Dr Gauthier de Beco University of Leeds Inclusive teaching programmes: Let’s develop it together! St-Virgil Salzburg Conference Centre October 2015 Making education systems inclusive Third Panel: Supporting young adults with an intellectual disability to access development education

Introduction Content:  Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)  Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  Implications for Development Policies

Introduction Problems  Most excluded group  Limited opportunities  Little awareness Challenges  Segregation  Education  Unaccessible material

CRPD The Right to Inclusive Education “States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and life long learning.” (Article 24 (1))

CRPD The Right to Inclusive Education (ctd) “In realizing this right, States Parties shall ensure that: (d) Persons with disabilities receive the support required, within the general education system, to facilitate their effective education; (e) Effective individualized support measures are provided in environments that maximize academic and social development, consistent with the goal of full inclusion.” (Article 24 (2))

CRPD The Right to Inclusive Education (ctd) “States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities are able to access general tertiary education, vocational training, adult education and lifelong learning without discrimination and on an equal basis with others. To this end, States Parties shall ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided to persons with disabilities.” (Article 24 (5))

CRPD International Cooperation “States Parties recognize the importance of international cooperation and its promotion, in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the present Convention, and will undertake appropriate and effective measures in this regard, between and among States and, as appropriate, in partnership with relevant international and regional organizations and civil society, in particular organizations of persons with disabilities.” (Article 32 (1))

CRPD International Cooperation (Ctd) “Such measures could include, inter alia: (a) Ensuring that international cooperation, including international development programmes, is inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities; (b) Facilitating and supporting capacity-building, including through the exchange and sharing of information, experiences, training programmes and best practices.” (Article 32 (1))

CRPD Political participation “States Parties shall guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights … and shall undertake to: a) Ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others, by (i) Ensuring that voting procedures, facilities and materials are appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and use; (b) Promote actively an environment in which persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in the conduct of public affairs”. (Article 29)

CRPD Accessibility “To enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas.” (Article 9 (1))

CRPD Accessibility (Ctd) “States Parties shall also take appropriate measures to: (d) Provide in buildings and other facilities open to the public signage in Braille and in easy to read and understand forms; (f) Promote other appropriate forms of assistance and support to persons with disabilities to ensure their access to information.” (Article 9 (2))

CRPD Civil society “ In the development and implementation of legislation and policies to implement the present Convention, and in other decision-making processes concerning issues relating to persons with disabilities, States Parties shall closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, through their representative organizations.” (Article 4 (3)) “Civil society, in particular persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, shall be involved and participate fully in the monitoring process.” (Article 33 (3))

SDGs 4. Quality Education “By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations.” (4.5)

SDGs 8. Decent work and economic growth “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.” (8.5)

SDGs Reduced Inequalities “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.” (10.2)

Implications Development processes “Persons with disabilities and their representative organizations should be afforded the opportunity to participate meaningfully in all development processes. Support, including capacity- development, should be provided for persons with disabilities and their organizations to facilitate such participation.” (UN High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on Disability and Development 2013, para. 10)

Implications Development processes “The present High-Level Meeting provides the opportunity to reinforce the call for the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in the elaboration, implementation and monitoring of the post-2015 development agenda, allowing persons with disabilities to play a central role in all global partnerships established within.” (UN High- level Meeting of the General Assembly on Disability and Development 2013, para. 12)

Implications Political participation “In its broadest sense, participation is a theme that runs throughout the whole Convention. Full and effective participation and inclusion in society are included in the list of general principles that guide the interpretation and implementation of the entire Convention, cutting across all issues … These concepts mean that society, both in its public and in its private dimensions, is organized to enable all people to take part fully in all its spheres.” (OHCHR Thematic Study on Political Participation, para. 20)

Implications Political participation “International cooperation is to be directed towards “the realization of the purpose and objectives of the present Convention” (art. 32, para. 1). Since the purposes and objectives of the Convention are “to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities” (art. 1, para. 1), international cooperation represents an important instrument to support the realization of political rights of persons with disabilities.” (OHCHR Thematic Study on Political Participation, para. 65)

Impliciations Civil society “Meaningful participation requires structure, and cannot be fully realised through ad hoc methods. Participation requires governments to ensure transparency in implementing the Convention. It requires that information is made available to people in formats that are accessible to them. … Frequently, it also requires capacity building and financial resources.” (MDAC Guidelines on Article 33 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, p. 22)

Implications Civil society “Merely inviting people with disabilities to participate is often insufficient, as they may experience various barriers to participating, such as physical, communicational, attitudinal, or legal. Regular breaks in meetings, well-structured agendas, easy to understand and plain text communications and sign language interpretation are important examples of reasonable accommodations that may have particular relevance for persons with disabilities.” (MDAC Guidelines on Article 33 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, p. 24)

Implications Awareness raising “It is also essential that persons with disabilities themselves, particularly those with more severe impairments who are often most excluded rom political life, are aware of the right to vote and participate in political life. Once aware of these rights, persons with disabilities can then more effectively identify themselves practices and procedures which prevent them from fulfilling these rights.” (FRA The right to political participation of persons with disabilities, p. 8)

Implications Awareness raising “This can be achieved through citizenship education projects to educate persons with disabilities about their political rights, as well as the development of self-advocacy groups. Awareness-raising activities should also cover long-term institutions where persons with disabilities live.” (FRA The right to political participation of persons with disabilities, p. 8)

Conclusion Lessons learned  Unrecognised issue  Links within the Convention  Usefull for anybody

Conclusion “Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation. Empowered, they can be key agents for development and peace. If, however, they are left on society's margins, all of us will be impoverished. Let us ensure that all young people have every opportunity to participate fully in the lives of their societies.“ (Koffi Annan, Former UN Secretary General)

Conclusion Thank you for your attention! Gauthier de Beco