The shift to the online education system as the only option may prove devastating for children with disabilities, a survey conducted spanning ten states in India has revealed that about 43 percent of children with disabilities are planning to drop out of studies due to difficulties faced by them in online education.
The reasons cited ranged from the method of teaching to lack of digital infrastructure and internet connectivity, among others. The survey conducted was with 3,627 respondents by Swabhiman, a community-based organization working for the rights of persons with disabilities.
According to the survey, 56.5 percent of children with disabilities were struggling yet attending classes irregularly, while 77 percent of students said they would not be able to cope and would fall behind in learning due to their inability to access distance learning methods.
The survey found that 56.48 percent of students continue their study, while the rest of 43.52 percent are planning to drop out.
Thirty-nine percent visually impaired students were unable to understand lessons with many students talking simultaneously, it said.
About 44 percent of children with disabilities complained that no sign language interpreters were present in the webinars, the survey said.
The parents of 86 percent of children with disabilities said they did not know how to use technology, and around 81 percent of teachers said they did not have accessible educational material with them.
Seventy-four percent of children with disabilities said they needed data/Wi-fi support for educational purposes while 61 percent expressed a need for scribes, escorts, readers, and attendants, it said.
A report based on the survey made detailed recommendations to policy changes and revisions required “in the new normal” in times of the Covid-19 pandemic.
