Literacy For All Toolkit - 0

Toolkit for International Education Stakeholders
UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR

LEARNING TO HELP ALL
CHILDREN READ
Promoting Literacy for
Learners with Disabilities
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank all of the individuals who helped conceptualize, support
and review the production of this toolkit. Thank you to the members of the Global
Reading Network (GRN) and Josh Josa, Leah Maxson, Rebecca Rhodes, Nate Haight, and
Eirini Gouleta of the USAID education team for their constructive support and guidance.
We would also like to thank The Global Reading Network secretariat at the University
Research Co., LLC (URC), and particularly Deepa Srikantaiah, Richard Felty, John Micklos,
Jr., Corinne Sirni, Amy Pallangyo, and the Project Director Jennifer Gerst who have worked
tirelessly to perfect this product. This resource was developed by Reading within Reach
(REACH), which is supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
REACH works to facilitate the development, dissemination and application of evidence-
based resources, research and practices to increase the impact, scale and sustainability
of early grade reading (EGR) programs. As its Secretariat, REACH also provides support
to develop and sustain the Global Reading Network, an interactive hub and resource
repository to connect and mobilize stakeholders interested in early grade reading.
The authors also thank the African Disability Forum, Ola Abu Alghaib, Jean Andrews,
Susan Bruckner, Jennae Bulat, Susan Copeland, Eileen Dombrowski, Julie Durando, Brent
Elder, Ines Escallon, Craig Geddes, Kristen Layton, Linda Mason, David McNaughton and
Chandra Whestine. Without a doubt, your inputs strengthened and richened this toolkit.
Member organizations of the International Disability Alliance also contributed generously
of their staff and resources to bring this toolkit to fruition.
Thank you also to the participants of the Experts Meeting held on May 1, 2018 at the
World Bank who provided suggestions and contributions to the toolkit. Special thanks to
the individuals who helped develop handouts for the Experts Meeting on their areas of
expertise, which have been directly incorporated into Chapter 4 of the toolkit.
Also, we would like to dedicate the toolkit to our children with disabilities—Jack Ewing, Jay
Turnbull (1967-2009) and Ramón and Teófilo Torres Morán—who represent children with
complex support and complex communication needs, multiple disabilities and deaf/hard
of hearing and who all obtained literacy skills. You are by far our best and most influential
teachers and prove that all children can and should receive literacy instruction.
Cover photo credit: RTI International

Toolkit for International Education Stakeholders
UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR

LEARNING TO HELP ALL
CHILDREN READ
Promoting Literacy for
Learners with Disabilities
Written by:
Anne Hayes, M.Ed.
Ann Turnbull, Ed.D.
Norma Moran, M.A.
This toolkit was made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID). This report was prepared by the USAID-funded Reading within Reach (REACH) initiative, implemented
by University Research Co., LLC, for USAID’s Office of Education (E3/ED), under Contract No. AID-OAA-M-14-00001, MOBIS#:
GS-10F-0182T.
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SUGGESTED CITATION: Hayes, A., Turnbull, A., and Moran, N. (2018). UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR
LEARNING TO HELP ALL CHILDREN READ: Promoting Literacy for Learners with Disabilities (First
Edition). Washington, D.C.: USAID
Contents
Abbreviations viii
Preface ix
Introduction 1
Purpose and Structure of the Toolkit 3
Universal Design for Learning 4
Chapter 1: Background on Students with Disabilities 7

1.1 The Situation of Children with Disabilities 7
1.2 Defining Literacy for Students with Disabilities 11
1.3 Educational Settings and Learning Outcomes 12
1.3.1 Understanding Different Educational Settings 12
1.3.2 Positive Impact of Inclusion for Students with Disabilities 17
1.3.3 Positive Impact of Inclusion for Students without Disabilities 20
Chapter 1: Additional Online Resources and Information 21
Chapter 2: Establishing a Holistic Approach to Educating Students with Disabilities 22

2.1 Policy and Systems Support 23
2.1.1 International Policies and Frameworks 23
2.1.2 National Inclusive Education Policies 24
2.1.3 National Education Strategic Plans 24
2.2 Teacher Training and Tiered Levels of Support 27
2.2.1 Teacher Attitudes 27
2.2.2 Hierarchy of Teacher Training Roles and Supports 29
2.2.3 Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for Instruction 32
2.2.4 Role of Principals and Administrators 35
2.2.5 Teacher, Administrator and School Staff Training 36
2.3 Instructional Approaches and Teaching Supports 38
2.3.1 Individualized Education Plans 38
2.3.2 Access to the Curriculum 40
2.3.3 Reasonable Accommodations 42
2.3.4 Accessible Learning Materials 45
2.3.5 Assistive Technology 46
2.4 School Supports/Other Related Services 49
2.4.1 Other Related Services 49
2.4.2 Additional Supports and Teachers’ Assistants 50
2.4.3 Accessible Transportation 53
2.5 Family, DPO and Community Engagement 54
2.5.1 Self-Determination 54
2.5.2 Family Engagement 55
2.5.3 DPO Engagement 57
2.5.4 Community Engagement 58
Chapter 3. Promoting Literacy Skills for Students with Disabilities 63

3.1 Understanding Literacy and Disability 63
3.1.1 Core Principles for Literacy Acquisition for All Students 63
3.1.2 Dispelling Myths on Literacy Acquisition and Students with Disabilities 65
3.2 Identification and Qualification for Services 67
3.2.1 The Purpose of Identification 67
3.2.2 Applying a Phased Approach to Identification 68
3.2.3 Additional Effective Practices in Identification 71
3.3 Stages of Literacy Acquisition 74
3.3.1 Techniques for Learning by Stage 77
3.3.2 Recognizing and Accepting Non-linear Literacy Skill Development 77
3.3.3 The Importance of Early Intervention and Inclusive Early Childhood Education 79
3.4 Additional Interventions and Disability Specific Supports 81
3.4.1 Supports for Students Who Are Blind/Low Vision 82
3.4.2 Supports for Students with Communication Disorders 85
3.4.3 Support for Students Who Are Deaf/Hard of Hearing 88
3.4.4 Supports for Students with Intellectual Disability and Complex Support Needs 90
3.4.5 Supports for Students with Learning, Emotional and Attention Disabilities 94
3.4.6 Supports for Students with Multiple Disabilities or Who are Deafblind 98
3.4.7 The Intersectionality of Literacy Instructional Approaches 101
3.5 Assessment 102
Chapter 4: Theory into Practice: Implementers’ Guide on

How to Support Literacy for Students with Disabilities in LMICs 108
4.1 Background on Donor Support and Funding Landscape 108
4.2 Do’s and Don’ts of Funding for Inclusive Education 110
4.3 Supporting Inclusive Education Programming 121
4.3.1 Phase 1: Engage with Key Stakeholders 122
4.3.2 Phase 2: Understand Current Practices and Needs 123
4.3.3 Phase 3: Implement Disability-Inclusive Programming 125
4.3.4 Phase 4: Move from Segregation Towards Inclusion 126
4.3.5 Phase 5: Taking Programs to Scale 131
4.3.6 Phase 6: Address Gaps in Research and Increase General Knowledge Base 132
4.3.7 Phase 7: Share Best Practices and Lessons Learned 134
Chapter 5: Conclusion 136
Cited Resources 137
Glossary of Terminology 153
Annexes 158
Annex A: Experts Interviewed 158
Annex B: Self-Reflection Checklist 159
Annex C: International Frameworks and Policies 161
Annex D: Six Partnership Types 164
Annex E: Template for Functional/Ecological Assessment of Learning Environments 166
Annex F: Challenges and Interventions for Students

with Intellectual Disability and Complex Support Needs 167
Annex G: Recommendations for Stakeholder Engagement 169
Annex H: Information to Include in Situational Analysis 171

Abbreviations
AAC Augmentative and alternative LMICs Low-and-middle-income countries

communication M&O Mobility and Orientation
AAP American Academy of Pediatrics MOEs Ministries of Education
ACR GCD All Children Reading: A Grand MTSS Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
Challenge for Development
NCDB National Center Deaf-Blindness
ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
NGOs Non-governmental organizations
APA American Psychiatric Association
NLTS2 National Longitudinal Transition Study
ASL American Sign Language
NORAD Norweigian Agency for Development
ASER Annual Student Experience Review Cooperation
BCC Behavioral change communication OT Occupational Therapist
CBM Christian Blind Mission PECS Picture Exchange Communication
CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child System
CRPD Convention on the Rights of Persons PT Physical Therapist
with Disabilities PTSD Post-traumatic stress disorder
CSI Cognitive strategy instruction READ Reading for Ethiopia’s Achievement
DDST Denver Development Screening Test RTI Research Triangle Institute (RTI)
DFAT Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade (Australia) SDGs Sustainable Development Goals
DFID Department for International SIDA Swedish International Development
Development (Great Britain) Cooperation Agency
DPOs Disabled Persons Organizations SLP Speech and Language Pathologist/
EBD Emotional and behavioral disorder Therapist
ECD Early childhood development SMART Specific, Measurable, use Action
words, Realistic and Time-limited
ECI Early childhood intervention
SRGB School-related gender-based violence
EDC Educational Development Center
UDA Universal Design for Assessments
EGRA Early Grade Reading Assessment
UDL Universal Design for Learning
EiE Education in Emergency
UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund
EMIS Educational Management Information
Systems UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization
FNCDP Fiji National Council for Disabled
People USAID United States Agency for International
Development
GIZ German Federal Ministry of Economic
Cooperation and Development VICTAR Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching
and Research
IDA International Disability Alliance
WASH Water and sanitation for health
IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act WFD World Federation of the Deaf
IDC Inclusive Development Center WHO World Health Organization
IEP Individualized education plan
IFC International Classification of
Functioning
LCD Leonard Cheshire Disability
JICA Japan International Cooperation
Agency
LMA Learning Media Assessments
viii Universal Design for Learning to Help All Children Read

Preface
Children with disabilities are among the world’s most marginalized learners, and are disproportionately affected
by the global learning crisis.1 Over 100 million children with disabilities worldwide are deprived of a meaningful
education, leaving them without marketable skills and with little possibility of pursuing further education. 2
Learners with disabilities represent a significant percentage of the 387 million primary-age children around
the world who are unable to read, write, or do math.3 The human and dollar cost of this exclusion is significant.
Countries lose billions of dollars of potential income when people with disabilities are not educated or working.4
USAID’s Education Policy,5 and The U.S. Government Strategy on International Basic Education,6 call for a world
where education systems in partner countries enable all individuals to acquire the education and skills needed to
be productive members of society. USAID recognizes that, in order to improve learning outcomes worldwide and
to expand access to school for the most marginalized, we must prioritize the education of learners with disabilities.
At USAID, we understand that disability-inclusive schooling improves educational outcomes for all. We also
partner with our fellow U.S. government agencies to promote a holistic approach to education for students with
disabilities, so that they can both attend school and learn essential skills for future study and employment.
USAID is firmly committed to ensuring that national governments and their donor and civil society partners,
particularly Disabled Persons Organizations (DPOs) and the families of children with disabilities, have the
resources they need to enable students with disabilities to learn to read. Reading is the foundational skill
necessary for all other academic progress. Sadly, in many contexts, children with disabilities are unlikely to go
to school, let alone learn to read. Yet, we know that, through knowledgeable collaboration between education
authorities, schools, DPOs, parents, and communities, we can create learning environments where students
with disabilities learn to read.
This toolkit is designed to provide educators and their partners with a first-of-its-kind resource to do just that. Readers
will find here easy-to-use explanations of the principles of universal design for learning (UDL). UDL is an approach to
instruction that prioritizes meeting the needs of learners with disabilities. When UDL is applied to reading instruction,
both students with and without disabilities learn how to read and prepare themselves for lifelong success.
This work would not have been possible without the assistance of the Global Reading Network, University
Research Co., LLC, and the many other expert partners from multiple donor agencies and education
organizations who provided input. I am proud to endorse this toolkit as a milestone on the path to ensuring that
all children with disabilities receive a high-quality and equitable education, whoever and wherever they are.
Julie Cram
Deputy Assistant Administrator & Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance
USAID, Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment (E3)
1 UNESCO, “Leaving No One Behind: How Far on the Way to Universal Primary and Secondary Education” (Paris: July, 2016)
2 UNICEF, Children and Young People with Disabilities FACT SHEET (New York: May, 2013)
3 UNESCO, UIS Fact Sheet No. 46: More Than One-Half of Children and Adolescents Are Not Learning Worldwide (Paris: September, 2017)
4 Oxford Journal of Development Studies 42:3, “The Nexus between Disability, Education, and Employment” (London, England: 2014) 439-453
5 USAID, USAID Education Policy, Forthcoming
6 USAID, U.S. Government Strategy on International Basic Education, Fiscal Years 2019-2023 (Washington, DC: September, 2018)
Toolkit for International Education Stakeholders ix

x Universal Design for Learning to Help All Children Read
Introduction
Literacy is a core component of daily life. Reading and becoming literate are the most important skills
a child can learn, yet in many countries students are not acquiring literacy skills. In many sub-Saharan
African countries, of all children who have been in school for five years only 40 percent obtain literacy
(USAID, 2012). The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is committed to
improving learning outcomes for all primary school students, including students with all types and
severity of disabilities.
One framework that USAID has used to promote literacy is the Five Ts (USAID, 2012) which include:
1. More time devoted to teaching reading
2. Better techniques for teaching reading
3. More texts in the hands of children
4. Teaching children in the mother tongue (a language they use and understand)
5. Testing children’s reading progress
These goals and approaches equally apply to children with disabilities. Like everyone, students with
disabilities require literacy skills to break out of the poverty cycle, access health services (Taggart and
McKendry, 2009) and gain employment (deFur and Runnels, 2014). Literacy skills for students with
disabilities also improve their ability to be a fully engaged citizen, and their ability for self-advocacy
and self-determination (Downing, 2005). However, most students with disabilities in low-and-
middle-income countries (LMICs) are either not receiving a quality education or are denied access
to education altogether. It is estimated that only 10 percent of children with disabilities are enrolled
in schools with only half this number completing primary school (Peters, 2003). Once in school,
their teachers are often not appropriately trained to teach students with disabilities. Although there
are no official worldwide statistics, it is believed that illiteracy rates for children with disabilities are
significantly higher than for children without disabilities.
This toolkit helps provide evidence-based research on the “how” to

educate students with disabilities while providing recommendations
on how to build a holistic, multi-tiered model of supports within the
general education classroom.
Toolkit for International Education Stakeholders 1

The suggested educational approaches highlighted in this toolkit can
improve the learning for all children, including those who may need
additional learning supports due to exposure to trauma, war and/or
natural disasters.
By ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD),
governments worldwide are looking to strengthen educational services for students with disabilities.
Many countries are looking to transition from a segregated educational system to one that promotes
inclusion. Inclusive education1 has sometimes been modeled as occurring in three waves: 1)
addressing the questions of why education and where to educate, 2) learning how to meaningfully
educate all students in an inclusive setting and 3) providing a school-wide, multi-tiered model
approach that supports the learning and behaviors of students with and without disabilities with
specialized instruction and supports (Turnbull et al., 2016). While many LMICs have fully accepted the
concepts of “why” and “where” and have committed to providing inclusive education, most struggle
with the second and third waves of inclusive education. This toolkit adheres to the CRPD, supporting
inclusive education as the most appropriate educational setting for students with disabilities. 2
The toolkit was developed through a participatory process. This involved:

• Input from educational stakeholders through the Global Reading Network. The Global Reading
Network brings together donors, practitioners, government officials, national and international
civil society organizations, and other stakeholders committed to improving reading outcomes for
primary grade children around the world. With the support of USAID and other key donor and
development partners, the Network collects, develops and disseminates evidence-based practices
to increase the impact, scale, and sustainability of primary grade reading programs. For more
information please visit the Global Reading Network webpage https://globalreadingnetwork.net.
• Expert interviews with more than 30 key stakeholders including academics, educational non-
governmental organizations (NGOs), NGOs focusing on disability, DPOs, and representatives from
Ministries of Education (see Annex A for a full list).
• An extensive desk review of more than 500 articles, documents, reports and books.
• Findings discussed during an Experts Meeting on Literacy and Learning held on May 1, 2018 at the
World Bank with 40 in-person experts as well as comments and suggestions from more than 130
individuals participating virtually.
• Review of technical sections of the report by experts working in related fields.
Although this toolkit focuses on the needs and educational techniques and approaches to support
literacy skills for students with different disabilities, these practices are also fundamental good teaching
practices that can be applied with most students to improve literacy skills. Many students who may not
have disabilities also struggle to read and write. The struggle to acquire literacy skills can be caused
1 Although some definitions of inclusive education include the inclusion of girls and all minorities (indigenous, ethnic
and racial minorities), for the purposes of this toolkit, inclusive education is focused on the education of children with
disabilities and their right to receive an education within the general education system.
2 Please see the textbox in section 1.3 for how inclusive education is defined for students who are deaf/hard of hearing.
2 Universal Design for Learning to Help All Children Read

by illnesses, exposure to trauma due to natural disasters, war or gender-based violence, and poverty.
Children who cannot focus on their school work because they are hungry or afraid may exhibit the
same characteristics and challenges in learning as a child with a disability. Although some interventions
suggested in this toolkit apply only to one or more categories of disabilities, most suggestions support
and improve the learning of all students with and without disabilities.
Purpose and Structure of the Toolkit

Providing evidence-based research and information on effective teaching techniques, this toolkit includes
information on how to teach literacy skills to students with different categories of disabilities. It also
addresses additional supports that promote literacy acquisition and how to best apply these theoretical
approaches in practice. In particular, the toolkit highlights different literacy instruction, and supports using
the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to show the different ways students with different disabilities learn.
The toolkit is also based on the premise that all children can learn to read and should have equal
access to quality instruction. As it is just as important to educate students with disabilities as it is
to educate students without disabilities, it is equally important that no single category of disability
is prioritized above others. The toolkit attempts to show the literacy needs of diverse learners,
emphasizing the different approaches that may help students become literate.
Though the toolkit will provide some information on multiple aspects of literacy (grammar, spelling
and writing), the techniques and interventions focus on the concept of reading consistent with
USAID’s priorities. The toolkit primarily focuses on early grade learning in primary school as early
literacy skills are needed to achieve education in later years. The main audience for this toolkit is
USAID Education Officers and implementing partners working in the area of inclusive education.
This document may also be helpful to support Ministries of Education (MOEs), Disabled Persons
Organizations (DPOs), teachers, and administrators in their efforts to improve education for students
with disabilities.
Defining DPOs
Disabled Persons Organizations can be defined as organizations where people with
disabilities provide leadership and constitute a majority, i.e., over 51 percent, of the staff,
board, and volunteers. DPOs can include parent organizations (only ones representing
children or individuals with intellectual disability) where the primary aim of the organization is
empowerment and growth of self-advocacy of persons with disability. DPOs are organizations
of, by, and for persons with disabilities.
Chapter 1 provides information about students with disabilities. Chapter 2 provides information on the
supports and services that can be put into place to promote acquisition of literacy skills. Chapter 3 provides
information on the phases of literacy for students with disabilities, specific instructional techniques using
the framework of UDL and suggestions on how to monitor students’ progress. Chapter 4 discusses how
these recommendations can go from theory into practice in LMIC settings, with recommendations for
funding practices as well as suggestions for a phased approach to move towards inclusive education
systems. This is the first iteration of this toolkit; it is anticipated that future versions will be developed and
released that build upon lessons learned and application of recommendations in LMICs.

This guide provides introductory information on the supports and services that promote literacy for all
children. For many countries with emerging inclusive education systems, these recommended supports
and services may be aspirational but can serve as examples of good practice that they can move
towards. Implementing the recommendations within the toolkit will require incremental and sustained
efforts by a variety of stakeholders. Developing an inclusive education system that serves the needs of
all students takes time to develop and undoubtedly governments and other stakeholders will encounter
several obstacles and challenges during implementation. However, the lack of existing programs,
policies and structures should not serve as a deterrent for progress and change; it is important the
foundations for inclusion are progressively and responsibly realized so that all students can learn. Annex
B provides a self-reflection checklist that covers many of the items in the toolkit to help educational
systems recognize possible gaps and areas for improvement.
Universal Design for Learning

Before engaging with this toolkit to support full inclusion of students with disabilities, it is critical
to note that the approach detailed here is aligned with and supported by USAID’s commitment to
UDL. In any quality education program, UDL can support access, engagement, and higher quality
instruction for all students, and thus is the backbone of all USAID-funded education programs. By
further familiarizing yourself with UDL prior to engagement with this toolkit, you will be better able to
understand the intrinsic value of a UDL approach for all learners.
Universal Design for Learning:

Research Tells Us…
• Research on the benefits UDL to support student progress in literacy, math and science is
beginning to emerge (Rao, Ok, & Bryant, 2014).
• Students who received instruction using UDL principles made significant gains in reading
(Coyne et al., 2012).
• Early grade classrooms that used UDL and multi-sensory practices were shown to increase
motivation and reading comprehension skills (Brand & Dalton, 2012).
Based on the architectural concept that accessible environmental changes help persons with
disabilities and help all individuals (e.g., ramps in the sidewalks help people with strollers and rolling
suitcases, etc.), the concept of UDL applies to learning. UDL is based upon the premise that there
is tremendous variability in how children learn (Meyer, Rose, & Gordon, 2014); thus, it is important
to develop learning environments, curricula, methods and materials that align with student learning
differences. The focus moves from disability to variability. Although first introduced as a research-
based framework to address the learning variability of students with disabilities, UDL has increasingly
been applied to broad educational and cross-cultural applications. UDL is viewed very effective as it
merges both neuroscience and learning sciences. Figure 1 provides a summary of the brain networks
and the link to UDL principles.

Figure 1. UDL’s Merger of Neuroscience and Learning Science
Brain Networks UDL Principles

Affective networks enable students to engage Multiple means of Engagement—the “why” of
with the environment consistent with their learning. How students are best motivated to
emotions and proactivity. learn.
Recognition networks enable students to Multiple means of Representation—the “what” of
perceive and understand input. learning. How students best receive information
or learn information.
Strategic networks enable organization, action Multiple means of Action and Expression— “the
planning, implementation, and self-monitoring. “how” of learning. How students best express
knowledge and what they have learned.
Source: CAST, 2018
The three means principles are of UDL are described as follows.
Multiple means of Engagement (foster students’ motivation in a variety of ways)

The principle of engagement affirms that students are motivated and engaged in learning in a variety of
ways. Thus, it is critically important to consider options for making learning purposeful and motivating for
students. For example, during reading instruction students will vary in their preferences for reading topics,
silent or oral reading comprehension work, reading individually or with peers, amount of time in a lesson,
how and what feedback is provided, and many other options. Children with disabilities vary in attention
span and often require different intensity of reinforcements. CAST (2018) points out that “Information that is
not attended to, that does not engage learners’ cognition, is in fact inaccessible.” Students who experience
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), autism and intellectual disability who are taught through
engaging and motivating instructional strategies are more likely to be successful with literacy.
Multiple means of Representation (present information to students in a variety of ways)

The principle of representation highlights the need to create various ways for students to learn. In
teaching spelling, some students learn better by seeing things visually while others benefit from
using auditory channels. Offering only one instructional option limits the accessibility of information.
For example, students who are blind/low vision will need to receive the information orally or tactilely
while students who are deaf/hard of hearing benefit from visual learning. CAST (2018) provides Book
Builder, a free electronic platform that enables teachers to create personalized and engaging e-texts
(with pictures, graphics and coaching avatars).3 The key is to match students’ learning strengths in
“taking in” information with teachers’ means of providing it.
Multiple means of Action and Expression (enable students to express what they learn in a
variety of ways)
The Principle of Action and Expression focuses on how students show what they learn. Whereas
the Principle of Representation focuses on input, the Principle of Action and Expression focuses on
output. All students have different preferences, strengths and needs related to expressing what they
3 For more information on Book Builder, please visit http://bookbbuilder.cast.org

learn. For example, some students prefer to express learning through multiple choice questions,
others prefer oral examinations, while others may do better when given the option to write. Writing
and spelling are elements of literacy that particularly require multiple options for demonstrating
mastery of knowledge. For example, Dragon Dictation is a high-tech example of children, as young as
six, being able to demonstrate what they have learned without writing and spelling barriers.4 Similarly,
a low-tech option is sharing responses orally to a peer note taker. An additional example is students
with and without disabilities may prefer to use sign language or AAC to express their thoughts and
understanding of concepts.
CAST is an organization that has led the development of UDL.5 In addition to Book Builder, their
website is rich with resources that make it feasible for teachers to incorporate UDL for students with
or without disabilities. Their free learning materials include authoring tools for developing UDL-based
curricula and lesson plans, translation of books into an online interface providing alternatives in how
information is presented, and templates for creating flexible materials.
Reflect on Your Context

What would be the logical next steps for your country to move towards using UDL in
classrooms?
What do you see as the benefits of UDL?
How can UDL be incorporated into teacher training?
4 For more information on Dragon Dictation, please visit http://learningworksforkids.com/apps/dragon-dictation

5 For more information on CAST, please visit www.cast.org

Chapter 1: Background on Students
with Disabilities
Special Education is a service, not a place.
To best understand how literacy instructional techniques for students with disabilities can be improved,
it is important to understand the current situation of children with disabilities worldwide and the current
status of education. Likewise, it is also important to understand how literacy can be expanded to apply
to all students, including those with and without disabilities. This chapter of the toolkit:
• Describes the current situation of children with disabilities worldwide
• Explains how literacy can be expanded for all students, with and without disabilities
• Explains the different educational settings for students with disabilities
• Informs how the toolkit follows the CRPD to encourage transition from segregated to inclusive programs
1.1 The Situation of Children with Disabilities
Key Highlights
• Disability is a part of every country, region, ethnic and racial group, and socio-economic
status, accounting for approximately 15 percent of any given population.
• Children with disabilities face various attitudinal, physical, communication and social barriers
that impact their ability to receive quality education.
• Children with disabilities face additional multiple layers of discrimination due to ethnicity,
gender, ethnicity, language, race, sexual orientation or socio-economic status.
More than one billion people, 15 percent of the world’s population, have a disability. Eighty percent
live in LMICs, including 150 million children (WHO, 2011). Most children with disabilities in LMICs have
limited to no access to education. More than 25 million children from Sub-Saharan Africa and South
Asian countries are completely excluded from the formal education systems (UNESCO Institute for
Statistics, 2005). One research study supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
in 15 countries found that more than 85 percent of primary school-aged children who were out of
school had never attended school (Mizunoya et al., 2016). Prejudicial stereotypes and discriminatory
attitudes often serve as barriers limiting access to school and, for those who attend school, limit
learning and access to content. Many individuals believe children with certain types of disabilities are
“uneducable” and then further perpetuate this misperception with aligning discriminatory legislation
or denying children with disabilities the opportunities to learn (UNICEF, 2013). Other families are less
likely to enroll their child with a disability in school due to inaccessible facilities, lack of accessible

Recognizing Disability as a Social Construct
It is important to recognize that disability is a social construct which was established by
society to construct a definition of disability that reflects social expectations of health and
functionality (Jones, 1996). Similarily, the CRPD which states that disability is an “evolving
concept and that disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments
and the attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder their full and effective participation
in society on an equal basis as others” (United Nations, 2006). Because disability is socially
constructed, the definition of disability varies by country and context. For the purposes of this
toolkit, students with disabilities include those with:
• Communication disorders
• Intellectual disability and complex support needs
• Learning, emotional or attention disabilities
• Multiple disabilities
• Sensory disabilities (blind/low vision, deaf/hard of hearing and deaf-blind)
• Physical or mobility disabilities
transportation and the negative attitudes and bullying often experienced by students with disabilities
in schools (WHO, 2011). Students with disabilities often require accommodations and additional
services to support their learning. These supports and services are often not available to many
children with disabilities worldwide.
Global Education of Students with Disabilities:

• In low-income countries, rates of vision and hearing disabilities are substantially higher
than high-income countries (Kong et al., 2012; Stevens et al., 2013). Yet these children are
significantly less likely to attend school compared to students without disabilities.
• As many as of 80 percent of students who are deaf worldwide receive no form of education
(World Federation of the Deaf, 2018). Only 1-2 percent of students who are deaf have access
to education in local sign language in LMICs (World Federation of the Deaf, 2017).
• Only 5-15 percent of students who require assistive devices and technologies to learn and
function in society have access to them (WHO, 2017).
• Children with intellectual disability, complex support needs6 and emotional disabilities are
considered to be the group with the least access to education (Filmer, 2008; UNESCO 2004).
6 The term “complex support needs” incorporates needs of students who have developmental disabilities and need
significant support but may not have an intellectual disability. A developmental disability can be defined as a long-term
disability that can effective cognitive ability, physical functioning or both (National Institute of Health, 2018).

