Children With Disabilities Greater Learning Opportunities through Online

Greater Learning Opportunities through Online
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Globally, about 16 percent of the population lives with some form of disability. Of this, 83 percent live in developing countries. They face many obstacles and are more likely to experience adverse socioeconomic consequences. World Health Organization now considers disability a human rights issue? It emphasizes that people are handicapped by society and not by their body.

Children With Disabilities

Children With Disabilities Do Not Go To School: UNESCO

    • 1) Ninety percent of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school, says UNESCO.
    • 2) The dropout rate is also high due to lack of adequate infrastructure, inaccessible reading material and untrained teachers.
    • 3) Most of the children with disabilities are not equipped with the basic skills for employment.
    • 4) According to the United Nations, 80 to 90 percent of disabled people in developing countries are unemployed, while in industrialized countries it is between 50 and 70 percent.
    • 5) In most countries, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is at least twice that of people who have no disabilities.

Pandemic has Reshaped Education for Us

The pandemic has made us realize how technology is reshaping education. The lockdown rapidly shifted schools towards online education. This metamorphosis of the education system has far-reaching effects on children with disabilities.

    1. Online education has the potential to make learning more accessible for persons with disabilities.
    2. It takes care of the physical constraints created by the transportation and mobility issues.
    3. Children get the benefit of learning from the safety and comfort of their own homes.
    4. It saves them from unnecessary barriers to attending physical schools.
    5. Students with disabilities in higher education can also have access to lectures, libraries and resources without the need to physically navigate remote campuses.
    6. Online learning, in both synchronous and asynchronous modes, offers additional flexibility and the advantage of self-paced learning.
    7. Allows review of e-learning material and viewing of video lectures over and over again.
    8. Various assistive technologies such as screen readers, text magnifiers, speech recognition software, Braille keyboards, sign language interpreters, subtitled videos, audio recordings, etc. can be used.

Fast Growing Internet Penetration

Internet penetration is increasing rapidly. As of January 2021 report, more than 82 percent of the youth population in 104 countries is online. Of the 831 million young people who go online, 319 million (39 percent) are in China and India, which are among the countries with the most disabilities.

50 Percent Drop In Internet Services

This is a good sign for online education. Children are quick learners and adapt rapidly. With enough support, the adoption of e-learning may not be a big challenge. With technical support and assistive devices, it is possible to train children with disabilities in a variety of skills.
Internet services prices have dropped by an average of 50-55 percent over the past three years, and broadband and mobile services are available at much higher speeds.

Online Education Can Prove To Be A Turn Off Wheel

An International Labour Organization report states that advances in the digital economy are creating unprecedented work opportunities for the disabled. With the rise of the gig economy, most of the work is being done from home, creating new job opportunities for physically restricted PWDs.

The 2030-31 Sustainable Development Goal focuses on “inclusive and quality education for all”. With barely nine years left for the target, more steps will have to be taken. Governments and educational bodies have an important role to play in making ICT accessible to students with disabilities. Online education can prove to be a turn off wheel for persons with disabilities in their quest to lead a meaningful life.