Promoting education for the Children with Disability/Autism

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Bangladesh confirmed that almost 2 in 1000 children have been suffering from ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) in Bangladesh. Wherein, the urban prevalence is higher than the rural areas. 90% of cases are from very poor family and leading vulnerable life. IACIB arranges rehabilitation support for children with ASD promoting their rights. They are enrolled in education, therapy and training to the Centre to inclusive them in mainstream of society.

‘Rehabilitation for the children with Autism’ is our project theme and our approaches is to promote their rights and protection through medical care, education, training, participation in sports, cultural events and occupational therapy. We focus they are not disabled but differently able and they have equal rights in the family, society and the state. The project aims to inclusive them in general school and rehabilitate them in society with dignity. No child will go beyond the education. 

Objective of the project is to social rehabilitation of children with ASD through education, skill development training and participation in social events like sports, birthday celebration, wedding party equal to others. Project ensure proper medical care, nutrition and enhance the physical, mental growth and cognitive development. Enhance their capacity on Activities Daily Living(ADL), skill development through vocational training and make them differently able to lead a life with dignity. 

The activities we have outlined for the project are:

• Education from Nursery to Class Five and vocational training for future livelihood.
• Occupational therapy to the children
• Train children on Sports and Cultural events.
• Participate sports and social events includes regular game in playground, Annual sports, Annual Exposure, Drawing and Cultural events)
• Medical care to the children as need.
• Nutrition food support during tiffin period
• Advocacy and counselling to parents and community 

The proposed project will contribute to the UNSDG-4 ‘Quality Education ‘. The project will reach to the UNSDG -

• Target 4.4: Increase the number of people with relevant skills for financial success,
• Target 4.5: ‘Eliminate all discrimination in Education’;
• Target 4.6:‘Universal Literacy and Numeracy’;

Moreover, it will cover the rights stated in the UNCRC and they will enjoy their rights in the family and the society.

The project will ensure education for the autistic children, promote their equal rights, ensure their equal participants in playground and the social events. Children with Autism will attend vocational training such as Computer training, Design and Drawing Training, Sewing & Tailoring training for their sustainable livelihood

The project will prepare children to participate in local and national program focusing their different ability in physical display and sports events.  People will see their ability and understand about their needs, they will express solidarity with their program. Government will give attention for their education and invest for them equal to others.  

IACIB has an expert team to work for the project and they are trained to take care the children and ensure their physical, psychological, emotional, linguistic, social and cognitive development. The team consisting 5 special teachers, 1 Occupational Therapist, 1 Sports Instructor, so every child gets appropriate support as of age. Children are enrolling in our education center from 3 years to onward and our strategy is to inclusive them in general education in future according to their growth that ultimate goal to inclusive in mainstream of society. 

Children with Disability are neglected in the family and the society. They are deprived from their education and become vulnerable. They need support for their rehabilitation and IACIB has taken initiative to solve the problem and ensure education for the children with disability. 

The proposed project  is a dream project of IACIB since 2019. The project is being operated with the self-finance of IACIB as we have no any donor finance for this project. But we never be stopped rather working with a vision that every children of Autism will enjoy their rights. We adopted UNCRC (United Nation Convention for Rights of Children) to promote the rights, the rights include: Survival rights, Development rights, Protection rights Participation Rights. We follow the 4 principle of UNCRC these are: on-discrimination, devotion to the best interests of the child, the right to life, survival and development and respect for the views of the child.

Special education is a new and innovative approaches for the children with Disability and aim of the solution is to prepare children for inclusive in general education in future.  It will bring impact in the life of children :

1) They enjoy their decimation rights.

2) Increase their dignity in the family and society.

3) Prepare for them in future sustainable livelihood as per their capcity and potential.

4) It will contribute to the UNSDG-4 " Quality of Education" and each and every child are in school as well as life time education.

The impact of the solution are:

•  Children with Disability  are enrolled in education equal to other children.
• Children are able to do their ADL independently.
• Improve physical and cognitive development.
• Children are able to play indoor and outdoor games equal to others.
• Increase participation on social events in family and society
• Vocational training for sustainable livelihood as per their capacity.
• Reduce discrimination and Children with Autism will get equal facility in the family.