In addition to these barriers to learning, many students with disabilities experience discrimination
and challenges based on issues related to gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic status. Additional
information on multiple layers of discrimination follows.
• Ethnicity and disability. In many countries, ethnic minorities have less access to education.
This is especially true for ethnic minorities with disabilities. Once in school, ethnic minorities are
often misidentified and over-represented in special education systems. This is true within the
United States and other countries (Anatasiou et al., 2017). For example, both New Zealand and
the Province of British Columbia of Canada have high percentages of ethnic minorities needing
special education services compared to non-indigenous populations (Gabel et al., 2009). Over-
representation is even more prevalent in countries where there are associated stigmas and
prejudices toward certain minorities. For example, in Macedonia, although Roma account for only
2.66 percent of the population, Romani students represent 46 percent of the special education
population (European Roma Rights Center, 2012). This over-representation is often caused by
racial bias, less access to prior education and disability identification tools that do not account for
differences in the language that children use and understand.
• Gender and disability. Girls with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to marginalization.
They are less likely to attend school than boys with disabilities. For example, the World Health
Organization (WHO) World Report on Disability (2011) estimates that 50.6 percent of males with a
disability have completed primary school, compared with 61.3 percent of males without a disability.
Comparatively, only 41.7 percent of girls with a disability complete primary school compared to
52.9 percent of females without a disability. Inaccessible latrines are cited as a primary reason
why girls with disabilities do not attend school, especially for girls who are menstruating (World
Vision, 2014). Girls with disabilities are also more likely to experience gender-based violence,
sexual abuse and exploitation (United Nations Secretary General, 2006). Literacy rates for women
with disabilities are extremely low, compounded by excusion from adult literacy campaigns and
outreach (Groce & Bakshi, 2011).
Bullying and Disability

Bullying is an issue that impacts all students in a classroom including those being bullied,
those who bully and those who witness bullying. Students who are bullied are at an increased
risk of depression or anxiety, health complaints and decreased academic achievement
(United States Department of Health and Human Services). In the United States, students with
disabilities at a minimum are twice as likely to be victims of bullying compared to students
without disabilities (Rose, Monda-Amaya, & Eselage, 2011). It is likely that this percentage may
be even higher in countries that hold dominant negative societal beliefs towards persons
with disabilities. Because of this, it is paramount to integrate perspectives of child dignity and
safety in all trainings and interventions. Focusing on dignity and safety, addressing personal or
cultural biases, using respectful person first language, and deemphasizing labels are all ways
to combat bullying and are highlighted throughout the toolkit. While the risk of being bullied
should not be an excuse to not provide education of children with disabilities, it is important
to recognize this heightened risk that students with disabilities may be victims of bullying and
address and mitigate this issue to the maximum extent possible.

• Poverty and disability. There is an undisputed link between disability and poverty; both being a
cause and consequence of each other. Barriers to education and literacy acquisition can result in
less employment. Likewise, poor living conditions, lack of access to health care and malnutrition can
increase the incidence of disability. Persons with disabilities were historically not included in national
poverty assessments (Braithwaite & Mont, 2008). Persons living in poverty, including persons with
disabilities, tend to have less access to reading materials and often enter school with weaker pre-
literacy skills and vocabularies, which puts them at a marked disadvantage compared to students
from more affluent families (Allington & McGill-Franzen, 2008).
Closer Look at Inclusion:

The Cost of Inclusion Versus Exclusion
One question that arises when addressing education of children with disabilities is associated
costs. Many countries have cited cost of inclusive education is the primary reason for delaying
implementing educational reform that serves all children (Chireshe, 2013). It is important that
countries budget for inclusion and recognize that transitioning to a system that serves all
children has additional associated costs (e.g. professional development, assistive technologies,
and paraprofessionals). However, after the initial investment costs, inclusive education is
more cost effective than supporting segregated education (UNICEF, 2012). More than 100
studies have shown that maintaining a separate parallel education system for students with
disabilities (with separate facilities, residential facilities and administration) is more expensive
and less sustainable (McGregor & Vogelsberg, 1998). Most high-income countries dedicate
between 12-20 percent of their education budget towards special education (Sharma, Forlin,
& Furlonger, 2015). However, many services related to teaching students with disabilities can
be implemented with no to little additional costs. Another innovative idea is working with the
school and community to develop income generating activities to help supplement additional
costs associated with education of children with disabilities. For example, in rural Kenya
schools sold livestock and vegetables to help support the education of children with disabilities
in their community (Elder, 2016).
It is important to recognize that there are associated costs with educating all students,
but the costs of exclusion are, in the long run, more extensive, due to the lack of future
employment and reliance on welfare. Research conducted by Christian Blind Mission (CBM)
and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that that cost of exclusion
is significantly more than the associated costs of inclusion. For example, the research found
that Bangladesh loses an estimated US $891 million a year due to people with disabilities
not receiving an education and thus not being able to contribute to the workforce (Banks
& Polack, 2014). The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that as much as 7
percent of a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can be lost due to excluding persons
with disabilities in school and other services (Buckup, 2009).
There is also strong evidence that the return on investment for educating students with
disabilities is significantly higher than those students without disabilities with the World Bank
estimating return on investment to be two to three times higher (Patrinos, 2015).

In your country, do all children with disabilities go to school?
What additional forms of discrimination do girls with disabilities face?
Are persons with disabilities more likely to experience poverty? Why or why not?
1.2 Defining Literacy for Students with Disabilities
Key Highlights
• Traditional definitions of literacy may exclude persons with disabilities.
• A broader understanding of literacy is needed to include students with disabilities.
• It is important to support inclusive definitional principles for students with disabilities.
The USAID Landscape Report on Literacy uses the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) definition of literacy provided within the Aspects of Literacy Assessment.
UNESCO defines literacy as:
“the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute using printed
and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of
learning in enabling individuals to achieve his or her goals, develop his or her knowledge and
potential, and participate fully in community and wider society.” (UNESCO, 2005, p. 21)
Strict adherence to this or similar definitions focused on written and printed text exclude many
students with disabilities. Literacy definitions need to allow for flexible, multisensory approaches
and for students to use a variety of technologies (both low and high tech) to help them gain and
communicate learning on an individual basis. It is important to recognize that there are many different
ways to “read” and likewise, many different ways to express literacy skills that go beyond traditional
oral responses. The belief that persons with disabilities who have complex support needs cannot
acquire literacy often results in teachers not providing students with opportunities to learn literacy
skills and thus becomes a self-fulling prophecy (Keefe & Copeland, 2011).
Literacy should instead be seen as the ability to use an appropriate and diverse set of literacy
materials to learn concepts and be able to express those concepts through different means. These
multisensory approaches allow for concepts to be received through print, braille, tactile and symbolic
materials and allow students to communicate their knowledge through diverse means such as sign

language, oral expression and technology. This toolkit uses the broader definition of literacy more
applicable to students with disabilities. The toolkit also supports core definitional principles of literacy
proposed by Keefe and Copeland (2011, p. 97):
1. “All people are capable of acquiring literacy.
2. Literacy is a human right and is a fundamental part of the human experience.
3. Literacy is not a trait that resides solely in the individual person. It requires and creates a
connection (relationship) with others.
4. Literacy includes communication, contact, and the expectation that interaction is possible
for all individuals; literacy has the potential to lead to empowerment.
5. Literacy is the collective responsibility of every individual in the community; that is, to develop
meaning making with all human modes of communication to transmit and receive information.”
1.3 Educational Settings and Learning Outcomes
Key Highlights
• Educational settings not characterized by inclusion may exist in countries in which
USAID works; only inclusive education is supported by the CRPD.
• Segregation and integration are not requisite steps to establish inclusion.
• Inclusive education for students who are deaf/hard of hearing signifies being in a
communication-rich environment where they communicate directly with peers and
teachers using local sign language.
• Students with and without disabilities have stronger educational achievements and social
growth when educated in inclusive settings.
• Students without disabilities benefit academically when there are students with disabilities
in their classroom as well as being more accepting of diversity as adults.
• Special education signifies the supports and services that help support education in an
inclusive environment, not education in a segregated setting.
1.3.1 Understanding Different Educational Settings

To promote inclusive education, it is important to understand what inclusive education means, and to
recognize the different settings for students with disabilities that are typically encountered around the
world. This is relevant to literacy acquisition, as the setting often dictates access to literacy instruction and
other content within the national curriculum. The General Comment 4 on Article 24 of the CRPD defines
these settings as follows (United Nations, 2016, p. 4):
• “Exclusion occurs when students are directly or indirectly prevented from or denied access
to education in any form.
• Segregation occurs when the education of students with disabilities is provided in separate
environments designed or used to respond to particular or various impairments, in isolation
from students without disabilities.

• Integration is a process of placing persons with disabilities in existing mainstream
educational institutions, as long as the former can adjust to the standardized requirements of
such institutions.7
• Inclusion involves a process of systemic reform embodying changes and modifications in
content, teaching methods, approaches, structures and strategies in education to overcome
barriers with a vision serving to provide all students of the relevant age range with an
equitable and participatory learning experience and environment that best corresponds to
their requirements and preferences.”
Integration in many countries also refers to the practice of educating students with disabilities in the
general education schools. In these settings, students with disabilities are required to spend the vast
majority of their days in resource rooms or segregated classrooms for students with specific types
of disabilities (e.g., classrooms for students who are blind, classrooms for students with intellectual
disability). Figure 2 illustrates the four dimensions of exclusion, segregation, integration and inclusion.
It is important to note that segregation and integration are not requisite steps before inclusion can
be provided to students. Nor does integration guarantee a transition from segregation to inclusion
(United Nations, 2016). In addition, access to a general education classroom also does not mean
automatic inclusion of children with disabilities. The goal of inclusion is not just physically getting
children with disabilities into general education classrooms (Fosset, Smith, & Mirenda, 2003) but
rather to “ensure that all students are learning and are challenged to learn to their maximum potential”
Figure 2. Four Dimensions of Exclusion, Segregation, Integration and Inclusion

SEGREGATION
EXCLUSION
INTEGRATION
INCLUSION
Original source of figure unknown
7 A/HRC/25/29, para. 4 and UNICEF, The Right of Children with Disabilities to Education: A Right-Based Approach to Inclusive
Education (Geneva, 2012).

(Downing, 2005, pg. 38). Figure 3 describes the characteristics of what inclusion means and does not
mean. Once in school, it is critical that all children receive specific instruction on literacy, numeracy,
and other subjects established in the national curriculum.
Less than 2 percent of Finnish children with disabilities are educated in segregated schools (Jarvinen,
2007) and less than 1.7 percent of children with disabilities in Sweden are educated outside of the general
education classrooms (Government of Sweden, 2012).8 However, in most LMICs, education of children
with disabilities still takes place in highly segregated settings outside of the education system. In many
countries education is provided by NGOs with minimal oversight or engagement by the MOE. For example,
in Morocco, almost all students identified as having a disability are educated by non-profit organizations,
with the MOE only recently overseeing education and contributing to funding of the education of children
with disabilities. Students in many of these segregated institutions receive minimal literacy instruction (RTI
International, 2016). In Cambodia, students with disabilities are typically educated by NGOs with the MOE
Figure 3. Characteristics of Inclusive Education
Inclusion Means Inclusion Does Not Mean

Students with disabilities attend their neighborhood/ Students can only attend segregated schools or
village school or the school they would attend if they integrated classrooms that may or may not be near
did not have a disability. their local school.
No child is excluded based on type or degree of Only children with mild disabilities are allowed to
disability. be a part of inclusive education while those with
higher support needs are required to be educated in
segregated settings.
A natural proportion of students with disabilities Overloading classrooms with students who have
attend each school and classroom. disabilities or who are at risk.
Students with and without disabilities receive Jeopardizing the achievement of general education
education to address their individual needs. students through slower instruction or a less-
challenging curriculum.
Each child is in an age-appropriate general Students with disabilities are kept in early grades
education classroom.9 without the option of learning more complex concepts.
Special education supports are provided within the Students with disabilities are placed in general
general education classroom. education classrooms without careful planning and
adequate support.
All members of the school stakeholders Relegating special education teachers to the role
(administration, staff, students and parents) promote of assistants in the general education classroom or
cooperative teaching arrangements, with school- assuming that the general education teachers will
based planning, problem-solving and ownership of lead special education services and thus reduce
students with and without disabilities. funding for special education services.
Every student is accepted and regarded as a full Isolating students with disabilities socially, physically
and valued member of the class and the school or academically within the general education
community. classroom.
Source: Adapted from Hayes & Bulat (2017) and McLeskey & Waldron (2000)
8 These figures do not reflect the estimated time that children with disabilities spend in the general education classroom
versus self-contained classrooms but rather placement in segregated or general education schools.

supporting teacher salary and teacher training (Kalyanpur, 2016). While many countries have legislation that
requires inclusive education, in reality, segregation remains the predominant practice in most countries.
Education is a fundamental human right for all children. Children with disabilities often require
specialized services (access to specialists, accommodations, modifications to the curriculum and
different instructional techniques) to reach their full academic potential. These specialized services are
often referred to as special education services. Special education services are defined as the process
of providing specially designed instruction at no extra cost to parents in order to meet the unique
needs of students with disabilities (Turnbull, Turnbull, Wehmeyer, and Shogren, 2016). In the past,
many people have misinterpreted special education services to mean that students with disabilities
should receive their education in segregated places, including special classes, or special day or
residential schools. Article 24 of the CRPD clearly requires that students with disabilities “can access
an inclusive, quality and free primary education and secondary education on an equal basis with
others in the communities in which they live.” Furthermore, the General Comments regarding Article
24 stipulate provision of specially designed instruction in general education classes:
. . .each student learns in a unique manner and involves developing flexible ways to learn:
creating an engaging classroom environment; maintaining high expectations for all students,
while allowing multiple ways to meet expectations; empowering teachers to think differently
about their own teaching; and focusing on educational outcomes for all, including those with
disabilities. . . Curricula must be conceived, designed and applied to meet and adjust to the
requirements of every student. . . (p. 9).
Special education services refer to the process of providing specially designed instruction within general
education settings at no cost to parents in order to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities.
It is important that special education services are a core component of general education systems, not
a parallel system. However, since persons with disabilities represent a non-homogenous group, it is
important that supports provided to promote literacy skills for students with disabilities are diversified. Not
all techniques and supports work for all students (even for all students with the same disability diagnosis).

Where are children with disabilities educated in your country?
Do children with higher support needs have the opportunity to enroll in their local schools?
If there are segregated/special schools, are they also residential?
What do you think is the impact of living away from the family and community environment?
Do students who are deaf/hard of hearing have the ability to learn in a sign language
rich environment?
9 In many LMICs, there are often overaged children in primary schools. Because of this, children with disabilities are not
always be in age-appropriate classrooms. It is important that children with disabilities not be arbitrarily withheld in lower
grades but be allowed to move forward in their education on an equitable basis as their peers.

Closer Look at Inclusion: Inclusive Settings for Students
Who Are Deaf/Hard of Hearing
The inclusive environment or “least restrictive environment” for students who are deaf/hard of
hearing does not always mean attending their local general education school. Communication
through sign language is needed for students who are deaf/hard of hearing/deafblind to
obtain language acquisition, communicate, and build literacy skills. It is vital that students
who are deaf/hard of hearing/deafblind learn the same curriculum as other students, but from
teachers who are fluent in sign language. As stated by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD):
“Inclusive Education for deaf children should be viewed from a wider perspective to include
all factors of learning environment including, as noted in the CRPD, the cultural and linguistic
identity of deaf people” (WFD, 2014).
For many students who are deaf/hard of hearing in LMICs the only educational options are:
1. Attend their local schools with minimal supports, or
2. Attend one of the few schools for the deaf which provides residential services; such schools
are often far away from their homes.
Both scenarios present challenges. When students attend local schools, students who are
deaf/hard of hearing are often not provided with sufficient supports in sign language and
cannot communicate or engage socially with peers due to language barriers. This can create
a scenario that is by far more isolating than inclusive. While attending schools for the deaf can
allow for improved acquisition of sign language skills, in many LMICs these schools do not
follow the national curriculum. Similarly, being removed from the family environment presents
challenges, especially for very young children. Better options are to promote:
1. Co-enrollment schools, where students who are deaf/hard of hearing attend school
alongside children who can hear, and receive a language-rich education, communicating
with teachers and peers via sign language, or
2. Day schools for students who are deaf/hard of hearing, where students who are deaf/hard
of hearing have same-age and cross-age peers who are also deaf, as well as adults who
are deaf/hard of hearing conversational partners so they can develop full language within a
language-rich education but still live with their families.
Students who are deaf/hard of hearing and their families require information to make an
informed choice about the educational setting that works best for the child. This choice
should not be made by medical authorities (WFD, 2014) or by the government/school district,
as this is not aligned with the CRPD. Instead, the choice needs to be individualized, and the
student’s abilities and needs should be identified before placement is discussed. Issues such
as “language acquisition, qualified personnel, direct language access, academic process,
membership in a language community and participation in after-school programs must be
discussed and quantified” (Tucker, 2010/2011. p 1). It is important that the needs of the individual
student who is deaf/hard of hearing drive placement decisions. For more information on the
WFD’s position on inclusive education, please visit their policy paper at: http://wfdeaf.org/
news/resources/5-june-2018-wfd-position-paper-inclusive-education/

1.3.2 Positive Impact of Inclusion for Students with Disabilities
There is a common misperception that students with disabilities learn better in segregated settings
and that being educated in segregated schools or self-contained classrooms improves learning
outcomes. This is false. Research shows that students learn best in inclusive settings.
Positive Impact of Inclusive Education on Students with

Disabilities: Research Tells Us…
• Students with learning and behavioral disabilities educated in inclusive settings are twice as
likely to attend postsecondary education when compared to peers in segregated settings
(Rojewski, Lee, & Gregg, 2013).
• Students who are educated in inclusive settings are more likely to have improved
individualized education plans quality, more student engagement, more likely to make friends,
and have fewer challenging behaviors (Bui et al., 2010).
• Students with disabilities have the greatest access to the general education curriculum
when they attend general education rather than segregated classes (Ryndak, et al., 2014;
Wehmeyer & Shogren, 2017).
• Students with learning disabilities in 2nd grade inclusive classrooms made significantly more
progress than their same-aged peers with disabilities in special classes. The achievement of
students in special classes decreased significantly between the beginning and end of 1st and
2nd grade (Tremblay, 2013).
• Students with intellectual disability and autism make more academic progress in
inclusive classrooms than segregated ones and they do not receive more systematic and
individualized instruction in segregated classes (Kurth & Mastergeorge, 2012).

Closer Look at Inclusion and Individualized Instruction:
Push-in Versus Pull-out
When students with disabilities need individualized instruction or related services (such as
speech therapy or physical therapy), there are two ways this can be done: the push-in or
pull-out method.
“Pull-out” method is where students with disabilities are removed from the classroom
and provided instruction in a “resource room” or alternative space. When this takes place
too often, students may miss valuable instructional time being offered to their peers and
fall further behind in learning. This method can also interfere with a student’s perception of
belonging in the classroom and create negative stigma.
“Push-in” method is where students with disabilities receive special education services
within the general education classroom. The special education teacher and general
education teachers work together to ensure that children have access to the curriculum with
minimal disruption.
Research shows that using only a pull-out method reduces a student’s ability to read
words correctly compared to using push-in or combined methods individualized for the
student (Marston, 1996). As a result, many high-income countries are moving to push-in
methods for special education instruction, while many LMICs, such as China and Jordan, are
establishing systems that rely on the pull-out method (Hayes et al., 2018). While there may be
situations where pull-out services are needed (for example, if a small group setting improves
concentration), it is important to use this practice minimally, enabling as much time as
possible with peers. As countries develop systems for children with disabilities, learning from
what works will be a valuable tool.
Almost 40 years of research indicates that students with disabilities

perform better in inclusive settings than segregated settings.
(Falvey, 2004)

Time spent in inclusive classrooms matters. When students are in integrated settings or self-
contained classrooms, they have less access to the national curriculum and their time is often
spent on non-academic instruction. There is a significant difference in instructional time between
an inclusive and integrated setting. In integrated classrooms, 58 percent of time was classified as
non-instructional versus 35 percent of time in general education classes (Helmstetter et al., 1998).
Additionally, students taught in integrated (or self-contained) classrooms were less engaged and
often more alone compared to inclusive settings (Hunt et al., 1994).
Time Spent in Inclusive Classrooms and Impact on Literacy:

• A National Longitudinal Transition Study (NLTS2) conducted with 11,000 students with
disabilities in the United States found that more time spent in the general education classroom
resulted in: a) fewer absences from school; b) fewer referrals for disruptive behavior; and c)
better outcomes after high school in the areas of employment and independent living (Wagner
et al., 2006).
• Students with Down syndrome showed higher reading scores when they spent more time in
the general education classroom (de Graaf & van Hove, 2015).
• A significant positive correlation exists between expressive communication and reading and
math skills with increased time spent in the general education classroom (Kleinert et al., 2015).
• A strong positive relationship exists between reading & math achievement and the number
of hours preschool and elementary students spend in general education classrooms (Cosier,
Causton-Theoharis, & Theoharis, 2013).
• Another study followed a girl with complex support needs who was initially taught in a
segregated class for the first ten years of school. When she transitioned to an inclusive
classroom at age 15, significant improvements in her reading, writing, communication and
behavior were observed (Ryndak, Morrison, & Sommerstein, 1999).

An inclusive classroom in Kenya where both students with and without disabilities learn literacy skills.
Photo credit: Leonard Cheshire Disability (LCD)
1.3.3 Positive Impact of Inclusion for Students without Disabilities

Students without disabilities also benefit from inclusive education. When promoting and establishing
inclusive education programs in LMICs, it is important to stress the benefits of inclusive education for
children with and without disabilities to ministry officials, teachers, administrators, parents and the
community.
Positive Impacts of Inclusive Education on Students without

Disabilities: Research Tells Us…
• Students without disabilities made comparable or greater gains in literacy and numeracy
when taught in inclusive classes (Waldron, Cole, & Majd, 2001).
• Overall, there are positive or neutral academic outcomes for students without disabilities
receiving an education in an inclusive class, with only a very small number of studies
indicating poor outcomes (Kalambouka et al., 2005).
• Students without disabilities in inclusive classrooms made more progress in reading and math
than peers without disabilities who were not educated with classmates with disabilities (Cole,
Waldronn, & Maid, 2004).
• Students without disabilities educated in inclusive classes tend to be more accepting of
diversity and have increased sensitivity to the needs of others (salend & Duhaney, 1999).

