Education is a resource which can transform lives, raise aspirations and build futures – its role is to open hearts and minds, with the best, most up-to-date knowledge, allowing for socialisation and fun.

However, across education, disabled students often face obstacles in harnessing and maximising their study experience. These challenges can take many forms, from discrimination and stigma to logistical challenges in the physical environment and, most importantly, little or no access to the right access technology.

In the 2020 Global Education Monitoring Report, it was found that a core challenge to inclusive education is the misperception that it isn’t possible, or sometimes isn’t even seen to be desirable, finding that 1 in 3 teachers in 43 mostly upper-middle and high-income countries indicated that they did not change their teaching style to accommodate for diversity in their student cohort. The report also found that both learning materials and classrooms often ignore the benefits of embracing differences in students. Additionally, over 25% of teachers, across 48 educational systems reported a high need for professional development in teaching students with “special needs” and only 41 countries worldwide recognise sign language as an official language.

Ahead of the Global Disability Summit in February, GDI Hub is bringing together key stakeholders to discuss the continued need for inclusive education and appropriate and affordable EdTEch, in the UK, and the rest of the world.

Panellists include:

- Cathy Holloway, Academic Director, GDI Hub

- Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Global Disability Advisor, World Bank

- Rick Bell, Chair, British Assistive Technology Association

- Robert McClaren, Policy Connect

- UNICEF Representative