Latest news with #ConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Education for children with disabilities: inclusion, integration, or segregation?
IT is heartening to see that the government has given more emphasis to persons with disabilities, both in Budget 2025 and the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), focusing on services for children with autism. However, we note that the policy plans for growing services for the education of children with disabilities are to segregate or integrate children but not to include them. We would like to reflect on these plans to highlight the need for services for children with disabilities in Malaysia to follow current international practice, best evidence and lived experience. Over the past four to five decades, disability services for children in many progressive nations have shifted from a system of exclusion to segregation to integration and now to one of inclusion. This is in accordance with the principles outlined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). This is best illustrated by a diagram explaining exclusion, segregation, integration, and inclusion according to the CRPD. This transformation has happened through changes in societal attitudes, legal frameworks, and educational progress. The transition has involved the recognition of the rights of children with disabilities to participate fully in society, including education, and implementing strategies to support their needs in mainstream settings with a view to enabling equal access to employment, health, culture, and independent living. It is important to note that there has been a crucial shift from the medical model (viewing disability as the deficit of an individual) to the social model (viewing disability as a result of societal barriers). This change recognises that ableist attitudes and societal structures are disabling barriers that impede persons with disabilities from accessing rights on an equal basis with others. There has been growing recognition that individuals with disabilities have the same fundamental rights as those without disabilities, including the right to education, social participation, and community life. Hence many nations, including some of our neighbours, have introduced legislation and policy frameworks mandating that students with disabilities be educated alongside their peers without disabilities. Such legal frameworks have spurred a move towards inclusive education – aimed at providing appropriate support for students with disabilities within general education classrooms and school activities. The support includes early intervention programmes, pre-school education and in higher education. Hence, progressive nations have created inclusive learning environments that are welcoming and accessible for all students, regardless of their perceived abilities, and that foster a sense of belonging and positive social relationships. To promote effective inclusion, there is collaboration between teachers, special education professionals, parents, and other support staff to ensure that students with disabilities receive the support they need to succeed. Many of us in local civil society organisations have strived to put in place these inclusive practices in our work with children with and without disabilities, benefitting all in the process. Although Malaysia ratified the CRPD in 2010, we have yet to make significant changes in legislation and policy that influence the education and employment of disabled persons. This can be seen in our government's plans, as announced in Budget 2025 and 13MP. They are not in line with the aspirations of the CRPD, international good practices, evidence, and lived experience. Instead, we are advocating, developing, and funding services that segregate or integrate children with disabilities. The government has announced in Budget 2025 and 13MP funding to establish more preschools and schools dedicated to autistic children in every state (segregation facilities). The government also announced the expansion of existing special needs facilities nationwide, including the construction of integrated special education programme (PPKI) blocks at existing and new schools (PPKI is integration and not inclusion). The Prime Minister stated in Budget 2025 that the school in Johor Bahru 'will be the first dedicated school to focus on autistic education'. Some parents of children with disabilities are pleased with these planned services. There is such a lack of quality national education services for children with disabilities that any initiative, regardless of possible long-term harm that might ensue, is welcomed by parents, especially those who cannot afford expensive private services. Other parents are concerned that their children might face challenges, including bullying and trauma in the mainstream education system. Thus, these parents prefer educational programmes with trained professionals who can provide the support that their children need. We must look at the evidence and the success internationally and regionally, and the lived experience of many families. Inclusive education has benefited all students, including those without disabilities. Experience and overwhelming evidence show that, when we include persons with disabilities in education, employment, transport access, building access and all other aspects of life, all of society benefits. We benefit academically, economically, and socially. We become a morally better society that accepts diversity, one with strengthened social bonds. While segregated or integrated education may appear to address the needs of children with disabilities and their families, they deny children with disabilities the right to belong from the start. Inclusion is not something that begins in adulthood – it is a right that must be realised from birth across the life course. When children with disabilities are excluded or only partially included in school, they lose a vital and consistent opportunity to learn, connect, and belong