Chapter 1: Additional Online Resources and Information
Situation of Children with Disabilities
UNICEF. (2013a). Children and Young People with Disabilities: Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.
unicef.org/disabilities/files/Factsheet_A5__Web_NEW.pdf
UNICEF. (2013b). State of the World’s Children 2013: Children with Disabilities. Retrieved from https://
www.unicef.org/publications/index_69379.html
World Health Organization. (2011). World Report on Disability. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/
disabilities/world_report/2011/report.pdf
Educational Settings
Bulat, J., Hayes, A., Macon, W., Ticha, R., & Abery, B. (2015). RTI school and classroom disability
inclusion guide. Research Triangle Park, NC: RTI Press. Retrieved from https://shared.rti.org/
content/rti-school-and-classroom-disabilities-inclusion-guide-low-and-middle-income-countries
Mariga, L., McConkey, R. & Myezwa, H. (2014). Inclusive Education in Low-Income Countries: A
resource book for teacher educators, parent trainers and community development workers. Cape
Town: Atlas Alliance and Disability Innovations Africa. Retrieved from http://www.eenet.org.uk/
resources/docs/Inclusive_Education_in_Low_Income_Countries.pdf
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2009). Inclusive education at work:
Students with disabilities in mainstream schools. Paris: OECD. Retrieved from http://www.oecd.
org/edu/school/previousworkoninclusiveeducation.htm.
Stubbs, S. (2008). Inclusive Education: Where there are few resources. Oslo, Norway, The Atlas
Alliance. Retrieved from http://www.eenet.org.uk/resources/docs/IE%20few%20resources%20
2008.pdf
UNESCO (2014). Teaching Children with Disabilities in Inclusive Settings. UNESCO Bangkok Office.
Retrieved from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001829/182975e.pdf

Chapter 2: Establishing a Holistic Approach
to Educating Students with Disabilities
Ideally, education is individualized and provides appropriate support that a child needs to learn. For
education to be successful, it is important to offer a wide array of supports within a system that fully
promotes inclusion. Ideally, this system provides a holistic approach to supporting students with
disabilities. A holistic approach to inclusive education helps promote acquisition of literacy skills and
ensures that students with and without disabilities have the supports they need to reach their full
academic potential. Figure 4 shows the holistic supports for inclusive education.
Figure 4. Holistic Supports for Inclusive Education
Policies and
strategic
plans
Holistic Trained
partnership and teachers and
engagement schools staff
Students with
and without
disabilities
Other related Tiered levels

services of support
Targeted
instructional
approaches

This chapter of the toolkit:
• Provides background on relevant international and national policies and strategic plans
• Explains different settings for education and their impact on literacy acquisition
• Describes needs related to teacher training and developing different levels of supports
• Provides information on different instructional and teaching supports and their role in literacy
acquisition
• Describes other related services that promote literacy skills
• Explains the important role of self-determination, families, DPOs and communities in inclusive
education
2.1 Policy and Systems Support
Key Highlights
• There are several international policies and frameworks that promote the education of
children with disabilities.
• For countries to be compliant with CRPD, it is important for national education policies
and strategic plans to be consistent with the principle of inclusive education.
• In addition to designated inclusive education policies, countries should have inclusive
education strategic plans which detail how the policy will be implemented and how, if
needed, the countries can transition to an inclusive education system.
2.1.1 International Policies and Frameworks

The main policies and frameworks that specifically address persons with disabilities include:
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC) (1989)
• The United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities (1993)
• UNESCO Salamanca Statement (1994)
• The United Nations CRPD (2006)
• Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually
Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled (2013)
• Sustainable Development Goals (sDGs) (2015)
The UN CRPD tends to be the most influential international legal instrument related to the education
of children with disabilities. It represents a paradigm shift from viewing disability as a charity or
medical issue to viewing disability as a human rights issue. Article 24 on education clearly states
that children with disabilities have the right to inclusive education and to receive the appropriate
supports they need to learn. To help clarify expectations for implementing the education article of the
CRPD, the CRPD Committee developed General Comment No. 4 on the right to inclusive education.
The General Comment outlines common barriers to inclusion, the need to provide an individualized
approach that focuses on the whole person approach to educating children with disabilities and the

need to provide a flexible curriculum. The committee also clearly states that governments need to
commit to end educating children in segregated and integrated settings, and that maintaining parallel
systems of inclusive education and segregated education is not compliant nor aligned with the CRPD
(United Nations, 2016). Although the document does not specifically address literacy, it does provide
additional information on the recommended supports to be provided to students with disabilities to
improve and augment learning. See Annex C for a description of the different policies and frameworks.
To help ensure that national policies are implemented, it is important to

also develop complimentary guidance documents for families, teachers
and administrators.
2.1.2 National Inclusive Education Policies

Due in large part to ratifying the CRPD, many countries have developed or are currently developing
specific laws mandating the education of children with disabilities. The quality of these laws varies
significantly by country. Unfortunately, many legislations (such as Ghana, Jordan and South Africa)
have reinforced segregation for students with disabilities that have higher support needs by only
providing inclusion to students with “moderate” to “mild” disabilities. Other mandates have reinforced
other discriminatory practices such as establishing residential institutions. For policies to be aligned
with the CRPD, it is important that there is legislation supporting inclusive education for all students
with disabilities, regardless of type or level of support needed.
According to UNESCO’s Policy Guidelines for Inclusion in Education, national inclusive education
should, at a minimum, achieve the following (UNESCO, 2009):
• “Recognize inclusive education as a right;
• Identify minimum standards in relation to the right to education, including physical access,
communication access, social access, economic access, early identification, adaption of
curriculum, and individualized student supports;
• Identify minimum standards regarding the right to education and ensuring that families and
communities are active participants in inclusive education;
• Ensure a transition plan for children with disabilities;
• Identify stakeholders and their responsibilities;
• Provide resources for children with disabilities; and
• Establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for ensuring that education is truly inclusive.”
2.1.3 National Education Strategic Plans

National strategic plans are a useful tool to detail how to translate policy into practice. In many
countries—such as Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Macedonia and the Republic of Georgia—the plan
to implement inclusive education is part of a larger education strategy; other times the inclusive
education plan is a standalone strategy, which is the case in Rwanda and Malta (Hayes & Bulat, 2017).
These plans typically address how the country will transition towards inclusive settings, how general
education and special education teachers will be trained, and how children will be appropriately
identified to receive services.

In addition to developing specific inclusive education plans, it is
important to address and include the education of students with
disabilities in countries’ general education sector plans.
Likewise, the World Report on Disability recommends that all inclusive education strategy plans
should include the following elements (WHO, 2011, p. 217‒218):
• “Reflect international commitments to the right of disabled children to be educated;
• Identify the number of disabled children and assess their needs;
• Stress the importance of parental support and community involvement;
• Plan for the main aspects of provision, such as making school buildings accessible, and
developing the curriculum, teaching methods and materials to meet diverse needs;
• Increase capacity by expanding the provision of training programs;
• Make sufficient funds available; and
• Conduct monitoring and evaluation and improve qualitative and quantitative data on students.”
It is important that these plans be developed in a participatory manner allowing input from DPO leaders
representing various categories of persons with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, teachers,
NGO representatives working in this area and other relevant stakeholders.
However, even with strong policies and strategic plans, there continues to be a large gap between
policy and practice, especially in low-income countries (Winzer & Mazurek, 2009). Stereotypes,
prejudices and cultural barriers limit the ability of students with disabilities to access education,
obtain literacy skills and reach their full academic potential. Inclusive education programs remain
highly underfunded in many countries with the misperception of the need to educate “normal” kids
before addressing the educational needs of students with disabilities. As a result, many children
with disabilities are still not obtaining a quality education, including literacy skills.

What policies does your country have to promote inclusive education?
Is there a national strategic plan for education? If so, are the educational rights of
persons with disabilities addressed and is it aligned with the CRPD?
How could policies be strengthened to improve learning for students with disabilities?

Impact of Inclusive Education Policy: Brazil Case Study
Historically, children with disabilities in Brazil were almost entirely educated
in a segregated setting. In 2005, only 4.5 percent of public schools were
accessible, and there were 2,650 segregated schools (Gabriel Limaverda,
personal communication, February 16, 2018). In 2008, Brazil passed the
National Policy on Special Education from the Perspective of Inclusive Education, which
mandates the education of children with disabilities in their local general education
classroom with additional specialized supplementary educational assistance. In 2011, Brazil
developed the National Plan of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: “Living without Limits.”
This plan developed specific plans and targets related to inclusive education including
specific targets for accessible schools, accessible technology and accessible school buses.
(Government of Brazil, 2014). A few of the outcomes of Brazil’s shift towards inclusion include:
• Enrollment of children with disabilities in general education classrooms went from 145,141
(29 percent) in 2003 to 698,768 (79 percent) in 2014.
• 40,416 schools were retrofitted to be physically accessible.
• 2,304 accessible vehicles for transport were purchased.
• In 2015, persons with disabilities were provided with priority enrollment in professional
education courses to increase teachers with disabilities in the school system.
• 20 sign language courses were created.
• 37 million USD was invested in assistive devices such as wheelchairs, braille printers, etc.
(Zero Project, 2016).
Most formerly segregated schools in the country have been made into resource centers that
also provide after-school support for students with disabilities (Gabriel Limaverda, personal
communication, February 16, 2018).

2.2 Teacher Training and Tiered Levels of Support
Key Highlights
• Teacher attitudes have an impact on children with disabilities accessing inclusive
education; thus, it is important to address negative stereotypes and discriminatory views
within in-service and pre-service teacher training.
• It is recommended that inclusive education systems must consider a hierarchy of
training supports and delineate between the roles of general education teachers, special
education teachers and expert technical support. These teachers can then work together
to implement inclusive education.
• Establishing a multi-tiered system of support can provide support for students with
disabilities to improve learning outcomes.
• A team approach to inclusion that also engaged administrators/principals is an effective
option to promote inclusion.
2.2.1 Teacher Attitudes

Teachers are critical in implementing effective inclusive education. Teachers’ attitudes on inclusive
education and their perceptions of persons with disabilities can have a huge impact on the
acceptance of students with disabilities in the classroom (Avramidis & Norwich, 2002). These
attitudes, especially when they are related to assumptions about student capacity to learn, can impact
acquisition of literacy skills. Biased teacher perceptions may affect how the teacher interacts with
students with disabilities and influence curricular or literacy activities they offer them. This access to
information can, in turn, impact students’ academic achievement (Paterson, 2007). For example, one
study conducted in the Netherlands showed that when teachers held negative attitudes towards
dyslexia, these teachers tended to give lower grades to those students related to spelling and spelling
achievement (Honstra et al., 2010).
Teacher Attitudes:
• A 14-country UNESCO study conducted in high-, middle- and low-income countries indicates
that in countries that require inclusive education by law, teachers expressed more favorable
views on inclusive education (Bowman, 1986).
• General education teachers who receive additional support services have more positive
attitudes toward inclusion than teachers without support services, who express concerns
about their additional work load (saloviita & Schaffus, 2016).
• Special education teachers generally have more positive attitudes toward inclusion than
general education teachers, and teachers with higher self-efficacy are more likely to report
positive attitudes (Hernandez, Hueck, & Charley, 2016).

Students who have low vision learning literacy skills through the USAID Tusome program.
Photo credit: Research Triangle Institute
Substantial research has also been conducted on teacher attitudes in LMICs, revealing similar
outcomes to research conducted in high-income countries.
Teacher Attitudes in LMICs:

• In Egypt, teachers who had exposure to persons with disabilities in their personal lives were
more accepting of including students with disabilities in their classrooms (El-Ashry, 2009).
• Teachers in South Africa reported that they expected students with a range of different
disabilities to make stronger social gains, as contrasted to intellectual gains, in inclusive
classrooms (Donohue & Bornman, 2015).
• In Cameroon, teachers held the same negative beliefs and discriminatory views of disability as
held by the general population (Ekema, 2005).
• In Guyana, research conducted by Mitchell (2005) found that negative attitudes of teachers
serve as a barrier for students with disabilities being educated in mainstream schools
(Ajodhia-Andrews & Frankel, 2010).
• Teachers’ attitudes don’t have to change first in order for inclusion to begin and be successful.
Inclusive practices can be implemented simultaneously as work is done to shift teacher
attitudes (Elder, Damiani, & Oswago, 2015).
• In Botswana, teachers were positive about the concept of inclusive education; however, they
had unfavorable attitudes toward implementing inclusion because of lack of professional
development (Mukhopadhyay, 2014).

It is important to address possible negative attitudes of teachers and possible perceptions of the
capacities of students with disabilities as part of all in-service and pre-service training. It is equally
important to look at effective catalysts for social behavior change. One research study conducted
by Giangreco et al. (1993) found that teachers were more likely to transition towards more positive
attitudes of students with disabilities when they were a part of a collaborative team and received
facilitation support from specialists.
2.2.2 Hierarchy of Teacher Training Roles and Supports

Inclusive education cannot be achieved through a single educator but rather by a group of dedicated
educators, leaders, parents and students. In a truly inclusive system, a team approach is used that
supports the education of students with disabilities. This allows different levels of expertise and
supports to best respond to a student’s unique needs while recognizing that no single individual can
be responsible for inclusive education. UNESCO recommends a hierarchy of training opportunities
that allow for diversification of skills and knowledge. Figure 5 provides a visual representation of the
hierarchy of teacher support.
Figure 5. Hierarchy of Teacher Support
Few
Technical Experts
Special Education Teachers
General Education Teachers
Source: Hayes & Bulat, 2017

Recommendations adapted from the UNESCO guide are listed as follows.
“All teachers should be trained on inclusive practices as they will undoubtedly have a child with
a disability in their classroom at some point in time.
Many teachers (ideally, at least one per school) should develop more comprehensive expertise
on disability related to more common learning challenges and disabilities. These individuals
can serve as an on-site resource and advisor to their peers.
A few teachers should develop higher levels of expertise in the diverse challenges that
mainstream teachers may encounter and serve as a consultant to those schools and teachers
as needed” (Hayes & Bulat, 2017).”
Too often, countries with emerging inclusive education systems only focus on training a certain set
of teachers. For example, a country may focus on only training general education teachers to provide
educational support for students with disabilities without training special education teachers and experts
Conversely, some countries only work on supporting the skills of technical experts (see section 2.4). Too often,
inclusive education systems lack access to special education teachers. Even in inclusive education systems,
these teachers are vital to support students. In deaf education, the role of the deaf education teacher is
paramount. Deaf education teachers can be linguistic and cultural role models and can function in schools
as administrators, teachers, teachers aides, dorm parents and early child educators. Adults who are deaf/
hard of hearing are a valuable resource for schools and are underutilized (Leigh, Andrews, & Harris, 2018, p.
115). It is recommended that training focus on the different types of teaching supports needed and ensure
that each level of support is appropriately trained. Figure 6 provides information on the different roles of
general education teachers, special education teachers and expert technical support to promote inclusion. It
is important that all positions mentioned, including general education teachers, recognize that it is their role to
educate students with and without disabilities (Finke, McNaughton, & Drager, 2009).
Figure 6. Key Duties of Teachers and Experts within an Inclusive System
General Education Teacher Special Education Teacher Expert Technical Support

• Provides daily instruction • Supports general education • Provides itinerant expert
according to the national teachers in adapting the support to special education
curriculum to all students curriculum or assessments and general education
in the classroom, including as needed teachers.
students with disabilities • Leads the IEP development • Participates as an IEP team
• Monitors and evaluates and monitors achievement member as needed.
progress of students with and of goals • Expertise can include:
without disabilities • Provides additional - General literacy
• Works collaboratively with instruction either individually
- Behavior supports
special education teacher or as a co-teacher
to ensure students with - Braille literacy
• Collaborates with general
disabilities are learning education teachers and - Augmentative
• Communicates with parents reaches out to experts as and Alternative
needed Communication (AAC) and
• Serves as a member of an
communication support
individualized education plan • Communicates with parents
(IEP) team (see section 2.3.1)

Inclusive and Sustainable: Kenya Case Study
In Kenya, no or low-cost inclusive strategies is one key to boosting children
with disabilities’ access to education. Implementing “no cost” strategies involves
utilizing existing resources in the school and community (Elder, Damiani, &
Oswago, 2015). One of the effective practices was to support co-teaching to
support students with diverse learning needs at their school.
In Kenya, teachers co-taught with colleagues from their campuses and neighboring schools;
primary school teachers co-taught at the special school and vice versa. Elder and Kuja have
found that “The approach and delivery of such lessons depended on teacher expertise on
subject area content, the number of students in each co-taught classroom and teacher
comfort with initiating a co-teaching model. Teachers from both schools paired up to support
students in their respective classrooms depending on school schedules.” (2018, p. 10) In the
pilot, there was an apparent link between co-teaching practices and the increase of students
with disabilities going to school for the first time. Co-teaching also helped dissolve barriers,
both physical and attitudinal, between segregated/special schools and primary schools
within the general education system.
Technical experts may support many schools and typically are only available in a specific school and
for a specific student for a limited time. For example, a teacher for students who are blind is needed
to help teach students braille literacy and to adapt learning materials. As not every inclusive school
will have a student who is blind enrolled in the school each year, these teachers are most commonly
itinerant teachers, serving many students in different schools on a rotating basis. The extent to which
the teacher needs to work with students also fades over time as students develop stronger braille
literacy skills, grow more accustomed to technology and become more independent. Kenya, Uganda
and Malawi have introduced itinerant teachers to support students who are blind. These teachers
usually focus on a cluster of 8-12 schools and support braille literacy skills, transcribe materials into
braille and provide advice on how to best address the student’s educational needs (Lynch & McCall,
2007). However, for this model to work, it is critical to sufficiently train itinerant teachers and ensure
they are knowledgeable in the area in which they are providing support. It is also important that
itinerant teachers receive a salary equal to other teachers as well as cover travel costs to ensure
that teachers can support under-served areas. In addition to these teachers mentioned above,
paraprofessionals or teacher assistants are also key in supporting the education of children with
disabilities (see section 2.4.2).

Does your country have a hierarchy of teacher supports? If so, how is it working or
how can it be strengthened? If not, how could this expertise be expanded to support
the learning needs of students with disabilities?

2.2.3 Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for Instruction
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is a way to organize and deliver instruction to meet a variety
of students’ academic and behavioral needs. It brings together previous educational approaches,
including Response to Intervention (Jimerson & Burns, 2016) and Schoolwide Positive Behavior
Support (Horner & Sugai, 2015) into a holistic system. As applied to literacy, MTSS enables teachers to
adjust the intensity of reading instruction based on each student’s performance, while also providing
class wide behavioral support.
The key features of MTSS include:

• Creation of a MTSS team for planning and implementation.
• Three tiers of increasingly intensive instruction.
• Use of evidence-based practices.
• Differentiated instruction through UDL.
• Regular screening and progress monitoring.
• Data-based decision-making by team.
As depicted in Figure 7, MTSS includes three tiers for instruction and support.
Figure 7. Three Tiers for Instruction and Support
Tier 3
Intensity of instruction is embedded across
Intensive Individual tiers in terms of amount of instructional
Intervention time, frequency of progress monitoring,
and amount of practice in each session
(Fuchs, Fuchs, & Malone, 2017).
Tier 2 Individualization is embedded in
Targeted Small Group Instruction terms of the application of UDL
principles in a graduated
decrease in the student-
teacher ratio.
Tier 1
Core Classroom Instruction

Tier 1. In Tier 1, the first step is to screen all students for potential reading problems at the beginning of
the year and again in the middle of the year. Approximately 80 percent of students will be able to make
progress with core classroom instruction. This instruction follows a research-based curriculum and
incorporates the three UDL principles in providing a variety of options for motivating students, providing
information to students, and enabling students to express what they learn. Teachers monitor student
progress to ensure that the core classroom instruction is effective.
Tier 2. Based on initial screening or the ongoing progress monitoring of Tier 1, teachers identify
students who are not meeting expected benchmarks at the same level of proficiency and/or at the
same rate as their peers. Teachers then move these students to Tier 2 instruction, which enables
them to receive more intensive research- and UDL-based instruction on reading skills in small groups.
Typically, about 15 percent of students need Tier 2 instruction, which involves 20-40 minutes of
additional instruction 3-5 times per week, as well as additional progress monitoring. This instruction
can occur either in a resource room or within a small group setting within the general education
classroom while other students receiving Tier 1 instruction are working independently.
Tier 3. Approximately 5 percent of students will be identified through screening and progress
monitoring as needing highly intensive instruction on a daily basis to promote development of reading
proficiency. These students are best served in Tier 3, which is characterized by individualized instruction
that is research- and UDL-based. At Tier 3, students receive approximately 1.5 hours of additional reading
instruction per week. Similar to Tier 2 instruction, this intensive instruction takes place in either resource
room or general education setting.
There are several advantages to providing MTSS (McIntosh & Goodman, 2016). Teachers can help all
students before they fail by providing additional support. Each tier also provides different instructional
intensities and techniques to match a student’s unique needs. Additionally, the tiers are fluid, and
students can move back and forth consistent with their literacy-based needs and progress. Finally,
because comprehensive behavioral support is also part of MTSS, students have an opportunity to
learn reading without being distracted by their own or their classmates’ behavioral challenges. For
many schools in LMICs, implementing a comprehensive MTSS approach may be challenging due
to high class sizes, limited resources and the need for training on the provision of academic and
positive behavioral supports. However, awareness of MTSS is helpful, as aspects of this approach
can be adapted and applied. For example, schools may want to begin implementing a tiered reading
approach before simultaneously implementing comprehensive positive behavioral supports. Similarly,
in contexts where there are limited teachers and large class sizes, differentiated instruction might
apply, but doing small group and one-on-one instruction may need to be addressed once resources
or additional teacher support is available. MTSS may not be feasible in the initial stages of inclusion
but is a goal which all schools can work towards.

Reading Remediation Support Using Response to
Intervention Principles: Philippines Case Study
USAID Basa Pilipinas has been working with over 3000 public schools over
the past five years to strengthen language and literacy instruction. In 2018, the
Department of Education (DepEd) requested Basa to pilot-test a model for conducting
reading remediation to support struggling readers in 25 schools. Implemented by the
Education Development Center (EDC), Basa’s Reading Remediation and Support Pilot (RRSP)
adapted and incorporated Response to Intervention* principles. The pilot trained Grades
1 and 2 teachers to use RRSP tools to screen, assess and intensively support students
struggling to read. In Tier 1, teachers were taught how to provide differentiated instruction
while also conducting formative assessments to track students’ progress. Approximately
20 percent of students who showed consistent challenges with different aspects of reading
were then provided small group reading remediation outside of the instructional teaching
hours (either after school or at lunch) – Tier 2. These students were further assessed and
found to be struggling with phonological skills, with decoding and spelling, with vocabulary
and comprehension, or with all domains of literacy. Teachers also noted that some students
had additional challenges at home that may have affected their attendance, attention and
performance in school. Students who continued to struggle even with small group intensive
instruction were then provided with individualized instruction, thus moving from Tier 2 to
Tier 3. Teachers who participated in the pilot project were provided with training, reading
screening tools and sample lessons plans that could be used to demonstrate how reading
instruction could be individualized. The approach focused on Mother Tongue reading in
Grade 1 and Filipino reading in Grade 2.
Students participating in the intervention were given EGRAs as both a pre-and post-test
to assess the effectiveness of this adapted Response to Intervention framework in the
Philippines. Initial results of the study showed that the majority of students made significant
reading gains when provided with more intensive and individualized supports. The Reading
Remediation Support Pilot will be scaled by the project’s partner divisions and shared as a
resource with DepEd nationally via their official Learning Resource Portal. This project helps
demonstrate that with specialized training and resources made available locally, Response to
Intervention principles can be successfully adapted and replicated in other LMIC contexts.
* Response to Intervention uses the tiered framework explained in section 2.2.3 which identifies students who
may need additional educational support and then provides students increasingly intense supports as needed to
meet learning objectives. For more information visit the RTI Action Network http://www.rtinetwork.org

2.2.4 Role of Principals and Administrators
The role of principals is an important factor to ensure children are educated in an accessible setting.
Principals are instrumental in creating a culture of inclusion and acceptance within schools (Hallinger
& Heck, 2002). Principals often create the vision for the school, set the tone for acceptance of
diversity and can help ensure that students with disabilities are acquiring literacy skills. For example,
principals that have a strong knowledge of literacy acquisition for all tend to help teachers do their
best and provide the best instruction (McGhee & Lew, 2007). Conversely, they often serve as a barrier
to access, by denying students with disabilities enrollment in school. For example, in Madagascar,
principals are reported to deny enrollment for children based on disability, a practice that has been
increasing over the last few years (d’Aiglepierre, 2012). Ideally, principals, teachers, families and
students work collaboratively to promote an inclusive environment for learning (Hunt et al., 2000).
Principals can help foster and ensure inclusion by:
• Developing incentives for teachers to be inclusive in the classroom (for example, provide
professional development opportunities and include inclusion as a core component of the annual
review process for salary increase).
• Understanding and adopting the national laws related to inclusive education.
• Recognizing that discipline standards may need to be modified if a student is having behavior
issues or is struggling due to his or her disability.
• Participating in IEP meetings.
• Integrating inclusion of students with disabilities as part of the School Improvement Plans.
• Conducting outreach to the community and parents to promote inclusion.
Role of Principals and Administrators:

• Principals in the United States that have positive attitudes on inclusive education were less
likely to place students in the least restrictive environment (Praisner, 2003).
• In Israel, a strong relationship exists between principals’ positive attitudes of inclusion and the
positive attitudes of teachers at the same school (Hess & Zamir, 2016).
• In Ghana, positive attitudes and increased knowledge of inclusion for principals predicts the
success of inclusive practices used within a school and if a student’s needs are adequately
addressed in an inclusive classroom (Kuyini & Desai, 2007).