After five years 80% children completed their primary education and inclusive in general education in class-VI. Moreover, at least 10% students will receive vocational training after completing of primary education. 

We hope our  solution bring visible and invisible change  in the life of children and in the family of the children, these are:

1) Every Children with disability  students enjoying education.

2) No children will out of school 

3) Children with Disability rehabilitee in the society with full of dignity. 

4) 100%  children completed primary  school education and inclusive in general education at secondary level 

5) 100% young children completed vocational course are engaged in job or own  trade and doing income for the family

6) Contributed UNSDG-4 as every children are in school and long time learning.

7) Parents become happy and change the mental and psychological depression both children and parents.

IACIB is working in the community through community engagement to gain their support. It has scope to work in the community and identify the Children with Disability/Autism  who are vulnerable and helpless It has capacity to root cause analysis to find out the real situation and take action accordingly. The project will implement with the different stakeholders  such as community stakeholders, NGO ( Non Government Organization) and CSO ( Civil Society Organization). It will ensure support from Government to operate the project properly.  

IACIB  has trained and dedicated  staff to carry the project activities properly. The team will work together and take collective decision to reach the project goal effectively. The project will involve local elected body to gain their support and cooperation. It will involve media so that media can focus the situation of elderly people and their vulnerability, focus their need from government.  

The project will do advocacy with Government stakeholders and policy makers so that enabling policy support for the poor and vulnerable elderly persons. The project will linked poor elderly person to the social security package of Government with the cooperation of local elected body.  

Sequence of project implementation project are :  

• Complete recruitment/deployment of staff for the project.
• Select the students from the different village and motivated their parents to send them school
• Select NGOs and CSOs to make network for collective action and raise for the right of children with Disability
•  Conduct advocacy workshop with different stakeholders
• Organize parents meeting meeting to ensure family support
• Conduct regular monitoring/evaluation as per schedule. Conduct year ending audit and Project closing evaluation

IACIB  will adopt technology based education support. Class room will be decorated with the multimedia and laptop so that students  can understand  the session properly. Training room will be decorated with computer and multimedia.

We shall use all relevant technological support to improve the quality of education. We provide students equipment and materials   for whom applicable so that they can takepart the education session with pleasure.

IACIB  is a humanitarian organization and serving the people with human values.  We are gender sensitive and every human being has equal rights . We engage community people  project planning and implementation project. Community and Family members of children with deaf and dumb will take part the project implementation directly and they also participate in every plan about their relatives.

Parents Teachers Platform  will closely work with the project and take follow up the project activities. The project will ensure good governance elements include accountability and transparency and give value to the opinion of beneficiaries. Quarterly  meeting will be conducted with parents  to know their view and advice to improve the services

IACIB  will adopt complaint solution shamanism and give emphasis the opinion of beneficiaries.

•  Boys and girls are equally treated and strictly follow the child protection policy.
• Complaint of students  regarding service will be accepted and will take necessary measures  immediacy.
• Child abuse and exploitation is treated as Zero Tolerance policy
• Special safe guard is taken for girls students during their movement and school premises.
• Network members a will  involve in decision making process of safe home management and a committee will be form with the members local community. Secret assessment will be done to know the view of elderly members , as per their recommend service would be delivered.

IACIB is working with children and promoting their rights. The violation of child rights is a common matter in Bangladesh. The children have basic rights to education, balance diet, health and nutrition, protection, participation, recreation, safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Most of the children of Bangladesh are deprived from these basic rights. IACIB is committed for the children with disability/autism and promotes their equal rights in the family, school and everywhere.  IACIB needs a long partnership to carry our mission for special children that would be supportive and inspirable for us to reach our vision. 

IACIB is a donor dependent organization and project is operating with the support of donors and partners, But we encourage parents to take responsibility partly. We have plan to linked the services with the Government so that Government provide every support to the children with deaf and dumb for ensuring their education.

IACIB  want to make  a sustainable project and we are encouraging parents and stakeholders for support our children. These are:

1) Contribution from parents.

2) Contribution from stakeholders/community

3) Government support in future through affiliation by the Government education Department.