Education for All and Children with Disabilities

Education for All and Children with Disabilities: International Policy and Practice

by Phyllis Magrab, PhD, Director, Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development

Published in Educating Children for Democracy, Issue Number 6, Winter/Spring 2004

References

Magrab, P. (2002). Mapping of Donor Assistance by Country. In An International Strategy to Put the Dakar Framework for Action on Education for All into Operation (pp.40-44). Paris, France: UNESCO

Magrab, P. (2002). EFA Donor and International Organization Assistance: Multilateral Donors, Bilateral Donors, and Non-Governmental Organizations. Paris, France: UNESCO.

This brief describes a special international effort of The Consortium for Children and Youth with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs related to improving systems of services and supports for children with disabilities and focuses on the right of all children to an education, as a critical underlying principle. Representing the Consortium for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Dr. Magrab is a member of the International Working Group on Disability and Development (IWGDD), a group of donor, governmental, and non-governmental organizations and agencies whose mission is to ensure that the rights and concerns of individuals with disabilities are fully integrated into the agenda of donor and other organizations, with focus on developing countries and countries in transition. NIDRR and OSERS are among the member agencies of the IWGDD. The work discussed in this brief emanates from the IWGDD's interest in assuring that children with disabilities are prominently addressed in the international Education for All Agenda, which was reaffirmed in 2000 in Dakar, Senegal at the World Education Forum by 180 nations. Dr. Magrab was a member of the United States delegation to Dakar and a member of the International Strategy Task Force for Dakar Follow-Up. Her work on an international level is an expression of the Consortium's priority to provide access to all services and supports, including education, for children with disabilities and special health care needs.

For further information on The Consortium for Children and Youth with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs, its partners or projects, please go to the consortium website at: www.consortiumnrrtc.org

This project is supported by Grant H133B001200 from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education.

Reprinted with permission from The Consortium Brief, The Consortium for Children and Youth with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs, A National Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Brief 10, May 2003, Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development; Family Voices; Heller School, Brandeis University; Institute for Child Health Policy, University of Florida.