2.2.5 Teacher, Administrator and School Staff Training
For a successful team approach to inclusion, it is vital that all teachers, administrators and other
school staff receive training on inclusive education and how to support children with disabilities in
the classroom. This training needs to go beyond introducing basic concepts and benefits of inclusive
education to also focus on effective instructional approaches, including techniques to support literacy
acquisition. It is important that teacher training also reflect the local reality of teachers within a country
and avoid importing training without adapting it to the local context. Ideally, teacher training modules
are developed in a participatory manner with local teachers, principals, MOE officials and subject
matter experts. In addition, teacher training development and delivery can engage community disability
leaders and families of children with disabilities who can provide lived experience of disability and are
best positioned to offer information on their educational needs and supports (International Disability
and Development Consortium, 2013). It is vital that teacher training be followed up with hands-on
experience for teachers to use the skills they have learned related to literacy acquisition and slowly
build confidence in their ability to provide inclusive education (Hayes and Bulat, 2017). Most teachers in
LMICS do not receive any pre-service instruction on how to include students with disabilities in their
classrooms or how to promote literacy skills for a diverse group of students. Most in-service training
also does not address inclusive education or inclusive instructional approaches for literacy. For example,
it would be helpful for general education teachers to understand that although they should provide
phonetic instruction to all children in the classroom, some children with intellectual disability or learning
disabilities may have challenges with rhyme detection but can still obtain literacy skills (Copeland &
Keefe, 2007).
A 2012 global survey, distributed by UNICEF to teachers and teacher training professionals in LMICs,
found that 33 percent of respondents reported that inclusive education is not covered in any of their
pre-service or in-service teacher training courses. When training did take place, many respondents
criticized the training, stating that the focus was too general, and there were few practical suggestions
on how to educate children with disabilities in a general education classroom (Pinnock and Nicholls,
2012). The CRPD Committee’s General comment no. 4 on Article 24 on the right to education (United
Nations, 2016) provides guidance on content that should be a part of core teacher training. The
document states:
“The core content of teacher education must address a basic understanding of human diversity,
growth and development, the human rights model of disability, and inclusive pedagogy
including how to identify students’ functional abilities—strengths, abilities and learning styles—
to ensure their participation in inclusive educational environments. Teacher education should
include learning about the use of appropriate augmentative and alternative modes, means
and formats of communication, such as [b]raille, large print, accessible multimedia, easy read,
plain language, sign language and deaf culture, education techniques and materials to support
persons with disabilities. In addition, teachers need practical guidance and support in, among
others: the provision of individualized instruction; teaching the same content using varied
teaching methods to respond to the learning styles and unique abilities of each person; the
development and use of individual educational plans to support specific learning requirements;
and the introduction of a pedagogy centred around students’ educational objectives.”

It is important that all teachers receive training in inclusive education
and effective instructional approaches. Likewise, it is beneficial for all
teachers, including special education teachers and technical experts, to
have access to literacy training.
For teachers to be able to best support students with disabilities in the classroom, it is important to
go beyond the benefits of inclusion and begin to provide teachers with the effective instructional
techniques they need (see section 3.4 for more information on instructional techniques). This
includes understanding the unique needs and supports that different types of students may have
related to literacy.
In the last few years, there has been a strong push—supported by international donors—toward
improving early-grade reading skills for students. Unfortunately, this support has yet to benefit
children with disabilities in any appreciable way. Typically, when literacy training takes place,
these trainings do not include teachers of students with disabilities. This practice unfortunately
only reinforces the concept of two parallel and unequal education structures—one for the general
population and one for students with disabilities. For inclusion to be implemented, all teachers need
to be competent to deliver literacy instruction. In cases where special education teachers have been
included in trainings, there have been positive results. For example, a USAID early-grade reading
project in Malawi implemented by Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International reached out to
teachers at schools for students who are blind and deaf to include them in their literacy training for
teachers. One teacher reported that she was able to adapt and apply the literacy teaching techniques
from the training in her classroom for students who are deaf, and as a result her students are reading
after three months of instruction—a task that in the past has taken more than a year (USAID, 2017).

How are teachers trained in the country?
Is inclusive education and promoting literacy skills for students with and without
disabilities part of this training? If not, how could this be included?
What additional training would benefit principals or administrators?

2.3 Instructional Approaches and Teaching Supports
Key Highlights
• It is imperative that students with disabilities have individualized education plans that
include literacy goals, document the student’s learning strengths and challenges, and detail
what accommodations might be effective in promoting learning.
• For students with disabilities to have equitable access to education, it is essential to
provide equitable access to the content addressed in the national curriculum.
• Teaching and learning materials need to be inclusive of persons with disabilities and
incorporate the principles of UDL.
• Assistive Technologies can be an effective tool to motivate students to learn, provide
learning content and allow students to express literacy skills.
2.3.1 Individualized Education Plans

An IEP is a written plan that sets learning goals for students with disabilities, and addresses the services
or accommodations that will be provided by the school. One effective approach to developing an IEP is
using the McGill Action Planning System (MAPS), which includes six central tenets. They are: 1) all students
belong to and learn together in a general education classroom; 2) general educators can and do teach all
students; 3) necessary supports will be provided inclusively; 4) inclusive education is a right, not a privilege
to be earned; 5) all students can succeed and graduate; and 6) creative alternatives for learning will be
provided for students who learn in non-traditional ways (Forest, Pearpoint, & O’Brien, 1996). It is important
that IEPs are developed using a multidisciplinary process that involves parents, teachers, administrators
other educational support staff and the student with disability (Hayes & Bulat, 2017). Engaging the student
with disability to lead or participate in the IEP process, as soon as it is appropriate, is important as it
helps build self-determination and enables students to make decisions about their own learning goals
and academic process. IEPs are an important fundamental tool that can help teachers support students
with disabilities in the classroom. How these documents are developed, and the extensiveness of the
information provided within the IEP will vary significantly by country. For schools that are only beginning to
introduce IEPs as a classroom tool, the IEP may only be a few pages long compared to the more extensive
IEPs often developed in higher income countries. However, the length of the IEP is less important than the
content within. It is recommended that IEPS cover the following core components:
1. Be based on information obtained through an evaluation. Ideally, an evaluation would take
place prior to an IEP to determine baseline levels of performance and assess how students best
receive information, express information and what motivates them to learn.
2. Establish measurable, academic goals. Use IEP goals that incorporate baseline data and provide
measurable or SMART (Specific, Measurable, use Action words, Realistic and Time-limited) goals. It is
recommended that these goals are monitored on a regular basis with routine reports provided to parents
that highlight the progress towards the goals (Wright, Wright, and Webb O’Connor, 2017). For example, a
goal could include increasing sight word recognition by a certain amount within the academic year.
3. Address strengths and challenges. Incorporate a student’s strengths and challenges related to
learning using the UDL framework within an IEP. Therefore, IEPs identify how students best receive
information, express information and what motivates them to learn. Challenges to learning can also
be linked with possible accommodations to support learning in relation to those challenges.

Educational Transitions
For many students with disabilities, transitions (such as from primary to secondary school) can
be challenging. Prior to transitions, it is recommended that IEPs address how those transitions
can take place as smoothly as possible.
4. Ensure access to the curriculum. Promote access to the national curriculum (either a modified or
adapted curriculum as needed (see section 2.3.2)) as a core component of an IEP. IEPs need to clearly
state if a student may benefit from this accommodation and how it will be provided in the classroom.
5. Clarify additional services. If additional services are available, such as speech, occupational
therapy, etc. (see section 2.4.2), clarify how these services might improve learning and how
students will have access to the services in the school setting.
6. Articulate accommodations. Many students require accommodations (see section 2.3.3) to effectively
receive and express information related to literacy skills and other academics. It is important that IEPs
specify what accommodations need to be provided to the student to enhance learning.
7. Social and behavioral considerations. If students have behaviors that may impede their
learning, an IEP can provide suggestions on how to best mitigate those behaviors in a positive
way. Also, IEPs can describe how students with disabilities will have the maximum involvement
and social interaction with their peers and how that could be potentially supported.
IEPs should also address present levels of literacy skills and set goals to build on those skills (Downing,
2005). These goals grow over time as students with disabilities continue making gains in reading in
secondary school, emphasizing the need for ongoing literacy instruction (Lemons et al., 2016). Developing
pre-determined goals for literacy, also known as “goal banks,” is not considered good practice as it is more
beneficial for the student to have an individualized IEP. A goal that is appropriate for one student with a
disability will most likely not be appropriate for another (Wright, Wright, & O’Conner, 2017). Many LMICs,
such as Jordan, Malawi, South Africa and Uganda, are beginning to encourage teachers to use IEPs in the
classroom. However, IEPs are not universally used, and they often can be deficit-based versus building
upon academic strengths. Often, IEPs are not regularly monitored by teachers or used as an instructional
tool (Hayes & Bulat, 2017). Developing strength-based IEPs allows educators to see past limitations and
highlight and expand students’ individual strengths (Elder, Rood, & Damiani, 2018). As the language used to
describe students often influences how educational professionals view them, this shift from a deficit focus
towards a strength-based IEP approach helps education professional think of students with disabilities as
contributors and assets to the classroom (Linton, 1998).

Are IEPs used throughout the country for all students with disabilities?
If so, are they used as tools to help promote and monitor learning?
Do they identify a student’s strengths and challenges?
If not universally used, what steps could be taken to strengthen the use of IEPs?

2.3.2 Access to the Curriculum
In most countries, the national curriculum sets standards related to teaching and learning of literacy
skills. For students with disabilities, it is important that they have access to what is being taught in
the national curriculum, so they can also benefit from literacy instruction. For many students to have
access to learning content incorporating the UDL Principle of Representation is beneficial, providing
multiple ways to present the curriculum in a way that enables students to learn. One effective way
to promote curriculum access is to design (or re-design) the national curriculum consistent with the
three UDL principles. This approach is inclusive from the outset and minimizes the extent to which
teachers need to infuse UDL principles on their own.
Students with disabilities are more likely to have access to the national curriculum if they are taught in
inclusive classrooms (Jackson, Ryndak, & Wehmeyer, 2008-2009). Unfortunately, many students with
disabilities in LMICs, especially those educated in segregated or integrated/self-contained classrooms,
either have minimal or no access to the national curriculum. This is particularly true for students with
intellectual disability, complex support needs or multiple disabilities. In these cases, students often focus
the majority of their time on non-academic instruction. Non-academic instruction can consist of focusing
on life skills (e.g., brushing teeth, cleaning, dressing), doing crafts or having free time. This is different than
functional academic skills (balancing a checkbook, reading bus schedules) and social competence skills
(how to receive feedback in a non-defensive manner, how to express frustration), which are skills that all
children need and are becoming more common within curricula around the world.
Some academics argue that teaching a certain level of life skills and functional skills is needed to
promote independence for children with disabilities (Detrich & Higbee, 2010). However, these skills
do not replace opportunities to learn literacy and math, which happens too often in LMICs. Likewise,
students who are deaf in LMICs also typically do not have access to the national curriculum due
to misperceptions on their ability to obtain literacy skills and learn new content (see section 3.4.3).
A situation in which students are taught an entirely different curriculum than their peers without
disabilities is usually referred to as an “alternative curriculum.” Many countries, such as Kenya and
Rwanda, have developed alternative curricula for students with intellectual disabilities who are
educated in segregated or integrated settings. This practice sets arbitrary learning objectives based
on a disability diagnosis instead of allowing students with disabilities to access academics. The use
of alternative curriculum is not encouraged nor is it supported by USAID. Also, many students with
disabilities may benefit from also having access to an individualized augmented curriculum. The
difference between adapted, augmented and modified curriculum is described in Figure 8.

Figure 8. Definitions and Examples of Different Types of Recommended Curricula10
Type of
Curriculum Definition Example
Adapted Provides the same learning outcomes Students who are blind receive the
Curriculum as in the national curriculum but same content in the national curriculum,
provides accommodations so that a including science and math, but are
student with disabilities can participate allowed to access information and
equitably. content using braille.
Augmented Provides the same content but also Students who are deaf receive sign
Curriculum provides additional information or language instruction as well as
course work that helps support instruction on deaf culture. Students
a student’s ability to function who are blind receive mobility and
independently. orientation skills.
Modified Follows the standards set forth in Students with intellectual disability
Curriculum the national curriculum but modifies receive literacy skill instruction but may
curriculum as needed. In this scenario, focus on fewer new vocabulary words.
the student may have learning New words will gradually become
outcomes that are very different than more complex as literacy skills grow.
the students without disabilities but still For example, if students are learning
has access to the same basic content. new vocabulary related to agriculture,
This process is individualized and is not students without disabilities may
a standardized modification applied learn 20 words while a student with a
to all students within a particular disability may learn 4-5 words on the
diagnosis or label. same topic.

Do all children in your country have access to the national curriculum that is
individually modified if needed?
Is there a practice of providing alternative curriculum based on disability label?
What are the benefits of having access to the national curriculum?
10 Different countries may use different names for these concepts. To help clarify how they are used in the toolkit, names
were provided, definitions and examples were provided.

2.3.3 Reasonable Accommodations
Accommodations are intended for students to overcome obstacles or challenges related to their
disability in order to demonstrate what they have learned (Wright, Wright and Webb O’Connor, 2017).
The type of accommodations that a student may need is determined by an assessment/evaluation of
their educational strengths and weaknesses and documented in the student’s IEP (see section 3.2).
Accommodations can take place to modify the environment (e.g., having students in the front of the
class or near a location where they can take breaks), in classroom instruction (e.g., allowing students
to receive notes from peers if they have challenges with writing) or in testing (e.g., allowing students
to provide oral answers instead of written answers if they have challenges seeing or writing). These
accommodations are often needed for students to equitably receive and express information related
to literacy skills and other academics. Having access to reasonable accommodations is key for many
students to acquire and demonstrate literacy skills. Figure 9 provides information on simple dos and
don’ts when considering how to provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.
Figure 9. Do’s and Don’ts When Selecting/Providing Reasonable Accommodations
✓ Do ✗ Do not
Make accommodation decisions based on Make accommodation decisions based on
individualized needs. what is the easiest; assume that one size fits all.
Select accommodations that reduce the effect Select accommodations unrelated to

of the disability as much as possible to facilitate documented student learning needs or
learning and demonstration of learning. intended to give students an unfair advantage.
Document instructional Use instructional and testing accommodations

and testing accommodations that are not based upon and documented
in an IEP. in an IEP.
Provide specifics about the “Where, When, Simply indicate accommodations will be
Who, and How” of providing accommodations. provided “as appropriate” or “as necessary”.
Reevaluate accommodations and student

Assume the same accommodations remain
response to accommodations on an
appropriate year after year.
annual basis.
Source: Adapted from Thompson, S. J., Morse, A. B., Sharpe, M., & Hall, S. (2005). Accommodations Manual: How to select,
administer, and evaluate use of accommodations for instruction and assessment of students with disabilities. Washington, DC:
Council of Chief State School Officers. p. 43.

Photo of students who are blind who are educated in inclusive setting.
Photo Credit: Leonard Cheshire Disability (LCD) Kenya
Article 2 of the CRPD states that governments should provide reasonable

accommodations as needed. The CRPD defines reasonable accommodation as:
“The necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments, not

imposing a disproportionate or undue burden where needed in a particular
case to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an
equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
(United Nations, 2006)
Sign Language:
Access to learning in sign language:
• Improves spelling and expands vocabulary (Daniels, 2009).
• “Initiates the language acquisition process required for literacy development and bilingual
competence” (Gárate, 2012, p. 1).
• Fingerspelling can lead to mastering reading (Stone et al., 2015).

Beyond Sign Language
Access to sign language is often seen as an accommodation but rather it is important that
sign language be viewed as much more, as it is a fundamental component of how students
learn and express information. Access to sign language supports the learning of students who
have an intellectual disability and students with complex support needs and for all toddlers
regardless of a presence of disability as they learn new language skills (Thompson et al., 2007).
Sign language acquisition for students who are deaf is of paramount importance. There is
often the misperception that students who are deaf can learn by lip reading or speech reading.
Lip reading is not an effective source to receive information for students who are deaf/hard of
hearing and is especially challenging for students who are deaf and have never heard spoken
language. One study found that for individuals who have no access to sound, only 30 percent of
language can be obtained and comprehended through lip-reading (Barnett, 2002).
It is critical that sign language be provided to students who are deaf/hard of hearing as
young as possible. Sign language does not hinder the development of spoken language.
In fact, signs can support both speech and literacy development (Leigh & Andrews, 2017;
Leigh, Andrews, & Harris, 2018). Access to sign language at an early age also reduces the risk
of linguistic deprivation, which makes individuals more vulnerable to abuse (Humphries et
al., 2016). Language deprivation occurs when deaf children are deprived of visual access to
language process, which occurs during the critical time of language acquisition between birth
and age two (Humphries et al., 2012). Humphries et al. caution on the consequences of this,
“…their subsequent development of the cognitive activities that rely on a solid first language
might be underdeveloped, such as literacy, memory organization, and number manipulation”
(Humphries et al., 2012, p. 1). This deprivation also has the potential to produce cognitive
delays, mental health difficulties, child maltreatment, lifetime trauma and post-traumatic stress
symptoms (Humphries et al., 2012). Additional outcomes of being linguistically deprived are 1)
difficulties with math and organization of memory, 2) illiteracy, 3) severely limited educational
and career possibilities, 4) poor psychosocial and communication skills and 5) a higher rate
of imprisonment, unemployment, poverty and poor health (Humphries et al., 2012). To reduce
language deprivation, Hall recommends, “Rather than focusing on auditory deprivation and
speech skills, developmental approaches for deaf children should prioritize healthy, expected
development of all developmental domains (e.g., cognitive, academic, socioemotional) that
comes with the guaranteed full acquisition of a fully accessible first-language language
foundation such as sign language.” (Hall, 2017, p. 3). In many places around the world, sign
language interpretation is provided to students who are deaf in inclusive classes. However,
the WFD states that students who are deaf/hard of hearing require the opportunity be able to
“communicate freely with teachers, school staff and other students in sign language without
using a sign language interpreter.” (WFD, 2014)

2.3.4 Accessible Learning Materials
For students with disabilities to acquire literacy skills, it is important to have equitable access to learning
materials. For many students, this means having information in alternative formats such as braille, large print or
audiobooks. For learning materials to be fully accessible, it is important that they be designed in an accessible
manner and take into account the learning styles of persons with disabilities. For example, images can be
used to reinforce learning but not used to show new concepts, as these images may not be accessible
by braille or audiobooks. Learning materials can also utilize the principles of UDL by providing information
using different formats (means of representation) by using a mix of text, flowcharts/graphs and pictures, and
including diverse classroom exercises that allow students to show their knowledge in different ways (means
of expression), and motivate different students to learn and be engaged (means of engagement). Having
diversity of learning materials can better help reach different learners to promote literacy. It is vital that all
materials provided to students with disabilities to promote literacy follow recommended characteristics—age
appropriate, interesting and of high quality, and meet a student’s individual needs (Allington & Baker, 1999).
Some students with physical disabilities or mobility challenges may require additional supports to manipulate
materials. This can be done by low-cost solutions of providing mounts for books or slant boards that elevate
material in a way that make books more visually or physically accessible (Downing, 2005).
In addition to providing accessible content and ensuring accessibility, it is also important to include
persons with disabilities as positive characters and in illustrations. The USAID Guide to Promote
Gender Equality and Inclusiveness in Teaching and Learning Materials (2015) states that since 15
percent of the population has a disability, persons with disabilities should represent at least 15 percent
of images and stories within all teaching and learning materials. It is also important that these images
portray persons with disabilities in an empowering manner and highlight how they can be active
learners and valuable members of society.
Digital Accessible Textbooks:

UNICEF Global Case Study
UNICEF is driving an initiative to increase accessibility of textbooks
and other learning materials for children with disabilities as a concrete
measure for improving learning and providing quality education for all. The aim of the
initiative is to shape the textbooks and learning materials market towards digital formats that
are accessible, by encouraging governments, particularly MOEs, to require that all reading
materials are published in both hard copy and accessible digital formats, and at the same
time providing commercial publishers with the tools needed to meet this demand.
Bringing together writers, publishers, teachers, DPOs, technology experts, MOE officials and
other stakeholders, the initiative is developing standards needed to produce reading materials
in digital formats that combine digital versions of reading materials with narration, sign
language, interactivity and audio-description of images, making the materials accessible to a
wide range of students, including those with disabilities. While the early stages of the initiative
focus on the foundational years of education, including pre-school and the early grades, the
goal is for all learning materials at all levels to be available in digital formats. Prototypes are
being produced, tested and validated in Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, El Salvador, Bolivia, India,
Uganda and Kenya. Four new countries in Latin America are producing a series of story books
in accessible textbooks: El Salvador, Bolivia, Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

2.3.5 Assistive Technology
Assistive technologies support access and demonstration of learning for students with disabilities
(Edyburn, 2003; Hasselbring & Glaser, 2000). Assistive technologies can vary from low cost assistive
devices (mobility canes, magnifying glasses and adapted writing tools) to higher cost technologies
(refreshable brailler displays, FM radio systems, and tablet-based AAC devices). Assistive technologies
are especially useful, and sometimes a requisite, to promote literacy skills for students with disabilities.
Examples of how assistive technologies promote literacy skills include:
• Students who are blind use a variety of assistive technologies to read and write braille.
• Students who have intellectual disability or complex support needs and are non-verbal rely on
AAC devices (simple picture boards or higher tech tablet devices) to communicate their ability to
comprehend text.
• Students with learning disabilities and students who are blind/low vision benefit from hearing
audio versions of books to reinforce literacy skills.
• Students who are hard of hearing or deaf-blind benefit from FM systems that transmit a teacher’s
voice through headphones, so they can hear with limited background noise.
• Electronic local sign language dictionaries are a good way for students who are deaf/hard of
hearing to expand their vocabulary.
Assistive technologies can be an effective way to help promote UDL practices in the classroom.
Together these two approaches can allow for students to use accessible formats and provide
interactive learning that serves as motivation to learn. For example, most textbook information is
presented only in traditional print, which can be challenging for students who are blind/low vision,
have a learning disability or have an intellectual disability. Using technology that provides information
using other modalities (audio, video, symbols, etc.) greatly improves learning opportunities for many
students. Computer technology in particular has greatly advanced literacy acquisition for students
with and without disabilities. The use of these computer-based technologies is increasing in LMICs.
For example, research conducted by Fisher, Bushko and White (2017) found that Brazil, Malaysia
and South Africa are using online teaching modules to compliment traditional lessons with teachers
stating that they feel technology has had a positive impact on student learning outcomes.
For assistive technology to support the learning of students with disabilities, it is recommended that
students have routine and consistent access to those assistive devices. This means providing devices
not only to use at school but also to use at home to reinforce learning and complete homework.
Unfortunately, even though there is a clear need for access to assistive technologies, they are often
limited for students with significant disabilities (Harding, 2003; Koppenhaver, Erickson & Skotko, 2001).
This comes from the misperception that students who have significant disabilities are not capable
of using different types of assistive devices. Too often students with disabilities are denied assistive
WHO Priority Assistive Products List

As a step to promote access to assistive products and assistive technologies, the WHO
provides guidance a list of the top 50 priorities assistive products that are needed by different
individuals with disabilities. For more information, please visit http://www.who.int/phi/
implementation/assistive_technology/EMP_PHI_2016.01/en/.

technologies until they can show they can use them but unfortunately cannot show they can use
the technology until they have access. To break this dangerous cycle, it is important to presume
competence and give students with disabilities multiple technologies to help build and demonstrate
their literacy skills. Similarly, for students to take full advantage of assistive technology to promote
literacy skills, it is important that both the teacher and the student be trained on how to use the
technology and where and when its use is appropriate (Kennedy & Boyle 2017). It is also important
to recognize that demonstrations of literacy skills from students who use assistive devices to express
their knowledge and understanding are just as valid as responding orally or by writing.
Although it is important to promote the use of assistive technologies it is also important to recognize
the limitations of assistive technologies. Assistive technologies should be seen as an additional
classroom tool but should not replace direct instruction from teachers. Likewise, having access
to assistive technologies should not replace students learning foundational skills such as having
audiobooks or computers replace the need to learn braille or having sign language avatars replace
the need to have teachers who are fluent in local sign language. For assistive technologies to be
effective they must be coupled with appropriately trained teachers.
Assistive Technologies:
• A comprehensive review of the use of assistive technologies with students with learning
disabilities reported that the most effective applications included word processing, multi-
media and hyper-text with smaller positive effects for speech-to-text systems (Perelmutter,
McGregor, & Gordon, 2017).
• Use of technology significantly improves reading achievement of students with intellectual
disabilities (Coyne et al., 2012).
• Using a mix of UDL and assistive technologies can enhance the learning of students with
and without disabilities (Rose et al., 2005).
• Students who are deaf/hard of hearing show consistent academic gains when provided
with sequential text highlighting and supportive captions in digital instructional materials
(Rose et al., 2005).

How does access to technology improve learning and literacy?
What type of assistive technologies exist within the country?
Do these technologies support the learning needs of a diverse group of learners?
How could access to assistive technologies be improved?

