Children with disabilities face significant challenges in schools, including a lack of specialized teachers, inadequate support systems, and insufficient awareness of their needs. Many schools fail to assess individual disabilities, often grouping children with diverse needs together without proper resources, leading to frustration, high dropout rates, and limited participation in education and community activities.
On 5 September 2024, following the Policy Hackathon 2024 organized by Youth for Policy and IID, youth participants launched several community initiatives to tackle critical social issues. One such initiative, led by Team Synergy, focused on inclusive education for children with disabilities. The project, titled “Alapon: The Upbringing of Children with Special Needs,” targeted schoolchildren at the Society for the Welfare of the Intellectually Disabled, Bangladesh (SWID Bangladesh). The initiative aimed to raise awareness of the barriers faced by children with disabilities in the education system and advocate for more inclusive practices.
The campaign highlighted systemic issues such as the lack of specialized teachers, medical assessments, and tailored support for children with diverse disabilities. During interactive sessions, parents and teachers shared their experiences, exposing the absence of professional assessments and challenges in meeting students’ diverse learning needs. The project emphasized the importance of collaboration among parents, teachers, and stakeholders to address these issues and reduce high dropout rates among children with disabilities.
The “Alapon” initiative successfully raised awareness of the specific needs of children with disabilities and the importance of individualized educational support. It also identified key challenges, including inadequate teacher training and the need for specialized support systems in schools. Despite facing bureaucratic hurdles and limited cooperation from partner organizations, the project demonstrated the potential of youth-led actions to drive change and foster a sense of collective responsibility. By addressing the needs of children with disabilities, the campaign contributed to building a more inclusive education system and society.
