...
http://www.disabilitykar.net/ie_news/any_questions.html

2. Inclusive education policy and practice in Cambodia and Laos
What are the differences and similarities between the countries
and what can other countries in the region learn...?
http://www.disabilitykar.net/ie_news/policy.html

3. Including deaf children in education
Are deaf children better off in mainstream schools, or should
they be educated with other deaf children? What is the reality
for deaf students in inclusive settings? These were some of the
questions raised at the roundtable. This article also provides
an overview of the situation in Cambodia, a country where sign
language is only just starting to be developed...
http://www.disabilitykar.net/ie_news/children.html

4. Role models - the issue of disabled teachers
Disabled teachers bring an understanding of the issues faced by
disabled children in school, and can inspire children to become
teachers and other professionals. Yet, in Cambodia legislation
prevents disabled people from becoming teachers in government
schools. This topic was fiercely debated at the roundtable and
the article includes case-studies from around the world...
http://www.disabilitykar.net/ie_news/teacher.html

5. Parent perspectives
Among parents and grandparents of disabled children all over the
world a major concern is what happens to their children as par-
ents get older. Donors and service providers, meanwhile, are
keen to understand what barriers prevent children from attending
mainstream schools. This article includes the experiences of two
mothers who attended the roundtable.
http://www.disabilitykar.net/ie_news/parent.html

6. Inclusive education research: its role in mainstreaming dis-
ability "Inclusive education is about children! They must be at
the centre of our discussions and represented in our research",
said one of the roundtable participants. Examining research op-
portunities was a main theme of the roundtable, with group work,
exercises, field visits and feedback sessions being run to iden-
tify areas for research for the Disability Knowledge and Re-
search programme and individuals and organisations to take for-
ward...
http://www.disabilitykar.net/ie_news/ed_research.html

7. Key resource list
We have brought together an inclusive education key list of re-
sources, produced with the Source International Information Cen-
tre. It includes practical guides on how to include disabled
children in the classroom, case-studies of inclusive education
experience, guidance materials for managers, policy documents,
and information for parents. As well as printed resources, the
list includes websites, e-forums and organisations...
http://www.disabilitykar.net/ie_news/ed_keylist.html

For more information on the Disability Knowledge and Research
Programme, please visit the website http://www.disabilitykar.net

Healthlink Worldwide http://www.healthlink.org.uk

The Enabling Education Network http://www.eenet.org.uk

For resources on health and disability issues please visit the
Source International Information Support Centre website
http://www.asksource.info/

If you have any comments about the e-newsletter or this email,
please send them to:
mailto:info@healthlink.org.uk

--
Victoria Richardson
mailto:richardson.v@healthlink.org.uk