Assistive Technology to Promote Braille Literacy
Braille is a system of six raised dots that allows for persons who are blind to read print text
tactilely. Each country has its own braille code that defines the meaning of the various dot
compositions. Assistive technology is needed to promote literacy skills for students who are
blind/low vision. While an array of assistive technologies for students who are blind exist,
only a few are readily available in LMICs. Often schools in LMICs relay on the slate and
stylus, which costs approximately $5 dollars but has considerable disadvantages for learning
literacy skills (see section 2.3.5). In many cases, assistive technologies available in high-
income schools are either not available in LMICs or are prohibitively expensive. Examples of
technology to promote reading in braille and estimated costs include:
• Brailler ($800 USD)
• Refreshable braille displays ($3,500-$15,000 USD)
• Computer text-to-voice software ($50-$500 USD)
Increasing availability of audio books and computer software readers offers new
opportunities for students who are blind/low vision. Some individuals even question the
future or utility of braille when audio books and digital recordings are available. However,
reading braille and writing braille is needed for literacy. Research shows that braille provides
a critical advantage for students to learn grammar, language, math and science (National
Braille Press, 2018). In fact, braille is essential to learn spelling and grammar, as this cannot
be achieved through merely listening to books. Though computer literacy is important,
research has shown that braille literacy is more important to support independent literacy
skills for students who are blind (Bano et al., 2011). Audiobooks and computer skills can be
used to reinforce learning skills and access to learning content, but do not replace the need
to learn and use braille.

2.4 School Supports/Other Related Services
Key Highlights
• Additional services or other related supports such as access to different technical experts
can help augment literacy skills for students with disabilities.
• Accessible transportation is needed for many children in LMICs to attend school and is an
important component of inclusive education programming.
• Girls and boys with disabilities are at an increased risk to experience school-related gender-
based violence or sexual assault while traveling to and from school; it is important to
address safety issues of students with disabilities in all related programming.
2.4.1 Other Related Services

In many high-income countries, technical experts provide different therapies or services within the
school setting without any additional cost to the family. These supports and their role in supporting
education are as follows:
Audiologists: Specialists who determine the range, nature and degree of hearing loss; and fit and
monitor amplification devices. Though these experts were not traditionally involved on a student’s
literacy team, there is a new push for them to be more exposed to their role in the literacy process
and help support literacy acquisition. One study showed that simple exposure to the importance of
pre-literacy skills as part of pre-service training increased audiology students’ ability and interest to
promote and advocate pre-literacy skills for families (English et al., 2012). Some audiologists may also
know sign language, thereby providing literacy support for students who are deaf, and those who are
hard of hearing (Andrews & Dionne, 2011).
Braille Literacy Experts: Specialists fluent in braille and trained on how to teach young students to
acquire literacy through reading braille code. One study found that 1-2 hours of daily braille literacy
programming is needed in early grades (Kindergarten to Grade 3) to effectively learn the skill (Koenig
and Holbrook, 2000). Literacy skills reinforcement continues in higher grades but less frequently.
Students with low vision may also require additional time to learn other literacy-related skills such as
writing and using a keyboard. Braille literacy experts need to be trained in braille instruction and be
literate in reading and writing braille.
Deaf Education Specialists: Deaf education specialists can work in different educational settings
including co-enrollment schools, schools for students who are deaf, within the general education
setting, and as itinerant specialists. The role of these teachers varies depending on student needs,
including direct instruction to support literacy, sign language acquisition skills and support of general
education to adapt the curriculum. These individuals can also help teach deaf culture to students
who are deaf/hard of hearing and to students without disabilities. Hiring teachers who are deaf/hard
of hearing is a recommended practice, as this increases the likelihood of having a teacher fluent in
sign language (Shantie & Hoffmeister, 2000). Teachers who are deaf/hard of hearing also serve as
advocates for students and understand societal/social issues affecting students who are deaf/hard of
hearing. These teachers have the lived experience and can share their own successful strategies with
their students.

Mobility and Orientation (M&O) Specialist: Specialists that support students who are blind/
low vision/deafblind to move and travel safely and independently. This support also helps students
understand directional and spatial orientation (up/down, back/front, right/left), skills that help
strengthen literacy. For example, knowing to start reading on the top of the page from left to right (or
right to left for Arabic and other languages) is an important skill for reading braille. M&O services can
be provided to any student who would benefit from support, including those with low vision.
Occupational Therapist (OT): Specialists who help persons participate in things they want or need
to do in everyday life. This includes helping people regain skills after injuries, providing interventions
to better engage in school or the community, or providing adapted supports. (The American
Association of Occupational Therapy, 2018). OTs can support literacy by improving a student’s ability
to write and express knowledge as well as by providing adapted writing tools.
Physical Therapist (PT): Specialists who promote the ability to move and/or restore physical
mobility functions. Often PTs focus on using new mobility devices to support independent movement
in the school and the community (American Physical Therapy Association, 2018). PTs work directly
with students on safety and motor skills to support students with physical disabilities to move
independently in the school environment. PTs can also help strengthen gross and fine motor skills
that can help to improve handwriting.
Speech and Language Pathologist/Therapist (SLP): Specialists who assess and work to
improve speech, language, social communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults
(American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2018). There is a link between language and
literacy. Students who have challenges with receptive and expressive language can have difficulties
with phonetic awareness and experience increased challenges with learning literacy skills. In
addition to providing language and articulation skills, SLPs help identify students at risk for reading
and writing difficulties. Ideally, SLPs also know sign language and can also provide support for
students who are deaf/hard of hearing.
In many LMICs these specialists are not readily available, or if they are available they are provided
outside of the classroom and paid for by families. For example, Jordan has speech, occupational and
physical therapists within the country, however, they are provided in private clinics or private schools,
with parents paying the associated costs (RTI, 2017). Likewise, in Cambodia, there are several physical
therapists in the country, but they are only working in hospitals or private clinics, and the profession
of speech therapy is only now emerging within the country (Bryce et al., 2017). As many of these
professions fall under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health in many countries, it is important to
have a strong collaborative relationship with the Ministry of Health and MOE. It is important to explore
how these services can be expanded and how local training courses and certification can be promoted.
2.4.2 Additional Supports and Teachers’ Assistants

For inclusive education to be effective, teachers need access to different forms of support. For
some students, especially those with high support needs, having access to a teacher assistant or
paraprofessional is beneficial to help them on an individual basis in the classroom. These individuals
usually have less educational expertise compared to teachers and are placed in the classroom to
provide support to specific students with disabilities. Paraprofessionals can also be effectively used
to help improve literacy skills for students with disabilities (Vadasy, Sanders, & Peyton, 2006). It is
important to note that paraprofessionals do not replace general education or special education
teachers in the classroom, but instead serve as an additional support for students. Paraprofessionals

Using Telecommunications to Provide Therapies
to Remote Areas: A United States Case Study
In many rural areas within the United States, it is often not feasible for a
school to have its own speech or occupational therapist given the small number of students
with needs. Large distances between schools makes the itinerant model for expert support
less feasible. In these instances, school districts are providing therapeutic services via
distance using technology such as Skype or other video communications. This remote
service model is referred to as tele-rehabilitation. Research conducted by Cason (2009)
showed that this model of service support can be just as effective as in-person support.
Though it is unclear if this type of support has been attempted in LMICs, it might be an
option to consider in places that have access to internet and technology.
need to also receive in-service training on inclusive education, literacy instruction and how to best
support students with disabilities in the classroom. Ideally, paraprofessionals help support the
classroom in general versus only spending time with a specific student. This can help reduce stigma
associated with a disability and ensure that the presence of a paraprofessional does not reduce
interaction with peers or the general education teacher (Giangreco & Doyle, 2007). It is important
that these individuals promote independence as much as possible and resist doing things directly for
the student they are trying to support. Typically, the role of the paraprofessional includes (Causton-
Theoharis et al., 2007):
• Provide instructional support in small groups.
• Gather materials.
• Provide assistance for personal care or other physical needs.
• Assist students to complete directions as given by the teacher.
• Facilitate interactions between students.
• Re-read stories for students.
• Listen to students read.
• Lead sound-categorization activities.
• Perform alphabetizing and rhyming activities.
The top five ways that paraprofessionals can help support literacy acquisition skills in the classroom
include (Causton-Theoharis et al., 2007):
1. Use paraprofessionals in supplementary or supportive roles to reinforce learning, not provide
direct instruction.
2. Use research-based reading approaches (see chapter 3).
3. Train paraprofessionals in the research-based reading approaches.
4. Train paraprofessionals to manage behaviors.
5. Provide paraprofessionals with ongoing monitoring and feedback.

Does your country use paraprofessionals to support students with disabilities in the
classroom?
How is this need for support determined?
How are paraprofessionals trained?
How could the use of paraprofessionals be improved to support literacy?

2.4.3 Accessible Transportation
Many LMICs do not provide transportation for students. Instead, students often travel long distances to
get to the closest school, or informal transportation is provided by the parents. For students with physical
disabilities, getting to school can be particularly difficult if there are roads and bridges that are inaccessible
for wheelchairs or if the distance is too great (World Health Organization, 2011). The lack of reliable
transportation is often cited as one of the main reasons students with disabilities are not enrolled in school.
There is a link between physical inaccessibility and transport-related social exclusion, though most of the
research on this issue has been conducted in high-income countries (Kett and Deluca, 2016).
For many parents, particularly of students with sensory or intellectual disability, challenges
with transportation are not only related to accessibility but also to safety. Girls and boys with
communication or sensory disabilities are at risk for sexual violence as they may have challenges
identifying their attacker. For these reasons, parents of children with disabilities are often concerned
about their child traveling even short distances alone. In a survey conducted by RTI International in
Cambodia, parents cited concerns for their child’s safety as the main reason for removing their child
from school. Many members of the parent association reported that their child was sexually abused
while walking to and from school (RTI, 2018).
Providing Accessible Transportation: Zimbabwe Case Study

In general, children in LMICs face difficulty in getting to school, and the challenge
is compounded for children with disabilities, who face an increased risk of missing
school. Some inclusive education programs such as the Leonard Cheshire Disability (LCD)
and Inclusive Development Center (IDC) focused on identifying and developing innovative
community-based solutions for school transport for children with disabilities. This focus
became a pilot project with LCD and IDC providing inclusion schools with three-wheel
motorbikes in rural Zimbabwe. Use of these “tricycles” increased access to education for
many children with disabilities, as they presented an affordable and safe alternative to go to
school. Some project highlights:
• Due to local production’s low cost, communities chose to purchase trailers pulled by
tricycles and to a lesser extent, scotch carts pulled by donkeys. A trailer can transport
eight children at a time.
• Over three years, 20 eligible schools in four districts received 20 tricycles with trailers.
• Transporting children with disabilities created new employment opportunities for parents,
school personnel and community members.
• Transportation solutions made a significant difference in the parents’ daily lives and
presented them with the opportunity to focus on additional income-generating activities.
Issues such as weather conditions, road conditions and safety, maintenance costs and
driver training still need to be examined. However, an exploration of transport and inclusion
in Zimbabwe reveals a crucial need for community-owned solutions. As stated by Kett and
Deluca (2016) “Obviously transport—in this case tricycles—are not the only factor necessary
for an inclusive education system, but they have highlighted some crucial gaps in the current
approaches, as well as some crucial gaps in the literature around inclusive education” (p. 69).

2.5 Family, DPO and Community Engagement
Key Highlights
• Students with disabilities need to be active participants in their education process including
being able to choose preference and establish learning goals.
• It is crucial to engage families of students with disabilities as partners throughout all phases
of education.
• DPO engagement is an essential component of inclusive education, which is also mandated
by the CRPD.
• Engaging communities leads to more effective and sustained inclusive programs.
2.5.1 Self-Determination
Self-determination is the process of:
• Setting goals based on one’s own preferences and choices.
• Developing and implementing plans to meet one’s goals.
• Recognizing the link between one’s actions and outcomes (shogren et al., 2015).
Self-determination encompasses a broad range of specific skills, beliefs and attitudes, including
knowing oneself, identifying preferences, making choices, setting goals, making and implementing
action plans to achieve goals, solving problems, advocating for oneself and learning from successes
and setbacks.
Self-Determination:
• Students with disabilities typically are less determined than same-age peers (Shogren et
al., 2007).
• Students who are self-determined are more likely to be successful in employment and
independent living (shogren et al., 2015) and have a more positive quality of life (Shogren
et al., 2006).
• School-based interventions are successful in preparing students to be self-determined
(Wehmeyer & Little, 2014).
• Families and teachers have a key role in promoting self-determination from the earliest years
(Morningstar & Wehmeyer, 2008; Wehmeyer et al., 2013).

The instructional approach with the strongest research base is the Self-Determined Learning Model
of Instruction (SDLMI) (shogren, Wehmeyer, Burke, & Palmer, 2017). The SDLMI has three instructional
phases focusing on a problem to be solved:
• Phase 1: What is my goal? Students set an instructional goal based on preferences, strengths and needs
• Phase 2: What is my plan? Students design a progress monitoring plan and achieve their goal
• Phase 3: What have I learned? Students review data based on self-monitoring and alter their
goal or plan if appropriate.
It is important to integrate the need for self-determination within teacher training as well as outreach
efforts for families. Both families and schools need to encourage self-determination for students as
early as possible and recognize that they can potentially serve as barriers for self-determination if they
do not respect and provide opportunities for students with disabilities to provide input preferences
and contribution to decisions about their own education.
2.5.2 Family Engagement

It is important to include families in developing literacy goals for students with disabilities. This
includes learning what literacy means to them and their hopes and expectations (Downing, 2005).
Figure 10 provides an illustration of trusting partnerships depicted as the sun. You will see around
the sun’s circumference six research-based partnership principles—communication, competence,
commitment, advocacy, respect and equality (Blue-Banning et al., 2004; Summers et al., 2005). In
the sun depiction, the principles of partnership are “infused” within each of the types of partnership.
Annex D provides more information the different types of family professional partnerships.
Given their need for specially-designed instruction, partnerships are especially important for students
with disabilities (Turnbull et al., 2015).
Figure 10. Sunshine Framework for Trusting Family-Professional Partnerships
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“It is widely recognized that community and parental engagement in
education is a vital force in the effort to remove barriers to quality
education, mobilize scarce education resources, and increase
accountability for results in learning.”
(USAID, 2011, p. 11)
Family Partnership:
• Students with disabilities whose families are highly engaged in their education are less behind
grade level in reading and tended to receive better grades (Newman, 2005).
• Parents who have positive partnerships with educators report higher levels of family quality of
life and lower levels of stress (Burke & Hodapp, 2014; Kyzar et al., 2015).
• Schools that have higher trust levels have been found to be three times more likely to have
reading and math improvement (Bryk & Schneider, 2002).
• In South Africa, the absence of family partnerships can negatively influence teachers’
implementation of inclusive education (Engelbrecht, Swart, & Eloff, 2001).
• An inclusion education project in India focused on preparing parents to be equal partners with
teachers in educating children in general education classes (Alur, 2010).
In USAID’s 2011 Education Strategy, they underscore the importance of parent and community
engagement. To improve reading skills, it is critical to have “greater engagement, accountability, and
transparency by communities and the public” (p. 11). For example, in Pakistan and India, students have
increased learning achievement when their parents receive their report cards. One of the best ways
for parents to encourage children’s literacy development is to engage in dialogic reading, an interactive
approach where parents ask children questions about picture books and children act as the storyteller.
Research on young children with and without disabilities documents that dialogic reading is successful
in strengthening oral language but has not had an effect on phonological processing (Institute for
Educational Services). It is important to educate families on the laws within the country related to
education of children with disabilities so they can better advocate for their child’s right. It is also
extremely important to educate parents on their child’s disabilities in a way that follows a human rights
model and provides insight on their child’s needs as well as their potential strengths. In some cases,
this outreach may include strategies to reinforce learning at home or teaching parents skills on how to
communicate with their child (such as learning sign language, braille or how to model AAC devices).
In LMICs, families face challenges with their own education and access to literacy resources. In
India, up to 38 percent of mothers have not completed primary school (Vagh, Nag, & Banerji, 2017). In
approximately one-half of children’s homes there is support for learning, but only about one-third of
the homes have print materials. It is important that all children, regardless of disability, have access to
books at an early age with parents who provide a home learning environment.

2.5.3 DPO Engagement
Engaging DPOs in any inclusive education program is crucial. The CRPD Article 4 on General
Principles requires that all policies or decision-making processes concerning persons with
disabilities and inclusive education, should include a consultation mechanism and “actively
involve persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities through their representative
organizations (United Nations, 2006, Art. 4).” Involvement of DPOs and other disability leaders
results in stronger programs. DPOs’ have a strong and unique role to play in advocating for
improved inclusive education policies and programs (UNESCO, 2017-2018). A study conducted by
Eleweke (2011) in both high-, middle- and low-income countries found that DPOs’ participation in
and advocacy for improved educational services produces improved special education services.
DPO engagement in literacy programs not only supports program alignment with the unique
insights and priorities of the DPO community, but involving DPO leaders in literacy training can also
provide adult role models for students, families and teachers.
International DPOs often produce policy statements and other valuable information related to best
practices in education and literacy acquisition for persons with the specific type of disability they
represent. Therefore, it is important to not just consult with local DPOs but also to follow guidance
provided by different representative groups. For example, Inclusion International, an IDA member,
has worked extensively over the years to promote inclusive education and has inclusive education
as one of their priorities. As part of their programs, they produce policy papers and studies, and
advocate to ensure that students with intellectual disability are fully considered within the inclusive
education movement.
Community Engagement: Fiji Case Study

In Fiji, an important collaboration between a local DPO, the Fiji National Council
for Disabled People (FNCDP) and Save the Children is underway. FNCDP and
Save the Children work together to maintain child education in a safe environment and provide
psychosocial support to children, parents and communities in time of natural disaster. Millions
of children, especially those with disabilities, are disadvantageously affected by man-made or
natural disaster emergencies. Education suffers from school closings, destruction of property
and educational materials, and teacher absence. If education is included in humanitarian relief
efforts, it can be lifesaving for children from dangers and exploitation that unfold during and
after emergencies. Save the Children and FNCDP ensure the Education in Emergency (EiE)
policy and plan is disability inclusive. Some of their EiE activities carried out include:
• Conduct drills in inclusion schools that have children with disabilities.
• Emergency training for students and staff at local schools for children with disabilities.
• Provide educational supplies for children with disabilities after an emergency.
• Inform inclusion schools on their right to access to EiE.
• Provide information on sanitation and hygiene, healthcare access and food distribution,
landmine safety, sexual abuse awareness, peace building and conflict resolution.
• Encourage and enrich children’s learning through the teaching of literacy, numeracy and
study skills (Christian Blind Mission, 2012).

The International Disability Alliance (IDA)
IDA is an alliance of eight global and six regional organizations of persons with disabilities. IDA
works at the international level to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities (including
all disability categories) using the CRPD as its standard. For more information on IDA please
visit: www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org.
2.5.4 Community Engagement

Community engagement involves trusting partnerships among educators, other professionals,
organizations and businesses (Gross et al., 2015). Similar to family engagement, community
engagement has a strong research base. Community engagement not only signifies outreach from
the school to the community but also represents educating the community on the importance of
providing literacy skills to students with and without disabilities. It involves community members and
engaging in proactive and meaningful activities to support local schools and students.
Researchers have drawn five recommended practices from schools that excel in community
partnerships and link to literacy (Gross et al., 2015; Elder & Kuja, 2018). These practices are:
1. Engage with the community to identify businesses who could provide materials, books and other
resources related to literacy instruction.
2. Identify mutual interest and goals of community leaders around their ideas of how to mobilize the
community to achieve literacy goals.
3. Ensure reciprocity in partnerships, identifying ways that staff, students and families can give back
to the community in literacy-related activities.
4. Maintain an “open door policy” by welcoming community members to be school volunteers.
5. Invite community members to be active participants in designing school literacy projects and
providing celebrations for students’ literacy progress.
Researchers in Kenya provide a strong example of a partnership involving educators, families,

community members and students in advocating for inclusive education (Elder & Kuja, 2018). This
project involved constituting inclusion committees at two schools, focused on addressing a range of
Community Engagement:
• Schools that have strong community partnerships have a higher percentage of students
achieving on grade level and increased test scores (Sheldon, 2003, 2007).
• Community engagement leads to increased parent volunteerism (Anderson et al., 2010).
• Community engagement opens doors for students to have learning opportunities outside of
school (Blank et al., 2003).
• Community members with and without disabilities joined other stakeholders in an inclusion
committee that improved the quality of inclusion pedagogy and dissolved some of the
boundaries between inclusive and segregated schools (Elder & Kuja, 2018).

Girls learning to read through the USAID Prioritas project that used Response to Intervention to improve reading.
Photo Credit: Education Development Center
topics including national and international legal mandates for inclusive education, access to funding,
identification of strengths and needs related to inclusive education, action planning in establishing
and addressing goals, and planning for project sustainability. One result was the partial disbanding of
boundaries between a school for children without disabilities and a segregated school located nearby
for students with physical disabilities. Discussions also led to an increase in the number of students
enrolled in each of the schools and to governmental review of special education policy. The authors
identified the participation of multiple partners, including families and community members, as a key
aspect of the project’s success.
In addition to engaging the community, it is important to educate families of children without

disabilities on the benefits of inclusive education for students with and without disabilities. Engaging
and educating parents early can help reduce spreading false information or fears related to inclusion
and can help ensure that families are supportive and do not serve as an additional barrier.

Are there commonly held beliefs or perceptions within the community that may serve
as a barrier to education for children with disabilities?
What type of partnerships with the community might be helpful to address and
change those beliefs?

Policy and Support Systems
Hayes, A.M. & Bulat, J. (2017). Disabilities Inclusive Education Systems and Policy in Resource-
Constrained Environments: A Practitioner’s Guide. Research Triangle Park, NC: RTI Press. Retrieved
from https://www.rti.org/rti-press-publication/disabilities-inclusive-education-systems-and-
policies-guide-low-and-middle-income
International Disability Alliance. (2015). The right to education of persons with disabilities: The position
of the International Disability Alliance. Retrieved from http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/
resources/right-education-persons-disabilities
Schulze, M. (2007). Understanding the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Handicap International. Retrieved from https://iddcconsortium.net/sites/default/files/resources-
tools/files/hi_crpd_manual_sept2009_final.pdf
United Nations. (2016). General comment No. 4 on the right to inclusive education. Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/
Pages/GC.aspx
UNESCO. (2009). Policy guidelines on inclusion in education. Paris: UNESCO. Retrieved from http://
unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0017/001778/177849e.pdf
Teacher Training and Teacher Roles

Catholic Relief Service. (2010). How-to Guide Series: Preparing teachers for inclusive education. Re-
trieved from https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=IweAdJBIFAoC&oi=fnd&pg=PA4&d-
q=Special+Education+Kosovo&ots=2Hd4_Fs7Dm&sig=8KnRXNx1rXB0arJg1YTrfIRiXdg#v=onep-
age&q&f=false
International Disability and Development Consortium. (2013). Teachers for all: Inclusive education
for children with disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/disabilities/files/IDDC_Paper-
Teachers_for_all.pdf
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2003). Open file on inclusive
education: Support materials for managers and administrators. Retrieved from http://unesdoc.
unesco.org/images/0013/001321/132164e.pdf
National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance. Website. Retrieved from https://ies.
ed.gov/ncee/
Instructional Approaches and Teacher Supports

Universal Design for Learning
CAST. Universal Design for Learning. Retrieved from http://www.cast.org/
CAST Professional Learning Resources. Retrieved from http://castprofessionallearning.org/free-udl-
resources-and-tips/
Individual Education Plans (IEPs)

Center for Parent Information and Resources. (2017). The Short-and-Sweet IEP Overview. Retrieved
from http://www.parentcenterhub.org/iep-relatedservices/

Reasonable Accommodations
Maryland State Department of Education. (2012). Maryland Accommodations Manual: Selecting,
Administering and Evaluating the Use of Accommodations for Instruction and Assessment.
Retrieved from http://archives.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/testing/docs/2012_MD_
Accommodations_Manual_.pdf
Assistive Technology
World Health Organization. (2016). Priority Assistive Products List. Retrieved from www.who.int/phi/
implementation/assistive_technology/EMP_PHI_2016.01/en/
Accessible Teaching and Learning Materials

National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum (NCAC). (2004). National Instructional Materials
Accessibility Standard Report. Retrieved from http://aem.cast.org/about/publications/2004/ncac-
nimas-report-national-file-format.html#.Wt9f6Zch02w
USAID. (2015). A guide for promoting gender equality and inclusiveness in teaching and learning
materials. Retrieved from https://globalreadingnetwork.net/eddata/guide-promoting-gender-
equality-and-inclusiveness-teaching-and-learning-materials-0
School Supports and Other Related Services

Other Related Services
The IRIS Center. (undated). What Are Related Services for Students with Disabilities and How Are
They Provided? Nashville, TN: Peabody College, Vanderbilt University. Retrieved from https://iris.
peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/rs/cresource/q1/p01/#content/
Center for Parent Information and Resources. (2017). Related Services. Retrieved from http://www.
parentcenterhub.org/iep-relatedservices/
Paraprofessionals/Teacher Assistants
Causton-Theoharis, J.N., Giangreco, M.F., Doyle, M.B., & Vadasy, P. F. (2007). Paraprofessionals: The
“Sous-Chefs” of literacy instruction. Council for Exceptional Children, 40 (1) 56-62. Retrieved
from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Julie_Causton-Theoharis/publication/28799732_
Paraprofessionals_The_Sous-chefs_of_Literacy_Instruction/links/53ff0d360cf283c3583c5580/
Paraprofessionals-The-Sous-chefs-of-Literacy-Instruction.pdf
Accessible Transportation
Kett, M. and Deluca, M. (2016). Transportation and access to inclusive education in Mashonaland
West Province, Zimbabwe. Social Inclusion, 4 (3) 61-71. Retrieved from https://www.cogitatiopress.
com/socialinclusion/article/viewFile/502/502
Self-Determination, Families, DPO and Community Engagement

