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Sightsavers

Bangladesh

Mainstreaming Education of Children with Disabilities

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Sightsavers International combats blindness in developing countries

and supports people with irreversible blindness and other disability by promoting access to Education, Social Inclusion and

Capacity Development following a comprehensive approach linked

with community development and comprehensive eye health.

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Education Change Theme

Governments willensure that all

disabled childrenhave the

opportunity to receive a qualityeducation within

a wider educationsystem

Ultimate GoalShort-Mid Term Goal

Sightsavers willdemonstrate approaches

to delivering high quality education for

visually impaired children in their local

context which are scalable, adaptable and cost effective

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Education Theme Strategies:

• Develop demonstrable models to mainstream education and disseminate study findings for Advocacy• Participate in national consultation and advocacy • Engagement with education & disability coalitions• Build capacity of different players at different levels on inclusive education & practices• Special efforts to promote education of VI girls• Promote community based awareness• Establish national & divisional level resource centres

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Sightsavers Bangladesh contributes in Inclusive education through……:

- Creating enabling environment for learners with disabilities,

-Strengthening existing capacities of GO-NGO teacher, official and students,

- Developing demonstrable model and

- Aware community and advocacy initiatives.

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• Started since September 2004/05

• Focus: Mainstreaming or Inclusive Education for children with disabilities

• Category: Formal and Non-Formal Sector of Education

• Partners:

1. CBR partner organizations 2. Department of Social Services, Ministry of Social Welfare 3. Dhaka University 4. BRAC 5. Centre for Disability in Development (CDD)

Education Programme Interventions:

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a. Training on IE and Braille-

Teachers, Selp-help group

members, Parents of VI

children, Education offifcials,

Staff

b. Environmental adaptation of

school and classroom

c. Providing education materials

(Braille books- text & alphabet,

Braille writing frame,

Mathematic board, materials

for sports and games blind

cricket & Braille chess for VI

children etc.)

Activities:

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d. Counseling of teachers, peer students, Parents of disabled children

e. Advocacy with School Management Committee and local govt.

f. Establish ICT resource Centres for using Computer of VI chidlren

g. Link with govt. stipend

h. Appropriate teaching – learning process on Braille for VI & LV children in education and provide orientation and mobility training

Activities: 2

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• Strengthen the existing projects to show-case & advocate for change in policy & practice•Establish demonstrable schools (at least 10 for each organization)• Special initiative to increase number of VI girls and boys in schools•ICT training for VI children• Greater coordination between education and social inclusion efforts• Involve local VI leaders and community volunteers and build their capacities on education to build community based resource pool•Collaborate with education coalitions (national & global)

Future direction:

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Sample pictures on IE:

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