Taking the Campaign Forward…. INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

Re-looking at Inclusive Education Inclusive Education- All students in a school, regardless of their strengths or weaknesses in any area, become part of the school community. The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( IDEA) and its 1997 amendments – Schools have a duty to educate children with disabilities in general education classrooms.

Mission.. To advocate for an education system which will have the necessary conditions of “education for all” irrespective of their strengths and weaknesses, abilities and disabilities.

OBJECTIVES of the Campaign To form a pressure group in ensuring the implementation of inclusive education in the school system. To identify the gaps and loopholes in the existing policies and Acts through policy and legal analysis, and advocate for amendments. To find out the existing status of implementation of PWD Act through a study. To pressurize the authorities into ensuring the implementation and monitoring of PWD Act in all schools of the state. To sensitize the school authorities and the parents about the existing rights and the benefits of inclusive education.

Some of the Demands… Ensuring implementation of PWD Act Every child to be integrated into the mainstream system of education  Teachers to be trained  Admission criteria  Curriculum and examination system to be changed  Accessibility to schools and hostels  Demand for 3 % resevation Etc. To be determined by the volunteers

PHASE – 1- APRIL- October 2007 A review of the existing status of implementation of inclusive education through a study. Conducting survey and drafting report Inclusive education – Gap between Rhetoric and Reality  Find out whether the children with disabilities are getting admission in regular school and able to continue in the existing system  Illuminate the experiences of students with disabilities and their parents who have been included in the mainstream school  ACTIVITIES Undertaken : Findings of study shared at International Convention on Disability Press coverage Presentation of findings at meeting with Dr. Javed Abidi Organization of the workshop on the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability

PHASE - 2 Adding momentum to the campaign through -Active advocacy ( media coverage, memos to school authorities, notices in schools, organizing workshop and seminars, negotiation with the concerned departments and ministry for amendments and implementation, etc) -Spreading awareness - Networking with existing groups- Parent’s groups, teachers groups etc - Inviting more people into the movement - Forming pressure groups

Plan for Campaign strategy Letters to school authorities Formally launching the report and publishing it Seminars Signature Campaigns Organizing workshops with schools Networking with parents groups and teacher’s groups Press conference Meetings with relevant divisions and ministries

Follow Up Access audits Petitions Media coverage Etc..