Self Determination
National Gateway to Self-Determination. (undated). Website. Retrieved from http://ngsd.org/

Family Engagement
Beach Center on Families and Disability. Website. Retrieved from https://beach.ku.edu/sites/default/
files/inline-files/Beach/parents-guide-to-sd.pdf
National Center for Families Learning. Website. Retrieved from http://face.familieslearning.org/index/
DPO Engagement
International Disability Alliance (IDA). Website. Retrieved from http://www.
internationaldisabilityalliance.org/
Community Engagement
Strategies for Community Engagement in School Turn-Around. (2014). Retrieved from https://www2.
ed.gov/about/inits/ed/implementation-support-unit/tech-assist/strategies-for-community-
engagement-in-school-turnaround.pdf/

Chapter 3: Promoting Literacy Skills for
Students with Disabilities
Every student benefits from literacy instruction. All children have the right to obtain this valuable
skill set. Having high exposure to literacy instruction is important, but for many students, that may
not be sufficient. For students with disabilities to more effectively acquire literacy skills, different
instructional techniques may need to be used. Sometimes these adaptions may be minimal. But some
students may need a more specially designed and individualized approach. Many of the evidence-
based techniques and approaches highlighted in this section improve literacy acquisition not only for
students with disabilities but also can be helpful in improving and strengthening literacy acquisition
for students without disabilities. This chapter of the toolkit:
• Provides general principles for literacy acquisition.
• Dispels myths related to literacy acquisition and students with disabilities.
• Introduces purposes and methods to identify students who may need additional supports.
• Explains different stages of literacy acquisition for students with disabilities and the importance of
early intervention.
• Provides examples of instructional techniques that support literacy skills for students in different
disability categories using the UDL framework, and the intersectionality of these practices.
• Explains how to monitor learning and literacy progress for students with disabilities.
3.1 Understanding Literacy and Disability
Key Highlights
• All students, including those with disabilities, can obtain literacy skills and should receive
literacy instruction.
• The principles of literacy acquisition can be applied to students with and without disabilities.
• Harmful myths about literacy acquisition exist concerning students with disabilities that
serve as barriers to learning and reaching their full academic potential.
3.1.1 Core Principles for Literacy Acquisition for All Students

For students with and without disabilities, it is recommended to apply a core set of principles when
providing literacy instruction. These core principles include:
Presume competence. All students can learn and should be exposed to literacy. It is essential that
all strategies build upon this premise and enable students to reach their full academic potential.
The assumption that all students can learn is often referred to as the “least dangerous assumption”
principle. The least dangerous assumption is to presume a student is competent to learn general
education curriculum, including literacy skills, and to design educational programs and supports

based on that assumption (Jorgensen, 2006). When teachers presume student competence, students
are far more likely to have improved outcomes (Jorgenson, McSheehan, & Sonnenmeier, 2007).
Build on student strengths. A strength-based approach shifts the focus from a student’s deficits
and challenges and focuses instead on what a student can do with appropriate supports in place
(Thompson, Shogren, & Wehmeyer, 2017). Focusing on a strength-based approach has resulted in
higher learning outcomes, reduced absenteeism and increased student confidence (Clifton & Harter,
2003). Similarly, a strength-based approach in special education services is especially important for
inclusive education (Turnbull et al., 2013). This includes developing strength-based IEPs that build
on a student’s academic and social strength instead of solely addressing a student’s deficits and
limitations (Elder, Rood, & Damiani, 2018).
Use evidence-based instructional techniques. Recommended practice is that literacy instruction

for children with disabilities incorporate evidence-based strategies proven effective for all children.
For example, explicit instruction with positive reinforcement can benefit all children (Archer & Hughes,
2011). Other evidence-based techniques include modeling, discrete trial, prompting and fading, and
generalization training (Wehmeyer, Shogren, & Brown, 2017).
Provide positive behavioral supports. Unfortunately, too often when there is challenging
behavior due to the presence of a disability, typically the response is to punish rather than to teach
students appropriate behavior. An alternative is to use positive behavior support, which is a problem-
solving, data-based, proactive approach to teaching students how to behave consistent with school
expectations. It uses systematic procedures to first identify the function that the challenging behavior
is serving for the student, so that teachers and other schools staff can address the behavior in a
positive manner and prevent the challenging behavior from reoccurring. Changing the environment,
redirecting students, adapting teaching strategies and reinforcing positive behavior all are used to
achieve positive behavioral outcomes (Carr et al., 1999). In order to accomplish literacy goals, many
students with disabilities will benefit from positive behavior support.
Promote culturally relevant learning. Culturally relevant teaching uses strengths, everyday
experiences, networks and values of students and their families as a resource to ensure learning
and positive outcomes (Gay, 2013). Children should be exposed to instruction and materials that
reflect their culture. Including words, concepts, stories and books that are culturally relevant is highly
motivating in the acquisition of literacy skills.
Ensure gender equity. It is crucial that both girls and boys with disabilities receive equitable
literacy instruction. Education plays a vital role in combating harmful gender stereotypes. However,
traditionally, gender programs and interventions too often have been designed without taking
into consideration the needs of students with disabilities. It is critical that both girls and boys with
disabilities be an integral component of all gender and equity programming.
Ensure dignity. All children, including students with disabilities, should be treated with dignity in the
classroom. This includes ensuring that corporal punishment is not used, students are not exposed to
school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV), and they are respected as individuals. This also means
using respectful terminology when referring to disability and not talking down to students with disabilities
(for example, do not speak to a student who is 12 as if they are three years old). As stated within General
Comment 4, “education must be directed at the full development of the human potential and sense of
dignity and self-worth, and the strengthening of respect for human rights and human diversity” (United
Nations, 2016, p. 6).

3.1.2 Dispelling Myths on Literacy Acquisition and Students with Disabilities11
There are several harmful myths related to literacy and students with disabilities. Dispelling these
myths is vital, as teaching based on false and negative perceptions can influence what a teacher
instructs and a student’s access to learning. Six of the more common misperceptions related to
literacy acquisition for students with disabilities are listed as follows.
Myth #1: Learning to read is a natural process. Immersion in a literacy-rich

environment does not by itself support learning to read. Learning to read requires explicit
instruction that often needs to be varied to support the unique needs of different types
of learners. For many, such as children with learning or behavior and attention disabilities, explicit,
systematic phonemic awareness is more effective than unsystematic instruction (Ehri et al., 2001). For
others, such as children who are blind, this requires learning to read through braille. Auditory-based
language acquisition, as well as reading, is not a natural process for many students including students
who are deaf/hard of hearing/deafblind and for many students with communication disorders. These
students best acquire language through visually-based language acquisition. Humphries et al. wrote
that “Children naturally come to be fluent in whatever accessible language(s) they are surrounded
by and exposed to on a regular and frequent basis” (Humphries, 2012, pg. 2). Recognizing that many
students receive and communicate reading differently is a core element of using UDL practices.
Myth #2: All students with the same disability label will learn literacy skills the
same way. All children are unique and thus learn differently. There is no “one size fits
all approach” that works for every child with a disability or without. Although there are
approaches that often work for children with the same disability, there are always exceptions to the
rule. Likewise, children are individuals and will be motivated to learn and engage for different reasons.
Some children may be motivated by music, others by physical activities or technology. Because
all children are different, it is important to promote literacy approaches that build upon a student’s
unique learning preferences.
Myth #3: If students with disabilities do not achieve literacy skills by a certain
age, they will not be able to obtain literacy skills. If a child has not learned to read
and write by a certain age, it does not mean they will be unable to learn later in life.
Research documents that many older children or adults with disabilities can acquire literacy skills
later in life (Downing, 2005). However, early language and literacy skills are important as they often
provide critical foundational skills to support future learning, including numeracy and other subjects.
It is critical that students of all ages receive literacy instruction. For example, a child with a disability
who is 10 or 15 who has never been to school but is now enrolled can still receive literacy instruction.
11 Thank you to Dr. Jean Andrews, Dr. Susan Copeland, Dr. Julie Durando, Dr. Linda Mason and Dr. David McNaughton for
their contributions to the various myths on disabilities and literacy.

Myth #4: Students with complex support needs, such as those with intellectual
disability, multiple disabilities or who are severely affected by autism spectrum
disorder, cannot acquire literacy skills. Research documents that students with
intellectual disability and other complex support needs can acquire literacy skills if given sustained,
intensive, comprehensive literacy instruction (Copeland & Keefe, 2017; Channell et al., 2013). This means:
(1) developing lessons that concurrently (within the same lesson) teach language/communication
skills, word recognition (that includes both sight words and phonics), vocabulary, fluency, reading and
listening comprehension, and (2) writing using multiple modalities and active learning (Allor et al.,
2014). Incorporating engaging topics and text helps students with intellectual disability make better
connections and meaning, supporting the acquisition and generalization of skills.
Myth #5: Students who are deaf/hard of hearing, including those with additional
disabilities, cannot learn to read and write. Young children who are deaf/hard
of hearing can be taught how to read and write the language of their country. Young
students who are deaf can learn both alphabetic and non-alphabet scripts (i.e., Chinese, Arabic,
Korean, etc.) (Wang & Andrews, in progress). A lack of literacy skills does not mean that students
who are deaf/hard of hearing do not have the mental capabilities. Studies have consistently shown
that intelligence is normally distributed in the deaf population (Leigh & Andrew, 2017). Even young
students who are deaf/hard of hearing with additional disabilities (i.e., learning, emotional) and with
other sensory disabilities (i.e., deaf, blindness) can acquire literacy (Leigh & Andrew, 2017). To help
support literacy skills, children must acquire language as early as possible. With local sign language
along with the aid of technology (cochlear implants and hearing aids) and visual (ebooks, internet,
captioned TV, YouTube, cell phone apps, etc.) can be used to teach literacy to young students who are
deaf/hard of hearing (Leigh, Andrews, & Harris, 2018).
Myth #6: Students who are non-verbal or have communication disorders are
unable to obtain and demonstrate literacy skills. Most literacy curricula used
in schools require oral or written responses from students to demonstrate learning.
However, many students have difficulty writing due to their disability. Just because students have
challenges communicating what they have learned, does not mean they are not learning. Through the
use of AAC, many students with complex communication needs can learn decoding and sight words
to begin to read. Likewise, using AAC, students can express what they have learned and demonstrate
reading comprehension (Light et al., 2008). Students with complex learning supports, including those
with complex communication needs, benefit from a balanced approach to literacy that incorporates
daily reading, writing and word study (Carnahan & Williamson, 2010; Erickson & Koppenhaver, 2007)
that enables them to express what they have learned in flexible ways.

Are some or all of these myths relevant in the context in which you work?
Are there other myths on literacy acquisition that also might apply?
How can these myths be addressed in future trainings?

3.2 Identification and Qualification for Services
Key Highlights
• Identification is not intended to attach a label of disability to a student but instead to assess
student strengths and challenges related to how they can most effectively receive and express
information and be motivated to learn with age-appropriate peers without disabilities.
• Identification is achieved through an on-going thoughtful and phased classroom-based
approach; gradually building a country’s systems, tools and expertise; and avoiding misdiagnosis.
Do not relegate identification to a series of simple questions or a singular checklist.
• Identification processes focus on strengths and challenges, use culturally adapted tools,
engage families as partners and take place in the classroom over an extended period.
3.2.1 The Purpose of Identification

Identifying students with disabilities or knowing the additional learning supports that can benefit
them can be challenging, especially in LMICs. Most LMICs lack culturally-adapted procedural
protocols and tools for screening and evaluation, and may have limited access to experts needed
to identify children with certain disabilities. Even with these challenges, there is still a push by both
governments and donors to have accurate estimates of children with disabilities to help support
policy, planning and program decisions. To obtain data, many decision-makers and international
practitioners in LMICs often request simple solutions for what is actually a very complex task,
requiring a multipronged approach over an extended period. Identifying students with additional
learning needs associated with disabilities is very different from collecting census data. Census data
are used to collect rough estimates of anonymous prevalence rates with the understanding that there
may be some natural levels of error. Conversely, the purpose of classroom identification is to assess
if specific students have a disability or other barriers to learning, with the goal to provide them with
appropriate services and supports. The knowledge and insight obtained can inform the inclusive
instructional techniques used to promote literacy. Then this information can be reported through
Educational Management Information Systems (EMIS) or other data services to obtain estimated
numbers and determine budget needs.
It is important that classroom identification is conducted with the objective of providing services and
supports, instead of potentially providing harmful labels without accompanying support. As stated by
WHO and UNICEF (2012), “there are dangers in ‘labeling’ children according to their diagnosis as it
can lead to lower expectations and denial of needed services and overshadow the child’s individuality
and evolving capacities.” (p. 23). Additionally, in many emerging inclusive education systems, inclusion
for all children has yet to be guaranteed. Unfortunately, many countries use identification practices
and resulting disability labels as justification to either segregate students with disabilities or deny
access altogether. For example, in Gabon, Macedonia and Morocco, children suspected of having a
disability must be diagnosed with a specific disability before being allowed to access a segregated
school; and yet with that diagnosis, they are often denied entry into local schools within the general
education system (Hayes et al., 2018). Identification should be a tool that provides an appropriate
inclusive education for students with disabilities and promote academics skills such as literacy, not
justification for segregation.

It is recommended to use the identification practice to assess
additional learning supports needed to effectively include students
in the classroom. Identification should not be used as justification for
exclusion or segregation.
3.2.2 Applying a Phased Approach to Identification

To accurately identify students who have additional learning needs or disabilities, a phased approach
is recommended. This phased approach:
1. Starts with vision and hearing screening for all children,
2. Involves screening for children who demonstrate challenges learning to read and learn, and
3. Finally entails comprehensive evaluation for students with suspected disabilities.
Figure 11 shows the recommended phases to identify a student who may benefit from receiving
additional learning or special education services.
Figure 11. Phases of Identification and Educational Supports
Comprehensive
Evaluation
- For a few students
- Individualized learning
Screening for Additional

Learning Needs
- For some students
- Intensive Instruction
Vision and Hearing Screening

- For all students
- Differentiated learning using UDL principles
Source: Adapted from Hayes et al., 2018

Additional information on the three phases suggested by Hayes et al. (2018) are listed as follows.
Conduct hearing and vision screenings. All children, starting as young as possible, should receive
routine vision and hearing screenings. Too often, teachers mistake challenges associated with vision
and hearing challenges with other types of disabilities. Ruling out vision and hearing challenges is
an important first step for all students. Screenings can be done by teachers or health care providers
with minimal training within the school setting, using a few simple tools. It is recommended practice
to refer students with suspected vision or hearing challenges to a medical clinic or similar service
to receive additional evaluation and be referred to services such as eyeglasses. Teachers can also
be trained on classroom and environmental accommodations that can be provided to students with
low vision or who are hard of hearing. Once vision and hearing screenings are conducted, families
need be informed about results, especially if there is a need for referral for additional evaluation. It is
recommended that teachers continue to monitor students’ outcomes even after referral and conduct
routine follow-up to assess if there has been a change in vision or hearing.
Screen for additional learning needs. After ruling out challenges being associated with vision or
hearing challenges, it is important to monitor if students continue to have challenges learning. These
challenges may be related to the different means of UDL such as how a student receives or expresses
information and what motivates a student to learn.
Conduct a comprehensive evaluation. Students who need more intensive individualized instruction
may benefit from having an IEP and a more comprehensive evaluation to assess their learning needs
and types of academic supports. No singular tool should be used to assess what type of a disability a
student may have or their specific learning and literacy interventions. It is important that an evaluation
be conducted by a multidisciplinary team of experts including general education teacher, special
education teachers, psychologist and technical experts. Results of evaluations inform IEPs and specific
IEP literacy goals. It is also imperative to share results with families in a written report (in their native
Figure 12. Distinguishing between identification, screening, and diagnosis
Identification
Screening Evaluation Diagnosis
Teachers and Multi-disciplinary Qualified

Community team Specialist or
workers Medical Experts
Parent
engagement
Services and
supports

language) and discuss outcomes in person (Farral, Wright, & Wright, 2015).12 If a country has yet to
establish a system for effectively evaluating students in the classroom, they can still be supported in
the general education classrooms by offering instructional approaches that reinforce the principles of
UDL. Ideally, all students, including those with confirmed disabilities, are evaluated once the appropriate
procedures and tools are in place to learn more about their individual strengths, challenges and
preferences related to how to receive and express information, and are motivated to learn.
A Closer Look at Inclusion: Characteristics of

Students Who May Have Challenges Learning
There are several reasons why a student may struggle academically. They include external
factors such as health issues, lack of sleep, exposure to abuse, past trauma and disability.
The important thing in screening is to assess if a child may benefit from additional learning
support regardless of the reason for their challenges academically. Possible characteristics of
students who may have challenges learning to read include (HelpGuide.org, 2017):
• Problems pronouncing words
• Trouble finding the right word
• Difficulty rhyming
• Trouble learning the alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes and days of the week
• Difficulty following directions or learning routines
• Difficulty controlling crayons, pencils, scissors, or coloring within the lines
• Trouble learning the connection between letters and sounds
• Unable to blend sounds to make words
• Confuses basic words when reading
• Slow to learn new skills
• Consistently misspells words and makes frequent errors
• Trouble learning basic math concepts
• Difficulty telling time and remembering sequences
• Difficulty with reading comprehension or math skills
• Trouble with open-ended questions and word problems
• Dislikes reading and writing; avoids reading aloud
• Poor handwriting
• Poor organizational skills (homework and desk are messy and disorganized)
• Trouble following classroom discussions and expressing thoughts aloud
• Spells the same word differently in a single document
12 In many countries, the term “assessment” is used to determine the process in which students are eligible for special
education services. The toolkit uses the term “evaluation” to eliminate confusion with the term “assessment,” which
indicates testing and monitoring a student’s progress.

A Closer Look at Inclusion:
Using Ecological Evaluations/Assessments
One screening tool that can be used in LMICs is an Ecological Assessment. This tool can
help determine if a student may benefit from additional learning supports and what type of
intervention(s) they may require by using observational techniques to analyze how students
perform in their natural environment compared to same-aged peers without disabilities. By
using observational techniques in different school-related settings over a period of time, a
more accurate picture of the student’s strengths and support needs is captured (Downing,
Hanreddy, & Peckham-Hardin, 2015). The benefit of an Ecological Assessment is that it is
more likely to provide an appropriate intervention plan to serve as a tool for teachers in any
environment that students with disabilities frequent (Beukelman & Mirenda, 2013). Another
benefit of an Ecological Assessment is that it does not need to be culturally normed or
adapted, as the tool is inherently culturally appropriate in comparing students to their natural
environment and other students in that environment. When using Ecological Assessments,
it is important to use a team approach, including teachers or school officials who regularly
interact with the student over time, and actively engage the student’s parents in the process.
Ecological Assessments have been used successfully in rural Kenya to identify the
strengths and needs of students with disabilities and determine discrepancies in abilities
between students with disabilities and their non-disabled peers. This discrepancy is where
targeted instructional goals were developed to support students with disabilities in primary
school classrooms rather than justifying their placement in segregated special schools.
This application in Kenya was an alternative to building a costly assessment center that
would place students with disabilities in special schools away from their families and
local community supports (Elder, 2015). See Annex E for a draft template of an Ecological
Assessment that can be translated and used in various contexts and countries.
In countries where there are not adapted tools or technical experts, accurately identifying a child
with a specific disability is challenging. Ascertaining if a child is blind/low vision, deaf/hard of hearing
or deafblind is a first step. Individuals with these categories of disability require unique instructional
approaches to obtain literacy skills and often require assistive devices, access to sign language or
tactile sign. For example, it is important to know if a student is blind or if their low vision is significant
enough to support braille literacy. Other disabilities, such as intellectual disability, learning disabilities
and communication disorders, can be more challenging to differentiate and evaluate.
3.2.3 Additional Effective Practices in Identification

In addition to a phased identification approach, the following are also evidence-based effective
practices that are applicable when conducting evaluations, regardless of suspected disability:
Assess students’ strengths and challenges. Another important element of identification in the
classroom is that the evaluation process highlight student strengths, and build on them to encourage
learning, instead of focusing only on challenges or deficits related to their disability. Too often
identification processes only highlight academic deficits, and miss the opportunity to explore how
students can best receive and express information, and be motivated to learn.

Cultural Adaptations in Development Screening:
Cambodia Case Study
Screening tools for childhood development such as the Denver Development
Screening Test (DDST) are based on standard milestones of early childhood in western
countries. However, these milestones do not match the reality in Cambodia. A study
conducted by Ngoun et al. (2012) found that it is unusual for Cambodian children to play with
their food, unlike in the West where children are actively encouraged to explore food as part
of their eating habits. While children in western countries are expected to draw, Cambodian
children usually do not draw before starting school at age 5. Another marked cultural
difference is that younger Cambodian children are expected to perform household tasks
such as chopping onions.
A partnership consisting of Cambodian and international medical personnel adapted the

DDST into a culturally relevant screening tool, “Angkor Hospital for Children Development
Milestone Assessment Tool” (AHC DMAT). This makes it possible for professionals in
Cambodia to carry out early identification and treatment of children, especially those with
disabilities, in a culturally appropriate context. Examples of cultural adaptions:
• Using “play chab chab,” a traditional infant gesture in Cambodia instead of “wave bye-bye”
• Playing with lotus seed
• Listing common food like rice and porridge
• Using English and/or Khmer
Adapt tools to reflect the culture and context of a country. When using tools, it is important not
to simply import and translate tools. The preferred practice is to adapt tools as needed to the culture
and context of a country. The use of tools from high-income countries that are not adapted raises
ethical questions, as the validity and reliability of the tool becomes questionable. This can lead to
misidentification of a student by either overestimating or underestimating the extent of services and
supports that would align with the student’s disability (Oakland, 2009).
Engage families throughout the process. It is crucial to involve families throughout all stages of
identification. Families have unique insights about their children and provide valuable information on
how students receive and express information, and their personal interests that serve as educational
motivators. In many countries, signed parental consent is mandated by law throughout the various
stages of identification. Thus, it is important to follow existing country law related to parental consent.
It is also recommended to educate families on their rights in the process. Additional evidence-based
benefits of including families in the evaluation process are:
• Family participation contributes to aligning instructional and school supports and student needs
(Chen & Gregory, 2011).
• Family involvement can enhance future family-professional partnership with the school (McClain,
Schmertzin, & Schmertzin, 2012).
Conduct classroom-based evaluations over a period of time. To provide the best instructional
roadmap for teachers, students need to be screened and evaluated in a classroom setting. Evaluation

should also take place over a period of time to rule out bad days caused by external factors (illness,
lack of sleep, etc.), with samples taken across different academic settings (instruction for literacy,
numeracy and other subjects). In many LMICs, educational leaders are establishing separate
assessment/identification centers to identify students who experience disabilities due primarily to a
lack of experts in schools. However, in these situations, students with disabilities are often under-identified
because screening and evaluations only take place at assessment centers, and travel to assessment
centers is cost prohibitive (Mukria & Korir, 2006). In addition, these centers do not allow for observation
in the classroom setting and may not be in the position to provide advice on how a student may need to
receive and express information, and be best motivated to learn. As a result, reports from centers are less
applicable to the classroom, failing to provide guidance for instructional techniques that can be used by
teachers. Figure 13 delineates what should and should not be part of an identification process.
Figure 13. What Should and Should Not Be a Part of the Identification Process
✓ Identification
SHOULD
practices ✗ Identification
should NOT
practices
Assess if a student may benefit from Place a potentially harmful label on a

additional learning supports or special student without providing additional learning
education services. supports.
Identify student learning strengths and

Only focus on a student’s challenges,
accommodation needs to support and
weaknesses and deficits.
literacy skills.
Use a phased approach using multiple Determine special education service

tools to determine what supports would eligibility, using census questions or using
be beneficial. one checklist.
Culturally adapt tools to ensure they Import translated tools without

reflect the context of the country. considering culture and context.
Bring parents in at the end of an

Engage parents and families throughout
assessment and inform them of results
the identification process.
without obtaining their valuable insight.
Conduct assessments in off-site centers

Assess students in the classroom setting that lack the ability to assess children in a
at different times of the day and over time. classroom setting; provide assessments
based on a brief “snapshot.”

When conducting the identification process related to disability, it is important that techniques used
are adapted and normed within the country. The identification of a particular type of disability is not
always needed to provide service and support. However, having a designation of a particular type of
disability can be helpful for some families, teachers and specialists. Before identifying a student with
a specific disability, it is important that the evaluation team has carefully conducted a phased process
and made an informed decision—that the benefits of being identified with a particular disability
clearly outweigh possible negative drawbacks (Brown & Percy, 2017).