alongside their peers. For many, there are few or no alternative spaces to build these skills and relationships, leaving them less prepared to participate fully in community life. This creates systemic barriers and imposes long-term strain on parents and care partners – often siblings and extended family – who are often expected to fill the gaps left by inadequate support. Denied appropriate support and opportunities to develop the requisite skills and means for living and working in mainstream society, children with disabilities face even greater challenges as adults – barriers for inclusion into tertiary education and employment. Segregation or integration also denies non-disabled students the chance to learn, play, and build relationships with disabled peers, limiting the growth of mutual understanding, empathy, and the foundation of an inclusive society. Everyone lives in and contributes to society, and education should reflect this by providing real opportunities for belonging and inclusion. Full inclusion cannot happen overnight – but without a clear plan, we risk delaying the very progress needed to build a truly inclusive nation. For example, all teachers will have to be trained in Universal Design for Learning, curriculum modification, and individualised assessments. Importantly, the cost of inclusive education is lower than that of segregated education. Hence, we have to ask: why are we, as a nation, moving backwards when the evidence shows that when children with disabilities are included in mainstream education, all of society benefits? Is the government poorly advised? On disability rights and services, we have now become an outlier nation in Asean; possibly second from the bottom, except for Myanmar. Furthermore, a query has emerged: among the many children with diverse disabilities, why are only autistic children benefiting? It is good that there is increased support and funding for autistic children. But, let us please remember also children with Down syndrome, dyslexia and other learning disabilities, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, developmental language disorder, visual and hearing disabilities, multiple disabilities, and many more. Collectively, they make up 10 to 15 per cent of all children and are equally entitled to support and investment. We appeal to the government to bring our national disability services into the 21st century and in line with progressive Asean partners, with adequate investment to achieve inclusion in education, employment, and all of society – the bedrock of any nation. Please demonstrate leadership commitment to advancing Malaysia towards disability-inclusive education and employment, out of segregation, and beyond non-CRPD compliant integration. Datuk Dr Amar-Singh HSS, San Yuenwah, Anit Kaur Randhawa, and Ng Lai-Thin The OKU Rights Matter Project
Sharjah 24
4 days ago
- General
- Sharjah 24
World Congress to support people with intellectual disability
Set to take place at Expo Centre Sharjah, from September 15 - 17, 2025, and being held in the region for the first time, it will bring together a host of experts and specialists in disability affairs, alongside representatives from civil society organisations, international human rights and development entities, legislators, and decision-makers from around the world. This collective effort aims to review existing legislation and assess its alignment with the rapidly evolving social and technological landscape. The congress is organised in collaboration between Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) and 'Inclusion International', with media and logistical partnership with the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), as well as support from a broad network of strategic local partners. Registration is now available through the official website. Policymaking and community engagement The congress aims to strengthen legal frameworks and modernise legislative concepts through a holistic approach aligned with sustainable development policies, while respecting diverse cultural and social contexts. It also seeks to equip policymakers with contemporary approaches that move beyond humanitarian concerns towards a comprehensive developmental vision, ensuring the full and active participation of persons with intellectual disabilities in all aspects of life. Most notably, the congress will address the UN's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as the UAE's federal law No. 29 of 2006, which protects the rights of people of determination. The event will also highlight a number of UN recommendations and human rights principles that serve as essential references for shaping inclusive development policies. This forms part of an expanded programme tackling critical topics affecting persons with disabilities, such as inclusive education, family support, labour market access, legal empowerment, healthcare, community planning, self-advocacy expansion, and capacity building for field organisations. This broad scope emphasises the congress's comprehensive approach and reinforces its powerful legal and humanitarian message. 'We Are Inclusion' World Congress Held once every four years, 'We Are Inclusion' World Congress is organised by 'Inclusion International'. It is one of the most prominent global platforms for dialogue on the future of policies supporting persons with intellectual disabilities. It convenes prominent leaders, advocates, government representatives, including education, health, and development institutions, which gives it momentum for formulating practical recommendations that enhance the participation of persons with disabilities as partners in policymaking and community engagement. Hosting this global event in Sharjah serves as a clear call to strengthen international engagement on inclusion issues. It underscores the emirate's commitment to building inclusive environments founded on principles of rights and equity, where inclusion becomes a core value in all sustainable development pathways.
