Education

Education is a fundamental right and crucial for children with disabilities to reach their full potential and set the stage for a fulfilling adulthood. Education can be a key factor in poverty alleviation and reduction. From the very beginning, SANCHAR’s aim has been the inclusion of children with disabilities in the mainstream education system. SANCHAR provides necessary support to the children with disabilities in continuing their education in ICDS (Integrated Child Development Service), Primary and Secondary schools. Efforts are being made through providing appropriate teaching learning materials, training on Braille and Indian Sign Language, text books in Braille and in large fonts, tuition and examination fees (for economically marginalized students) etc. SANCHAR provides support to the parents of children with disabilities in the enrolment process in the local schools and encourages children to continue their education. SANCHAR helps to access government grants and scholarships for education and provides information about the process of availing this support. SANCHAR focuses on changing the system to fit the student rather than changing the student to fit the system and hence works with local schools to ensure an inclusive approach in attitudes, methods, curriculum and materials, infrastructure and in the process of teaching, learning, assessment and examination. SANCHAR closely works with District and State Education Department and facilitates sensitisation programmes on disability issues for the ICDS workers, school teachers and other students / peer groups. SANCHAR also provides functional, life-skill and home based educational support to the children with disabilities who are not able to attend school due to severity of impairment, age or distance. SANCHAR promotes adult education among the members of Disability Rights Groups (DRGs) and of parents groups with a special focus on girls and women. Adult education incorporates basic literacy, childhood care, life skills including information on reproductive health and sexuality, and skills for self-protection from physical and sexual abuse.