Hidden and underestimated: How children with disabilities are breaking down barriers to attend school

Why do children with disabilities find it so difficult to access their basic right to an education and what have we been doing to break down these barriers?

The story of Samadou, an energetic seven-year-old boy from Tenkodogo in Burkina Faso illustrates the complexities behind a seemingly simple ambition – to go to school!

Hidden from view

The first challenge in bringing a child to school is to find them. Children with disabilities tend to be less visible in their communities and are more likely to be kept at home or to be missing from official records. There are many reasons for this but often a family is afraid of how a child will be accepted socially.

This was the case for Samadou, who has one leg much smaller than the other. Parents and children in his village referred to him by his disability rather than by his name. His mother was scared to send him to school and wanted to protect him at home.

This is why Handicap International works in partnership with village representatives and civil society groups to help break down prejudices and create a supportive environment for children both in and out of school.  

We have also been working with the government to improve surveying methods and national data collection so that we can understand the big picture of disability and education in Burkina Faso and find every child.

Lacking specialist care

When Handicap International meets a child with a disability, they may not have accessed important health or social care for many years. Our priority is to make sure they are physically and mentally ready to attend school.

For Samadou, this means providing him with an adapted prosthesis so that he can walk to school independently and play football at lunchtime. For children with learning difficulties, negative perceptions of disability mean that families may underestimate a child and believe that they cannot or should not go to school. We challenge these perceptions and help parents to see what their child may be capable of, given the right support.

Unaware and underequipped

Teachers are often anxious about accepting a child with a disability in their classroom, fearing that the child may need too much of their time and cause disruption for the other pupils. They may lack teaching strategies as well as the physical resources to make learning practical.

Handicap International has made sure that there is an inclusive education module at national teacher training schools so that most teachers have a strong foundation in how to welcome a child with a disability. This is reinforced by a cohort of visiting teachers who have been extensively trained in providing one-to-one support. They are able to help children with visual or hearing impairments learn sign-language or braille, for example.

Samadou has been helped by a visiting teacher since he started attending his local school. Together, they have developed an education plan that is adapted to his needs. He is able to attend all of the same classes as his peers and is progressing well. Most importantly, he is involved in activities outside of school and can frequently be seen chasing lizards with his friends or speeding along on the back of his brother’s bike!