Gulf Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
‘We Are Inclusion' congress to convene in Sharjah
The 18th Inclusion International World Congress 2025, themed 'We are Inclusion,' to address international legal frameworks for people with intellectual disabilities will be held for the first time in the region from Sept.15 - 17, 2025 at Sharjah Expo Centre. The 3-day conference will bring together a host of experts and specialists in disability affairs, alongside representatives from civil society organisations, international human rights and development entities, legislators, and decision-makers from around the world. This collective effort aims to review existing legislation and assess its alignment with the rapidly evolving social and technological landscape. The congress held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, is organised in collaboration between Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) and 'Inclusion International,' with media and logistical partnership with the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), as well as support from a broad network of strategic local partners. Registration is now available through the official website The congress aims to strengthen legal frameworks and modernise legislative concepts through a holistic approach aligned with sustainable development policies, while respecting diverse cultural and social contexts. It also seeks to equip policymakers with contemporary approaches that move beyond humanitarian concerns towards a comprehensive developmental vision, ensuring the full and active participation of persons with intellectual disabilities in all aspects of life. Most notably, the congress will address the UN's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as the UAE's federal law No. 29 of 2006, which protects the rights of people of determination. The event will also highlight a number of UN recommendations and human rights principles that serve as essential references for shaping inclusive development policies. This forms part of an expanded programme tackling critical topics affecting persons with disabilities, such as inclusive education, family support, labour market access, legal empowerment, healthcare, community planning, self-advocacy expansion, and capacity building for field organisations. This broad scope emphasises the congress's comprehensive approach and reinforces its powerful legal and humanitarian message. Held once every four years, 'We Are Inclusion' World Congress is organised by 'Inclusion International.' It is one of the most prominent global platforms for dialogue on the future of policies supporting persons with intellectual disabilities.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
A Chennai activist's fight for accessibility and inclusion
Forty-nine-year-old Meenakshi Balasubramanian, a senior associate at the Centre for Inclusive Policy, has long been a strong voice advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities in Tamil Nadu and across the country. But activism was not part of her original plan; coming from a commerce background, her journey from accounting to advocacy was entirely serendipitous, she says. A person with a mobility impairment, Ms. Meenakshi, now based in Chennai, completed her schooling and college in Thoothukudi. 'When my family moved to Thoothukudi, we realised that finding a school for me would be difficult. One school refused to enrol me; they said classes were on the first floor and that other children would mock me. That was my first experience of rejection due to my disability. Until then, I never saw myself as different, and neither did my family or those around me,' she says. Years later, Ms. Meenakshi also recalls being denied entry into public spaces like temples. 'Some temples refused me entry because I was wearing calipers, shoes and using crutches. I realised it should not be this way. Everyone should have access to public spaces. When that happened, I wanted to go to the press, but I did not know my rights or the law,' she recalls. Ms. Meenakshi soon moved to Chennai with her family and the city was both overwhelming and inaccessible. Job opportunities involved long and difficult commute. She then began working a home-based accounting job, but her heart was not in it. In a twist of fate, she got employed at Vidya Sagar, an NGO that works for the welfare of disabled people, and became a part of its disability legislation unit. Advocacy 'I am someone who fights for everything but I did not join the organisation hoping to fight. It was like any other job for me. But soon, I was part of different conversations about disability — the policies, the laws. Then, I realised this is where I belong and I have not turned back since.' Ms. Meenakshi, who identifies as an advocate for disabled persons, is part of a team that has been filing PILs after PILs, against the railways and various other agencies, seeking better accessibility in public spaces. Their work was instrumental in getting the civil aviation rules amended to ensure accessibility to persons with disabilities. The idea was to question the 'charity approach' at the ground level and look at these issues through a human rights lens, she asserts. 'After the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, there was momentum in India to amend existing laws. But, we felt the old law was not enough to align with the UNCRPD, so we pushed for a new one,' Ms. Meenakshi says. She was actively involved in the civil society campaign pertaining to this, as well as consultations including with the Planning Commission, on key disability issues. Ms. Meenakshi, however, adds that since the adoption of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, little has changed. From the terms used to describe disabled people — like divyaang and differently-abled, which are ableist and not inclusive — to issues of accessibility, both the country, as well as Tamil Nadu, has a long way to go, she says. 'There is no clear government vision for persons with disabilities; whatever progress we have seen is due to persistent advocacy from the community. Inclusion is not built into the system,' she says, adding that Tamil Nadu's Department of Welfare of Differently Abled Persons should ideally act as a think tank and advisor across all departments, besides its current functions, to ensure that the government's policies are inclusive.
