The union territory of Chandigarh has announced a comprehensive inclusive education policy for children with disabilities.
The policy guarantees free education up to age 18 for children with disabilities, mandates their admission under the right-to-education quota in schools, without discrimination, for economically weaker and disadvantaged groups, and requires schools to install accessible infrastructure and provide assistive devices.
Identification of eligible children will be conducted through house-to-house surveys by ASHA and Anganwadi workers, combined with camps led by health-staff and special educators.
Screening checklists will determine whether a child joins an inclusive class, an integrated set-up, a school-readiness center for those never enrolled or out of school, or home-based education in cases of severe disability.
Teachers will receive cross-disability training, and subject-substitution and examination concessions will align with CBSE norms and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.
Special schools will partner with mainstream schools in training and resource development. A grievance panel including parents of children with disabilities and a state-level monitoring committee will oversee implementation.