How are children identified as having a disability within the country?
Are they following best practices and using identification to provide additional services?
At what stage is the country currently?
What steps can take place to build an effective classroom-based identification system?
3.3 Stages of Literacy Acquisition
Key Highlights
• Due to existing attitudinal barriers many students with disabilities do not have the same
early childhood exposure and access to pre-literacy skills and thus may need additional
foundational support.
• Many children do not take a linear approach to literacy acquisition and benefit from
balanced and flexible instruction.
• Early intervention and participation in early childhood development programs are
particularly beneficial for children with disabilities. It is recommended that early
intervention be explored, developed and encouraged as much as possible in LMICs.
Fluency in reading and writing with comprehension requires sustained instruction. It is a staged
process where students build on existing skills to move toward full literacy. Long before being able
to read and write, students obtain early literacy skills that provide the foundation for learning. The
developmental skills needed to learn literary skills start very early in life and often come from being
exposed to an environment rich in print, interacting with texts and books and basic phonological
awareness (identifying and manipulating auditory/spatial phonemes of signed/spoken words).
This step of developing pre-literacy skills is often referred to as emergent literacy. While children
in LMICs may have reduced opportunities to access books and engage with print before going to
school, prior access to books and print for students with disabilities can be even more limited or
non-existent. Studies show that the amount of time families spend reading to a child with disabilities,

especially those with severe disabilities, is considerably less compared to the time reading to children
without disabilities (Marvin, 1994). Due to misperceptions related to the ability to learn literacy skills,
coupled with the lack of early intervention or accessible early childhood programs, many students
with disabilities enroll in school lacking the emergent literacy skills that many of their peers without
disabilities have obtained. Other students with disabilities may have challenging behaviors or other
related challenges that can interfere with learning. Because of these reasons, the traditional steps
toward literacy may not strictly apply to students with disabilities, and a more flexible approach to
literacy may be needed.
Many students with disabilities benefit from conceptualization of additional, or precursor, steps to
literacy before emergent literacy and literacy skills can take place. This redesigned approach to
literacy is based upon the National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) Steps to Literacy. Although
it was designed initially for students who are deafblind, the techniques apply to students with and
without disabilities. This approach was augmented to incorporate the Perkins School for the Blind
recommended pre-braille literacy requirements as well as Language Development Milestones in sign
language. See Figure 14 for the different skills represented in each stage for children with and without
disabilities as well as specific designation for skills for students with sensory disabilities.
The National Center on Deaf-Blindness has also developed checklists in both English and Spanish
that can be adapted to different contexts to help teachers assess a student’s initial literacy skills.13
13 For more information, please visit http://literacy.nationaldb.org/files/7914/7672/3022/Literacy_Skills_Checklist_English.pdf.

Figure 14. Steps to Literacy for Children with and without Disabilities
Initial foundation/starting points:

Building a Foundation • Demonstrates little or no interest in the people around him/her
• Uses behavior as communication
• Seems reluctant to engage in the environment
• Engages in self-stimulating behavior for a significant part of the day
• Demonstrates behaviors that are difficult to interpret
• Has some experience with books or stories
Additional skills for children who use sign language:

• Looks in the direction in which the signer is pointing
• Copies physical movements involving the arm, hands, head and face
• Turns head in response to attention getting behaviors (e.g., hand waving, lights on and off)
• Tracks and follows movement with alertness
Important skills for all children:

• Attends to a communication partner
Early Emergent Literacy
• Participates in turn-taking activities

• Attends to objects and/or pictures in a familiar routine or activity
• Is beginning to use consistent objects/symbols/signs for communications
• Is beginning to understand that people and objects have names/labels/signs
• Shows interest in books, stories and/or others engaged in literacy activities
• Handles, mouths or explores books (even in non-traditional ways)
• Tolerates being touched

• Recognizes own name sign
• Recognizes name signs of family members
• Responds to simple sign commands (e.g., come here, eat dinner)
• Uses over 50 signs
Important skills for all children:

• Holds, carries and/or turns pages of a book
• “Reads” to self or pretends to read
• Participates in story reading using the child’s preferred communication method
• Show interest in print, braille or tactile representation
Emergent Literacy
• Points to and/or names (or signs) objects

• Understands that text/pictures (or braille) convey meanings
Additional skills for children who use braille:

• Uses two hands cooperatively
• Understands and can count to six (to understand the six, braille dotted system)
• Places individual finger on braille keys
• Understands positional concepts of above/below, left/right, back/front, up/down, top bottom

• Begins to use fingerspelling
• Uses negation (e.g., no, none, etc.)
• Maintains visual attention for conversations in sign language
• Asks and understands questions including “where”, “how” and ”why
Source: Adapted from the National Center on Deaf-blindness Steps to Literacy.

3.3.1 Techniques for Learning by Stage
For each of these stages, teachers can use instructional techniques regardless of the nature of a
student’s disability. These skills, while designed for students with disabilities, apply to students with
or without disabilities. For example, students who lived through or are continuing to experience
conflict may also have limited exposure to pre-literacy skills and would benefit from these different
techniques. For many countries, previous work in the area of literacy for any students—with or without
disabilities—has been fairly limited and is only recently emerging. This represents an opportunity to
design new literacy interventions that are inherently inclusive and to incorporate the principles of UDL
from the beginning. These recommended techniques are displayed in Figure 14.
For more information on how to provide these specific strategies, please visit the NCDB website at
http://literacy.nationaldb.org/

Do children with disabilities have the same access to pre-literacy skills as students
without disabilities in the country? If not, how is this gap being addressed?
How could the stages of literacy be better understood and used in the classroom?
3.3.2 Recognizing and Accepting Non-linear Literacy Skill Development

The instructional techniques for developing literacy skills highlighted above are meant to be illustrative
to guide teachers on how to build strengths and ensure literacy skills development. The steps to
literacy are not meant to be prescriptive—where a child is required to obtain all skills before moving to
the next stage. Some children may struggle with certain stages and speed through others, while other
children may move back and forth between stages based on another issue they are learning or other
things going on in their lives.
Many students with disabilities do not take a traditional linear approach to literacy. For example, many
students who are deaf may exhibit challenges associating phonetic sounds to letters but become
adept readers by learning and memorizing sight words, matching picture-to-pictures, words-to-
pictures. Enforcing and isolating skills in a strictly hierarchical approach is not effective; students
instead require a more balanced approach to literacy that introduces them to basic skills while also
moving toward more advanced skills (Downing, 2005). For example, often students with intellectual
disability or complex support needs are not provided with whole stories they can enjoy reading.
Instead, teachers focus on drilling letter and word identification and students are rarely allowed to
advance to more meaningful instruction that involves reading text. This type of practice has been
proven not to be successful and thus is not recommended (Erickson & Koppenhaver, 1995; Katims,
2000). It is important to use the steps to literacy as a guide for developing literacy skills while also
ensuring a balanced, ecological approach that assumes competence in reading whole texts as well
as isolated skills such as decoding. This does not signify that structured instruction for children with
disabilities is not needed but rather that structure instruction should be flexible and respond to the
academic needs and strengths of students.

Figure 15. Techniques and strategies for students with disabilities for the different literacy
stages
Building a Foundation • Develop a trusting relationship with the child.

• Embed opportunities for acquisition of language and
communication and the use of objects and symbols throughout
the day.
• Design learning experiences that are meaningful to the child
and based on local context and experience.
Early Emergent Literacy • Model reading and writing behaviors.

• Embed the use of objects, symbols and words throughout the
child’s day.
• Incorporate rhythm, music, finger play and other games.
• Read and act out stories that are age and interest appropriate.
• Provide opportunities for handling and exploring reading and
writing materials.
• Teach print and book awareness.
• Teach the name (verbally, through sign language or personal
identifier) of the child and those the child interacts with on a
regular basis.
• Embed literacy learning activities into routines.
Emergent Literacy • Expand awareness of books, print and writing.

• Read and act out stories that encourage children to retell
stories and parts of stories.
• Establish reading and writing procedures that follow a prescribed
sequence.
• Connect real-life experience to literacy activities.
• Create books adapted to individual child preferences, abilities and
interests.
• Teach concepts using the child’s preferred communication
method (e.g., sign language, tactile sign language, AAC).
• Teach letters and familiar words.
Expanding Literacy • Use consistent methods to assess how well a student

understands what he or she is learning.
• Read stories that are both fiction and non-fiction.
• Provide opportunities to use new vocabulary in a variety of
situations.
• Provide opportunities for students to read to gather information
and knowledge.
• Provide opportunities for students to read to experience new
feelings and attitudes.
• Provide opportunities for students to demonstrate critical
thinking and understanding of content.
Source: Adapted from the NCDB Literacy for Children with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss.

3.3.3 The Importance of Early Intervention and Inclusive Early Childhood Education
Offering support for early literacy and pre-literacy skills for children ages 3-5 provides a foundation
for learning and is associated with later school success (Juel, 2006). For children with disabilities,
early childhood intervention (ECI) and access to inclusive early childhood education are important to
help students with disabilities enter primary school with the strongest possible foundation for literacy
and learning. Early intervention is the provision of a range of services, interventions or therapies
that help support babies or toddlers with disabilities or developmental delays. It can expose young
children with disabilities to valuable skills, help promote literacy development and reduce barriers
or challenges related to specific disabilities or developmental delays. Support at an early age is
important as this is the time period where the developing brain is most capable of change (Center
on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2014). As stated by the WHO and UNICEF (2012), “if
children with developmental delays or disabilities and their families are not provided with timely and
appropriate early intervention, support, and protection, their difficulties can become more severe—
often leading to lifetime consequences, increased poverty, and profound exclusion. (p. 5)
Importance of Early Intervention:

• A study in the United States determined that children who receive early intervention are
more likely to graduate from high school, hold jobs, live independently and avoid teen
pregnancy, delinquency and violent crime (Glascoe & Shapiro, 2004).
• The same study showed that investing in a child with a disability during early childhood
resulted in savings to society of approximately $30,000 to $100,000 per child over time
(Glascoe & Shapiro, 2004).
• One in three children who receive early intervention services in the United States do not
require special education services when they start elementary school, due to gains made
while in early intervention (Hebbeler et al., 2009).
• Children who are hard of hearing and receive early intervention are less likely to have
challenges with listening and speaking proficiently (Anderson, 2011).
• Children without disabilities in high-quality inclusive early childhood settings also benefit
from developmental specialists who can identify and address delays in development that
might otherwise not be identified (United States Department of Education, 2015).
ECI takes place in many settings including at home through the support of community health workers,
at medical clinics and within early childhood development (ECD) programs. However, interventions
that have engaged families to learn techniques for incorporating learning into everyday routines have
resulted in the best learning outcomes for the child (Dunst, 2011; Mahoney & MacDonald, 2007). ECI
programs that engage families also provide an opportunity to educate families on their child’s rights
to receive an education, and help build disability awareness so that parents can make informed
decisions about issues that might impact their child’s educational future. For example, ECI can be
an excellent opportunity to inform parents of children who are deaf about the need to provide local
sign language and other visual communication techniques to improve interaction with their child and
support future learning (Trussel & Easterbrooks, 2014).

Recognizing the impact of early childhood development on later learning, many countries are
increasingly supporting ECD programs. Countries such as Lesotho and Vietnam include access
to early childhood development as part of their education laws (Le, 2013; World Vision UK, 2007).
Children with disabilities are frequently in the most need of receiving and participating in early
childhood services and yet continue to be excluded from enrolling and participating based on
disability (WHO & UNICEF, 2012). All children, regardless of the nature or extent of their disability,
benefit from access to ECD programming. For ECD programs to be inclusive, it is vital that they are
physically accessible, have qualified teachers, provide flexible instruction, support ECI to the largest
extent possible and provide additional support or accommodation as needed.
Early Childhood Education and Engagement:

Malawi Case Study
Participatory research allows Sightsavers in Malawi to support early childhood
development and education for children who are blind/low vision. To encourage
“buy-in” from families and community, the Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching
and Research (VICTAR) researchers involve them in developing toys made of
available local resources and provide initial skills training for community workers. (Lynch,
2015). The toys made from local resources are:
• A plastic bottle filled with seeds which became a rattler
• A ball made of plastic bags and string which became a football
• Pieces of clothes sewn together which became a doll
As a result of family and community engagement, Lynch (2015) explains, “We found
that combining the tool with visits enabled more positive attitudes to their children
with disabilities, improved relationships between carers and children and improved the
responsiveness of the child” (pg. 1). Providing children who are blind/low vision with greater
access to play caused an increase in family engagement and communication.
In Malawi, early childhood development programs can be inadequately staffed and under-
resourced. Trained specialists have full caseloads and are unable to dedicate attention to
pre-school children at home. Community workers often do not have the same training and
experience, yet they have the potential to make a significant contribution. This project helps
fill the gap by promoting multi-sectoral collaboration to ensure that early childhood programs
are accessible to children with disabilities. The outcomes of this project are:
• Development of a complete set of culturally appropriate training materials in the national
language of Chichewa,
• Production of a variety of low-cost toys to encourage and engage children who are blind/
low vision in communication and play and
• Motivation for greater social attentiveness on the part of children who are blind/low
vision.

Do children with disabilities have access to ECD?
Are there services available to provide ECI?
What steps can be done to make preschools more inclusive of children with disabilities?
3.4 Additional Interventions and Disability Specific Supports
Key Highlights
• Some students with disabilities acquire literacy skills in the same ways as their peers
without disabilities but require accommodations to best receive and express knowledge.
• Other students with disabilities may acquire literacy skills differently based upon their
disability and need specially designed instruction.
In addition to understanding that many students with disabilities need additional support before
acquiring emergent or literacy skills, it is also important to recognize that students with disabilities
may acquire literacy skills differently than other students. The principles of UDL highlight that all
children have differences and preferences regarding receiving and expressing information and being
motivated. These principles also apply to students with disabilities, with the learning preferences,
strengths and supports often aligned with a student’s disability. Using the UDL framework, this
section provides practical techniques that apply to learning for students regardless of nationality,
gender, socio-economic status or mother tongue language. The categories of disabilities (listed
alphabetically) that are highlighted in this section include:
• Students who are blind/low vision
• Students with communication challenges
• Students who are deaf/hard of hearing
• Students with intellectual disability and students with complex support needs
• Students with learning, emotional and attention disabilities
• Students with multiple disabilities/deafblind
Although there are additional categories of disabilities that are not included above, this section
addresses the majority of disabilities that may require specific instructional techniques or supports to
acquire literacy skills.

A Closer Look at Inclusion: Supporting Children with
Physical and Mobility-Related Disabilities
Many students have physical or mobility related disabilities. It is estimated that 20 million people
worldwide use wheelchairs for mobility with higher incidences in countries that experience
conflict or natural disasters (WHO, 2011). However, only a small percentage of children and adults
have access to wheelchairs and other mobility- related devices (USAID, n.d.). Inaccessible school
infrastructure, inaccessible water and sanitation for health (WASH) systems and lack of accessible
transportation are barriers to their ability to receive an education. Students who have physical
disabilities acquire literacy skills in the same way as their peers without disabilities. However,
many students may require adapted writing and learning materials to learn and demonstrate
learning. Ensuring an accessible environment is one of the most important elements to promote
literacy skills for students with physical disabilities.
3.4.1 Supports for Students Who Are Blind/Low Vision

The World Blind Union estimates that there are 253 million people who are blind/low vision worldwide,
including 36 million people who are blind and 217 million people considered to have low vision. Of these
individuals, 89 percent live in LMICs (World Blind Union, 2017). Knowing the exact numbers of individuals
who are blind/low vision can be difficult as there is not an agreed-upon definition of blindness or low
vision. However, individuals who are blind are often referred to as someone who has visual acuity of not
greater than 20/200 even with glasses or correctional support. For low vision, this is usually referred to
as someone with functional vision but challenges viewing objects either nearby or far away even with
glasses or correctional support (Jernigan, 2005). These definitions vary significantly by country. Although
blindness is usually identified in children at very young ages in all countries, in many LMICs recognizing
low vision is challenging due to the lack of comprehensive vision screenings.
Literacy Instructional Techniques

Using the principles of UDL, this section includes research-based instructional techniques that
promote literacy for students who are blind/low vision. This list is not comprehensive but rather
highlights some of the key components needed to support and promote literacy skills.
Multiple means of representation (how students best learn)

• Learning Media Assessments (LMA). A learning media assessment captures a holistic picture of
student learning needs for those who are blind/low vision, and to identify accommodations in the home,
school and community (Zebehazy & Lawson, 2017). This helps assess if a student will benefit from
learning literacy through braille, print or both. It also helps identify other types of supports they may
need to be included successfully in school environments (for example, what types of adaptations or
assistive technologies they may need to reach their full academic potential). Ideally, teachers conduct an
LMA for students who are blind by the age of three to help inform future learning strategies.
• Learning phonetics through braille. Students who are blind learn literacy through decoding
braille that symbolizes different letters. Each country has its own braille code to correspond
with their country alphabets. Students use fingers to recognize the braille letter and then apply
a phonetic sound similar to how sighted readers decode. A phonetic approach is used versus
recognizing sight words, given that braille letters are deciphered individually instead of by full

Contracted and Uncontracted Braille
Many countries use both an uncontracted braille system, where each braille code represents
a single letter, as well as a contracted version, where braille code represents sounds such as
“sh” or “ow”. Most literacy experts recommend learning the uncontracted version of braille first
before moving towards the contracted version to ensure a better understanding of spelling.
words. Braille is needed to understand spelling and grammar and how text is formatted (headings,
titles and subtitles). These skills cannot be obtained by only receiving aural information (American
Foundation for the Blind, 2018). Some students with low vision benefit from learning braille while others
benefit from learning traditional print in larger font sizes. The need for braille versus large print is based
upon the individual students, their range of vision and their preferences for learning. For example, some
students with low vision, in particular, those who may have degenerative vision conditions, may benefit
from learning dual media literacy, which is the learning of both braille and reading print text.
Multiple means of action and expression (how students communicate what they learn)
• Writing in braille. In addition to learning to read in braille, students who are blind/low vision also
need to learn to write in braille. Although there are several assistive device options (see section
2.3.5), in most LMICs, students who are blind learn to read and write braille using a slate and stylus
as an inexpensive solution (approximately $5 to $10 USD per device). The challenge with a slate
and stylus is that it requires students to write from right to left (or the opposite direction in which
the language is typically read), requires the writing of mirrored images of letters and is significantly
more challenging to obtain literacy skills (Kalra, Lauwers, & Dias, 2007). Learning literacy while
spelling backward is very challenging. A study conducted by D’Andrea (2012) in the United States
found that students who learned to write using the slate and stylus quickly abandoned the device
once other devices became available. Most students stated that the slate and stylus was too
difficult to use for functional literacy tasks and did not foresee using it in the future. The study
showed students preferred the Perkins Brailler or other models that serve more like a typewriter
for braille. Best practice is that each student who is blind has access to his or her own brailler or
other comparable assistive technologies to be able to write braille while in school, and ideally, an
additional assistive device that could be used at home to reinforce learning obtained at school.
• Classroom accommodations. Students who are blind can effectively learn and demonstrate
literacy skills. However, to demonstrate their knowledge, classroom accommodations are needed.
In addition to learning braille and using assistive devices, students who are blind/low vision often
require additional time to complete tasks. They are slower readers compared to students with
sight. One study found that traditional early-grade print readers are 1.5 to 2 times faster readers,
with differences increasing as the grades advance (Wall Emerson, Holbrook, and D’Andrea, 2009).
Thus, students who are blind will need additional time in completing literacy-related tasks. Also, if
the general education teacher is unable to read or write braille, then one option might be to give
some tests orally for students to show they understand new learning content.
Multiple means of engagement (what motivates students to learn)

• Tactile reinforcements and manipulatives. Students who are blind tend to be tactile and auditory
learners. Using manipulatives and hearing content read (by a teacher, student or audiobooks) can
help reinforce literacy skills. Research has identified using tactile pictures or manipulatives as an

A girl student who is blind learning to ready by using braille. Photo credit USAID DRC
effective way to teach numeracy and more abstract scientific concepts (Zebehazy & Lawson, 2017).
However, not all objects or concepts can be taught by touch. For example, some objects are too large
(such as mountains) or small (such as insects or molecules) or dangerous (such as fire and boiling
water) (Lowenfeld, 1973). Therefore, it is important to bring in other senses as much as possible, such
as sound, taste and smell. Furthermore, like all students, students who are blind/low vision benefit
from having the text read to them to reinforce literacy skills. Interactive activities in the classroom
that build upon the reality of local contexts (for example, allowing the students to pretend to go to the
local market to learn the names of local foods) is also an effective way to reinforce literacy skills.
• Auditory reinforcement. Strong listening skills can be a very valuable tool for learners who are
blind/low vision. Many students who are blind/low vision are auditory learners and need new
learning content to be reinforced through aural means as well as in written form. Listening skills
include listening comprehension (understanding what is being heard), auditory discrimination
(knowing what a sound is) and sound localization (being able to tell where a sound comes from).
Listening comprehension can reinforce literacy skills. However, repeating back what a student has
heard is not the same as listening comprehension. It is important to ask probing questions to make
sure students understand what is being said in the classroom (Paths to Literacy, 2018).

Do all children who are blind/low vision have access to learn literacy through braille?
Are LMAs used to determine the best way to teach the student?
Are the methods mentioned above used to promote literacy?

Learning Media Assessment Training: Malawi Case Study
As part of the USAID Early Grade Reading Activity (EGRA) in Malawi, implemented
by RTI International, Perkins International provided technical support to Malawi’s
Ministry of Education to build the capacity of teachers on how to conduct
Functional Vision Evaluations and Learning Media Assessments. This was done
through training of a cadre of teachers for students who are blind/low vision
who were involved in resource centers for persons who are blind. The goal was
to ensure that teachers have the competency to assess and evaluate students with vision
strengths and challenges to determine the appropriate learning and literacy media (e.g.
braille, large print, etc.). As a result, teachers are now able to use a systematic way of
collecting information about a student’s learning preferences and accommodations needed
within the environment and materials.
3.4.2 Supports for Students with Communication Disorders

Instructional Techniques Provided by Dr. David McNaughton of Penn State
Communication includes understanding and expressing information, knowledge, ideas and feelings.
However, many students have challenges receiving or understanding language and information (even
with no challenges related to hearing). This is known as a receptive language disorder. Other students
with expressive language disorders have difficulties expressing language and ideas. Still other students
with speech disorders may have little to no challenges understanding language or expressing thoughts;
but when they speak, they may have difficulty with producing or articulating sounds. Combined, these
challenges represent communication disorders which exist in all languages and every culture. Due to a
lack of speech therapists and accurate identification practices in most LMICs, it is difficult to ascertain
the global estimates of individuals with communication disorders. In the United States, however,
approximately 20 percent of children ages 3-21 have a communication disorder (U.S. Department of
Education, 2016). In addition, approximately 1.3 percent of the population has speech disabilities that
require some method of AAC to communicate (Beukelman & Mirenda, 2013).
Communication for many children can improve over time significantly while others may have
persistent life-long challenges that require AAC devices or sign language to communicate.
Children with long-term persistent communication challenges are referred to as having complex
communication needs. There are 99 million persons worldwide with complex communication
needs. Many do not receive appropriate communication or education services and do not have
the opportunity to learn to read and write. Research demonstrates strong evidence that literacy
instruction can be adapted to support successful outcomes for children and adults with complex
communication needs (Benedek-Wood, Light, & McNaughton, 2016; Caron et al., 2018).

Using the principles of UDL, research-based instructional techniques that promote literacy for
students with communication disorders are highlighted below. This list is not comprehensive but
rather highlights some of the key components needed to support and promote literacy skills.

• Sight word recognition, decoding and reading comprehension. Students with complex
communication needs benefit from receiving balanced literacy instruction that combines sight
word recognition, decoding and reading comprehension strategies. Information should first be
modeled, then supported through guided practice and followed by independent practice. Teachers
then monitor student processes and provide appropriate feedback. It is also important to provide
students with multiple ways (depending on the student’s preference for communication) to express
what they have learned, including saying the word, using sign language or selecting a picture or
symbol using AAC.
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication. It is essential that students be allowed to use
different forms of expressions depending on their capacities and preferences. For many with
complex communication needs, AAC enables students to symbolically express learning if they
are unable to orally respond or do not have the motor planning skills needed for sign language.
AAC is available in both high-tech forms (tablet-based apps that allow for larger, more extensive
availability of symbols for communication) as well as in low-tech forms such as a printout of
pictures referred to as Picture Exchange Communication (PECs). For example, a student can
demonstrate learning through low-tech AAC support by participating in a discussion of Goldilocks
and the Three Bears and pointing to the pictures and symbols on a communication board. Figure
16 shows an example of a picture board for Goldilocks and the Three Bears. As the child learns to
read, the pictures and symbols can be replaced by text (i.e., printed words). This helps demonstrate
the ability to recognize written words as well as demonstrate reading comprehension.

• Shared Reading. Shared reading provides students with the opportunity to apply decoding and
sight word skills while reading through actual books. When reading a book, the teacher pauses
at a simple word and enables students to say it, sign it or select the picture or symbol from a
communication board or AAC device. In the beginning, it is recommended to target only one word
per sentence, moving toward targeting 2-3 words per sentence and more complex words. Different
reading materials can be used, including magazines and different genre books. Whenever feasible,
select books based on the student’s interests (Light & McNaughton, 2012).

Do children with complex communication needs receive opportunities to learn literacy?
Do they have access to AAC (high or low tech) to express their knowledge?

Figure 16. Example of a Picture Board for Goldilocks and the Three Bears

3.4.3 Support for Students Who Are Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Instructional Techniques Provided by Dr. Jean Andrews of Lamar University
Approximately 70 million people worldwide are deaf (World Federation of the Deaf, 2018). An
additional 466 million people, or 5 percent of the world’s population, have significant hearing loss,
34 million of whom are children (World Health Organization, 2018). Similar to blindness, there is no
universal definition of deafness or hard of hearing. However, a person who is deaf typically has a
hearing loss of 70 to 90 decibels or greater, and someone with hearing loss has a hearing range
between 20 to 70 decibels (Turnbull et al., 2016). Persons who are deaf/hard of hearing benefit from
learning local sign language at the earliest age possible. Children who are deaf and do not have
access to sign language at an early age may be at risk for linguistic deprivation which impacts their
ability to learn language in the future and which may cause deficits in cognitive activities such as
visual perception and use of facial expressions (Emmorey, 2002; Humphries et al., 2016). Although
several studies have proven intelligence is normally distributed through the deaf population as it is
with the hearing population, obtaining literacy skills can be very difficult for many students who are
deaf (Vernon & Andrews, 1990; Lomas, Andrews, & Shaw, 2017).
It is essential that students who are deaf/hard of hearing learn local sign language as well as how
to read and write written language text. Learning both languages is referred to as bilingualism.
Many people may incorrectly assume that sign language is simply a visual representation of the
written language. However, the linguistic structures of sign language and written language tend to
be fundamentally different, which is why they are considered as two distinct languages. Transferring
meaning from one language to the other without explicit instruction can be very difficult for
learners (Lomas, Andrews, & Shaw, 2017). However, sign language can be used to support students’
early reading development in the locally written text as well as reading higher levels of reading
development (Andrew et al., 2016).

students who are deaf/hard of hearing are highlighted below. This list is not comprehensive but rather
highlights some of the key components needed to support and promote literacy skills.