IOL News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Are South Africa's disability laws truly making a difference?
Sikelelwa Alex Msitshana, founder of the Deaf Empowerment Firm and chairperson of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), highlighted ongoing challenges. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers Besides some of the most progressive laws aimed at advancing the interests of the people living with disabilities, South Africa is still lagging when it comes to implementing some of these legislative frameworks. According to Statistics South Africa, persons with severe disabilities experience difficulty in accessing education and employment opportunities, while households headed by persons with disabilities were found to have less access to basic services compared to households headed by persons without disabilities. The statistics also reveal that there are disparities in terms of access to assistive devices across population groups and geography. At the recent C20 South Africa Launch, which has mobilised 14 working groups to generate actionable policy considerations ahead of the G20 Summit, Sikelelwa Alex Msitshana, founder of the Deaf Empowerment Firm and chairperson of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), highlighted ongoing challenges. "We have come together to try and make sure the voice of people with disabilities is heard. People living with disabilities are still lacking in many respects, even though South Africa is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We have wonderful policies that are aimed at protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, but implementation is still lacking. "In all of that, there is a need to address issues faced by people living with disabilities. We are looking at inclusive education. We are saying early childhood development for people with disabilities should be prioritised early enough so that they can receive the care they need and be able to go to school and learn from an early age," she said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Msitshana, speaking on the sidelines of the three-day C20 South Africa launch on Monday, also stressed the importance of establishing Early Child Development (ECD) structures for people living with disability, saying this will help bring about an early start to young children with various disabilities, who are sometimes not catered for within the existing education system. "There are issues of employment that are affecting our young people. We are advocating for inclusive employment practices. Far too often, employers are still afraid to employ people living with disabilities and take in young people living with disabilities. This is more a factor of fear than anything. The programmes that we are driving are aimed at sensitising employers that there should not be a problem in employing someone living with a disability," she stated. Her outcry comes just hours after Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, called on civil society organisations represented at the C20 South Africa launch in Sandton to make sure their voices are heard. Letsike, who delivered her message virtually directed at women, children, and persons with disability, said no one should be left behind in ensuring that South Africa's hosting of the G20 Summit later this year is a success. "The disability inclusion stream and all these working streams are not intended to be for a box-ticking exercise as we believe that those closest to the pain must be the closest to power, and the C20 South Africa must bring solutions that bring an integrated response to these communities," the deputy minister said on Tuesday. The Soweto-born activist Msitshana is the founder and managing director of the DEF, a social enterprise which aims to transform the lives of members of the deaf community. This comes after Msitshana lost her hearing in 2015, resulting in her making it her mission to help the deaf community and other minorities access jobs and opportunities. In 2023, the National Assembly amended Section 6 of the Constitution and approved the South African Sign Language (SASL) as the 12th official language. Msitshana celebrated, believing that soon the deaf community would experience a shift. However, she believes this policy has not been fully implemented to ensure sign language is taught in South African schools alongside other official languages. "After years of fighting and lobbying, we welcomed the recognition of sign language as an official language, but there has not been any full implementation of this policy to ensure that sign language is taught at schools like all the other official languages. On paper, this is good, but we have not seen its full implementation," she stated.