• Teaching decoding skills using signs, fingerspelling and writing. Traditional decoding, where
sounds are associated with letters, can be extremely challenging for many students who are
deaf (Lomas, Andrews, & Shaw, 2017). Instead, many students bypass the phonological system
and learn to read visually (Andrews et al., 2016). Improved literacy can be achieved through a
combination of sign language, writing and fingerspelling. Fingerspelling is considered to be a
part of sign language and it can be used as spelling is used for written language; each letter of
the written language is represented by a different handshape in sign language. Research has
shown that readers who are deaf and are skilled in fingerspelling demonstrate greater fluency in
reading due to shared underlying cognitive capacities involving word decoding accuracy and word
recognition (Padden & Hanson, 2000; Stone et al., 2015).
• Shared Book Reading (comprehension). Some students who are deaf/hard of hearing learn to
read and write based on their sensory strength—vision. Students who are deaf/hard of hearing
benefit from learning literacy through a six-step strategy piloted with young students who are deaf/

hard of hearing (Andrews et al., 2017; Wosley et al., in press). This six-step process includes:
1. Teacher reads storybook in sign to children.
2. Students individually read/sign storybook with picture, peer and teacher support.
3. Teacher closes storybook and models story retelling, followed by each student individually
retelling the story with teacher and peer support.
4. Students choose print words from storybook and practice signing, fingerspelling and writing
words with peers.
5. Students choose a favorite picture from storybook to draw, then label it in print.
6. Students bring drawings and “writing” to the teacher, explaining in sign the meaning of their
drawing and “writing.” The teacher glosses the children’s signs for later analyses. Teachers and
students repeat this procedure several times a week.
• Think-aloud and retell. Children hold an object (such as a candy wrapper, food label, object,
toy or favorite storybook) and think aloud by relating to the teacher what the print means to
them (using spoken or signed words, or drawings). The teacher transcribes the think-aloud into
simple language and gives it to the child to read to peers and parents. After reading a book or
participating in an experience (going on a field trip, visiting a park, cooking in class) children
retell the experience to the teacher using their own spoken words, signs, gestures or drawings.
The teacher transcribes the retelling into simple language for the child to read to peers and
parents. Children practice decoding vocabulary words by fingerspelling and writing.

• Shared storysigning, story reading and story retelling. Teachers can contact and engage
members of the adult deaf community in helping them educate young deaf children. Invite
a deaf adult to come to your classroom and tell the children in sign language stories about
their culture. Deaf adults can translate the underdeveloped language of signs, gestures and
vocalizations of young deaf children into a higher level. Teachers can write a translation of the
story in the written language of the community for the children to read after the viewing of the
story in sign language.

Are children who are deaf/hard of hearing instructed by someone fluent in sign language?
Are students instructed in sign language along with the written text of the local language?

Students who are deaf/hard of hearing learning local sign language in Kenya through the USAID Tusome project.
Photo credit: Research Triangle Institute.
3.4.4 Supports for Students with Intellectual Disability and Complex Support Needs
Instructional Techniques Provided by Dr. Susan Copeland of New Mexico University
There is often little understanding of the capacities of and challenges faced by children with
disabilities. This is especially true in many LMICs where children with intellectual disability and
students with complex support needs are denied access to education; and if educated, education
takes place in segregated settings that resemble childcare or institutions where academics are rarely
taught. Intellectual disability can be defined as having “significant limitations both in intellectual
functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills.
This disability originates before age 18” (Schalock et al., 2010, pg. 1). Accumulating research shows
that children with intellectual disability learn to read in a similar way as their peers without disabilities
(Wise et al., 2010). In other words, though they benefit from UDL approaches they do not need a
specific approach like braille for students who are blind or sign language for students who are deaf/
hard of hearing. Because of this and many more reasons, it is critical that students with intellectual
disability and students with complex support needs be taught in an inclusive environment to take
advantage of the literacy approaches being used in the general education classroom. While many of
the techniques to promote literacy are the same, intensity and types of supports and accommodations
will vary significantly based on the individual learning needs and strength of a student. Annex F,
developed by Dr. Susan Copeland, provides more information on the types of challenges that students
with intellectual disability and complex support needs often face in the classroom as well as ideas for
possible interventions.

students with intellectual disability and complex support needs are included below. This list is not
comprehensive but rather highlights some of the key components needed to support and promote
literacy skills.

• Simplifying text and/or using digital texts. Students with intellectual disability benefit from
simplifying the reading level of text (e.g., reducing the number of words, using familiar vocabulary,
simplifying the grammar, using repetitive phrases), communicating the main idea of a topic in an
accessible manner. This allows students with intellectual disability to use an adapted version of
the same materials as their peers without disabilities. There are many online resources to help
teachers with this (e.g., rewordify.com), or teachers can alter text themselves. Digital texts often
allow many text features to be altered very quickly (e.g., enlarging text, adding spaces between
lines of text, reading text aloud) that increase accessibility of text content.
• Using pictures/graphics, objects, or video to enhance comprehension. Pictures14 of objects,
people, places or actions can be used in many ways to provide access to word meaning (e.g.,
pairing a picture with a word in a piece of text), build understanding of a concept, enhance
comprehension of connected text (sentences) or teach a process (e.g., a visual task analysis
of solving an addition problem with regrouping). Some students may need to see and interact
with actual objects or materials to access vocabulary or content knowledge. For example,
when teaching the concept of measuring temperature with a thermometer in science, have
students physically manipulate materials that are cold, room-temperature or warm to build their
understanding of vocabulary and the concept of temperature. Using short video clips available
on the internet to illustrate key ideas is another way to provide access to vocabulary and content
knowledge and process knowledge.
• Cooperative Learning. Students work with peers in pairs or in small groups composed of
students with and without disabilities. For example, in a Think-Pair-Share activity, a student with an
intellectual disability is paired with a classmate without a disability; the teacher poses a question
about the lesson and each individual student thinks for a moment of what the student thinks is
a good answer (Think); each pair of students next talks over with each other what they think is
a correct answer (Pair); the partner student either helps the student with the disability to write
down the answer or the partner does the writing based on what they both thought was the correct
answer (Share). Alternatively, the teacher has a variety of pictures available from which students
can select to represent what they think is a correct answer to the question posed.
• Using alternative, non-text forms of expression or alternative means of composing written
responses. Students demonstrate learning using pictures or symbols, or use alternative means
of writing. For example, a student is asked what is the beginning, middle and end of a story; the
teacher provides three pictures of events from the story that take place at the beginning, middle or
end of the story and the student arranges the pictures in the correct order. The teacher provides
pre-printed responses on index cards when asking students comprehension questions; students
14 Whenever possible the same image or picture should be used to convey a meaning, as using different pictures to
represent the same meaning or concept can be confusing to students.

Access to Simplified Text
For some students who struggle to read, having language available that is easy to read and
understand can help facilitate learning. For more information on simple language, please
visit the European standards for making information easy to read and understand, which are
available in 15 languages: http://easy-to-read.eu/european-standards/
can select their answers from the pre-printed responses rather than having to write their answers,
thus bypassing fine motor difficulties while demonstrating what they understood. Students
dictate responses to a peer or adult, use dictation software, use augmentative or alternative
communication systems to communicate their responses, or use computers or tablets to create
assignments that incorporate both print, graphics, video or pictures. For example, students learning
about character development use environmental print to create a poster for each of a short story’s
main characters. After hearing/reading the story, the class discusses important aspects of each
character. Students work individually or in pairs to select pictures and graphics from environmental
print that represent key characteristics of their assigned character. They share posters in class,
explaining how the pictures/graphics represent the character’s appearance, motives, and actions.

• Choice. Students are offered choices in how to engage with and demonstrate literacy. For
example, students can choose to work with partners or independently to complete an assignment;
they can select from a menu of assignment options to demonstrate learning (e.g., typing or
handwriting their own story, working with a peer to co-create a short video of their story rather
than writing a story; using reader’s theater to act out a short story or illustrate point of view of a
character); choosing from among a list of topics. (e.g., selecting a topic from a menu of weather-
related topics that they want to research and read about to create a report in science class).
• Classroom and materials are accessible. Classrooms are physically accessible, organized into
clear areas, and tools and materials allow students with cognitive, sensory or physical challenges
to fully participate in learning activities. For example, writing tools are available that include
pencils, markers, pens, computers or tablets, or dictation software; adapted books on topics the
whole class is studying are available for use; seating areas are flexible to enable students to work
independently or in small groups; students can choose to wear noise-cancelling headphones
while they work; spaces are physically accessible for students with mobility challenges.

Are children with intellectual disability provided with literacy instruction?
Do students with intellectual disabilities have access to age-appropriate materials in
simplified text?

Autism and Literacy
Autism is a developmental disability that impacts a person’s ability to interact socially and
communicate, often accompanied by repetitive and restrictive behaviors. This occurs in
early childhood (usually before age three) and presents barriers to everyday functioning.
Representing approximately 2-3 percent of the population, individuals with autism can exhibit
a range of intelligence from those with intellectual disability to individuals who fall into the
category of genius. In the past, it was assumed that most individuals with autism also had
an intellectual disability. Recent research has disproved this perception, showing that only
38 percent of children with autism were identified as having an intellectual disability (Center
for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). Determining this estimate is challenging, as it is
extremely difficult to conduct intelligence tests on individuals who are non-verbal. Thus, many
of the non-verbal tests for students with autism, especially those who have yet to master using
AAC to communicate, may have questionable accuracy (Bishop, Farmer, & Thurm, 2015).
Students with autism have the capacity to learn and should be engaged in literacy instruction.
Often students with autism are not given that opportunity to learn from research based and
balanced literacy instruction. For example, students who are non-verbal are often assumed
not to be able to gain literacy skills due to a false presumption that reading is impossible in the
absence of being able to spell out words phonetically (Miranda, 2003). As there is not a typical
student with autism, there is no singular approach to literacy that is effective for all students
with autism. However, overall suggested techniques include (Kluth, n.d):
• Using visual aids
• Using written words as additional visual supports
• Integrating instruction across the day
• Reading aloud
• Offering multiple text to motivate learning
For students with autism and complex communication needs, the instructional techniques
described in Section 3.4.2 can also be applied.

3.4.5 Supports for Students with Learning, Emotional and Attention Disabilities
Instructional Techniques Provided by Dr. Linda Mason of George Mason University
Because of high prevalence estimates, students with learning disabilities, ADHD and EBD are usually
referred to as having high incidence disabilities (occurring more frequently than low incidence
disabilities such as intellectual disability, autism, deaf/hard of hearing and blind/low vision). Most
LMICs lack experts and systems needed to appropriately identify high incidence disabilities, but it
can be assumed that they still represent a significant portion of the student population, remaining
unidentified and unsupported. Within the United States, approximately 4-8 percent of children have
some form of learning disability, 12 percent of school-aged children have some form of an EBD,
and approximately 7 percent have been identified as having ADHD (Swanson, 2011; Forness et al.,
2012). These children are at increased risk of dropping out of school, substance abuse and juvenile
delinquency, especially when not provided with academic supports (Morrison & Cosden, 1997).
Additional information on the different types of high incidence disabilities include:
Learning disabilities: Although learning disabilities are not always formally recognized by LMIC
governments and school systems, learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, exist within all language
systems. The US IDEA law defines learning disability as a “disorder in one or more of the basic
psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may
manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical
calculations” (US IDEA, 2004). Learning disabilities include dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and
language processing disorders, among others.15 Students with learning disabilities typically have
average or above average intelligence but may struggle in one or more subjects, such as reading or
math (Turnbull et al., 2016).
Emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD): Recognizing and understanding disabilities associated
with emotions and behavior is a new concept for most LMICs. Students with EBD are not identified
in most data collection nor included in special education systems. There is a dearth of international
research related to EBD in LMICs. However, it is well documented that adults and children with
psychosocial disabilities face huge issues with discrimination and stigma, and experience widespread
human rights abuses including forced institutionalization (Disability Rights International, 2018). It is not
unrealistic to assume that children with EBD in LMICs are misunderstood and poorly supported, and
are at increased risk to drop out of school, their educational needs are not met. IDEA defines EBD as a
condition accompanied by one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and
to a marked degree, that adversely affect a child’s performance:
• An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory or health factors
• An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers/teachers
• Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances
• A general, pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression
• A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems.
(Turnbull et al. 2016)
15 While there are many disabilities, this toolkit focuses primarily on learning disabilities that impact achievement.

The five most common types of EBD include (1) anxiety disorder, (2) mood disorder (depression, bipolar
disorder), (3) oppositional defiant disorder, (4) conduct disorder (antisocial or aggressive behaviors) and (5)
schizophrenia.
Attention-Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Most professionals adhere to the American

Psychiatric Association (APA) definition of ADHD, focusing on two domains: inattention and
hyperactivity/impulsivity that interfere with a student’s development and functioning in multiple
settings, including school. Typically, characteristics of ADHD must occur before age twelve and
must persist for at least six months (APA, 2013). Often students with ADHD are mislabeled as
troublemakers, as their behaviors can be disruptive to classroom instruction. Without appropriate
supports students may have “challenges working in distracting environments, absorbing large
amounts of information, shifting flexibility from task to task, and/or linearly linking a series of cognitive
operations” (Turnbull et al., 2016, pg. 169).
Though learning disabilities, EBD and ADHD represent distinct disability categories. However, there
is often an overlap between the different types of disabilities. For example, two-thirds of students
identified as having ADHD also have behavioral disorders (Glanzman & Sell, 2013). Many students
with learning disabilities also have ADHD and exhibit challenging behaviors. In addition to the
incidence overlap, these disabilities are grouped here since the instructional techniques to support
literacy acquisition are similar, with different levels of intensity and individualization.

Using principles of UDL, the following research-based strategies promote literacy for students with
high incidence disabilities. It is not comprehensive but highlights key literacy strategies.

• Explicit instruction. Explicit instruction focuses on critical skills that are sequenced logically and
taught systematically. For example, easier, high-frequency skills (e.g., consonant/vowel/consonant
words) are taught prior to teaching low-frequency, harder skills (e.g., multi-syllabic irregular
words). Lessons are paced and scaffolded to meet individual needs. In this approach, the teacher
models new content, followed by student response. Students are prompted and provided multiple
opportunities to engage with instruction. For example, responding together as a group orally for
sound blending words gives all students an opportunity to demonstrate new skills.
• Cognitive strategy instruction (CSI). CSI focuses on areas of reading remediation: (1) vocabulary,
(2) awareness of understanding and (3) connecting ideas. In CSI, teachers foster student learning
by providing explicit instruction for (a) learning strategy steps (i.e., a series of steps needed
to complete a task); (b) modeling application of the steps to a task; (c) setting goals and self-
monitoring progress with the strategy; (d) using positive self-statements; and (e) self-reflective
thinking and reinforcement. It is recommended that teachers provide students with guided
collaborative whole-class, small-group, paired and individual practice until a strategy is learned
and can be applied.
• Manipulatives. Manipulatives can be used by students to communicate learning. For example,
letter blocks or cards can be used to demonstrate sound blending and spelling. Interactive
games—such as picture match bingo—promote learning and provide insight into what students
learned. Story sentence strips can be used to sequence a story.

• Demonstration. Students can demonstrate learning by pointing to letter, word, sentence or story
parts in response to a question. For example, a teacher asks the class to point to each word on the
page that contains the /t/ sound. For students who struggle with reading aloud, teachers can use
choral, partner, tape-assisted and/or dramatic readings to provide students with reading practice.
To demonstrate comprehension, students can use words or pictures to complete story maps or
graphic organizers.

• Kinesthetic, visual and oral engagement. To reinforce phonemic and phonetic awareness,
students can trace letters or use manipulatives as they say sounds (kinesthetic), or can use color-
coding as visual reinforcement. Linguistic and multi-sensory structured language approaches for
phonics instruction and reading of text are recommended for students with learning, attention and
behavioral difficulties. Providing students with opportunities to discuss what has been read as a
whole class or small-group discussion supports learning and motivation.
• Text availability and student choice. It is imperative to expose students to a wide range of
narrative and informational text. This includes books, magazines, newsletters, newspapers, and
web-based resources. Along with teacher-selected readings, it is important to provide students
with opportunities to explore and choose their own reading materials.

Are students with learning, emotional or attention disabilities recognized by the
school system?
How are their learning needs supported by teachers?
Are the methods mentioned above used?

Closer Look at Inclusion: Trauma and Emotional
Disorders and the Impact on Learning
Exposure to trauma can lead to emotional disorders and manifest behaviors that can impact a
student’s ability to learn literacy skills. It is crucial to understand that trauma affects children in
multiple ways, including their brain, that can trigger learning problems. Being aware of this is
necessary to be responsive to children’s potential life-changing learning challenges in LMICs.
Approximately 25 percent of victims and witnesses of violence develop post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), depression or anxiety disorders. In an interview, Dr. Unnikrishnan, who developed guidelines
to support aid agencies to reduce mental health problems among survivors of disaster and conflict,
remarks, “Whilst the psychosocial impacts of emergencies may be acute in the short term, they can
also undermine the long-term mental health and psychosocial well-being of those affected” (Thomas
Reuters Foundation, 2007, p. 1). Another article notes that “Epidemiological studies in war-affected
populations have found a linear relationship between the number of war events types and PTSD
symptoms in both children and adults” (Cantani et al., 2008, p. 2). The United Nations acknowledges
this by including a section on “psychological recovery” in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (United Nations, 2006, Art. 16), yet psychosocial trauma is not often recognized after a
disaster or emergency.
Trauma is particularly hard on children. A study on the mental health of 296 Sri Lankan children, ages
9 to 15, notes that natural disaster, civil war and family violence had an especially devastating effect
on them. The result of the study shows explicit devastation: “Nearly all of these children (96 percent)
reported experiencing or witnessing some type of domestic violence event. The psychiatric status of
the children was evaluated by a diagnostic interview, and 30 percent met the criteria for PTSD. There
was a relationship between cumulative stress (war, tsunami and family violence) and the severity of
PTSD. Twenty percent of the children met the criteria for major depressive disorder, and 17 percent
had current suicidal ideation” (Wagner, 2009, p. 1).
Another acknowledgment of emotional trauma and mental health impact on children comes
from research carried out by American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This study found that the
emotional cost of experiencing disasters, emergencies, family violence and a high incidence
of an “expecting the worse” mentality has the potential to lead to emotional and behavioral
disabilities in children (Stafford et al., 2010). According to the Trauma and Learning Policy
Initiative (n.d.), a collaboration of Massachusetts Advocates for Children and Harvard Law School,
studies revealed that “traumatic experiences in childhood can diminish concentration, memory,
and the organizational and language abilities children need to succeed in school. For some
children, this can lead to problems with academic performance, inappropriate behavior in the
classroom, and difficulty forming relationships” (p. 1).
Children living in refugee camps experienced more psychological problems than non-refugee
children. Children living in war zones can demonstrate distress from various traumatic events
with emotional problems manifesting as PTSD, dissociative disorders, anxiety and substance
abuse (Pynoos & Nader, 2000). The stress of being a refugee also has a marked impact on
children’s education. The process of entering a new educational environment and coping with
complex factors in transitions, schooling, community, language, culture, identity and family present
challenges. This added stress can lead to significant learning challenges, especially for children
with disabilities (Graham et al., 2016).

3.4.6 Supports for Students with Multiple Disabilities or Who are Deafblind
Instructional Techniques Provided by Dr. Julie Durando of the National Center on Deaf-
Blindness and Kristen Layton of Perkins International
Children who have more than one co-occurring disability are considered to have multiple disabilities.
These children often require higher levels of services and supports to function within school and
the community. Children with multiple disabilities are an extremely heterogeneous group as the
combination of disabilities can vary significantly. For example, many individuals who are blind have
additional disabilities (such as hearing challenges, learning disabilities or intellectual disability) that
are often not recognized or identified. In the United States, it is estimated that two-thirds of the blind/
low vision population have additional disabilities (Zebehazy & Lawson, 2017). Likewise, 30-40 percent
of children who are deaf/hard of hearing in the United States have at least one additional disability
(Wiley & Meinzen-Derr, 2012). Persons who experience both deafness and blindness are usually
categorized as being deafblind, but even this group is very heterogeneous as there can be significant
differences in each person’s ability to see or hear with a few individuals being both completely deaf
and blind. Unfortunately, in many LMICs, few children with multiple disabilities receive any education.
As many systems are segregated and siloed by disability category, segregated schools are often only
able to support children with one type of disability. For example, if a child is blind with an intellectual
disability, schools for the blind are either ill-prepared or refuse to support children with intellectual
disabilities, while schools for students with intellectual disabilities are not prepared to teach braille. As
a result, students with multiple disabilities fall through the cracks of the system with no schools open
to enrolling them.
For children with multiple disabilities and deafblindness, it is important to remember that literacy
develops along a continuum from emergent literacy to independent literacy (see section 4.3 and
Figure 13, Steps to Literacy). Many students with multiple disabilities can achieve braille and/or print
literacy but need to be taught the building blocks in a meaningful way. For students with sensory
loss and multiple disabilities this means providing sufficient time and multiple opportunities to
access, process, and respond to information. It is important to include “wait time” during activities
and teach critical skills several times each day in different environments, so that children have
many opportunities to engage with, learn and express understanding. For example, instructors may
provide information to a student without waiting for the student to respond or expecting them to
initiate communication. For a student who is deaf-blind or has multiple disabilities, it is important to
teach and encourage expressive communication skills. It is important to consider a student’s ability
to communicate on a continuum from pre-symbolic communication (facial expressions, behavior,
pointing, etc.) to the use of more symbolic communication (objects, pictures, sign language, braille,
etc.). Receptive and expressive communication and language development should be a part of every
learning activity.
A broad definition of literacy is needed for some students with multiple disabilities or students who
are deafblind. Not all students will achieve formal literacy, but it is important to value the early literacy
skills that can support a child who is learning to communicate and develop language, and build social
relationships and greater independence. For example, if a student is able to follow an object schedule
to know what event is going to happen next, the student has more control over his/her environment
and can use this knowledge to communicate and connect with the others. This requires strategies
that encourage students who are deafblind to use touch for exploration and learning, such as joint
exploration of an object or keeping a variety of interesting objects within reach of the child.

Students with multiple disabilities benefit from research-based instructional techniques for literacy
that incorporate UDL principles. The techniques below focus on students who are deafblind, but
many of the techniques are also beneficial for students with multiple complex support needs. This
list is not comprehensive but rather highlights key literacy techniques.

• Active participation in meaningful activities and real experiences. Children with sensory loss
and multiple disabilities have limited access to incidental learning experiences. They are not able
to see a parent cook, siblings put on clothes, or hear how someone is greeted when entering a
home. These things need to be explicitly taught. Engaging children in everyday experiences that
shape their world helps develop concepts they need to learn. For example, a child who is deafblind
may only experience a snack magically appearing on their tray without ever understanding
where the food comes from. Engaging the child in the task of preparing the snack provides an
opportunity to learn concepts, vocabulary and skills that contribute to acquisition of literacy.
• Routines. Daily routine activities help a child develop memory and anticipation. By defining the
beginning, middle and end of interactions, activities and routines, children gain understanding of
and control over their environment. Routine activities that are well understood by the child are good
opportunities to introduce and teach new skills. Routines around reading tactile, braille or print books
directly promote literacy each day. It is also important to encourage children to make quality choices
within all of their daily routines. Providing them with choices encourages expressive communication
and gives them a level of control over their environment. A child can make a choice between two or
more things by using objects, pictures, gestures, signs or verbally, depending on their communicative
ability. Choosing a favorite book is an easy way to directly relate choice-making to literacy.
• Imitation and turn-taking of child’s body movements. For this technique, a teacher moves in close
proximity to a student in a position to enable the student to know someone is there. The teacher then
greets the student and makes an introduction. Upon getting a response and after giving the student time
to notice and process the teacher’s presence and make a response, the teacher enters into the student’s
space. Following the student’s lead, the teacher imitates the student’s actions (vocal, visual, movement)
and begins to add words or music to the student’s actions. Responses from the student may be subtle
(e.g., change in breathing rate, skin color, pace). After getting a response, the teacher and student then
begin a turn-taking exchange (action – cue to respond – wait – repeat). Whenever, possible, it is best to
find ways to turn-take within familiar interactions, routines and activities (e.g., lunchtime).
• Requesting more or a continuation of something. A concrete and basic function of expressive
communication is for a child to be able to ask for “more” of something. This can be expressed in a
variety of ways depending on the child’s communication level. For a child with limited motor movement,
even a slight movement of the finger can be used as an expression of “more”. The traditional sign for
“more” can be used with children who are able to understand more abstract concepts.

• Hand-Under-Hand exploration. In this strategy, the adult’s hands are placed underneath the
child’s wrist to enable the child to focus his or her attention on the object explored. This strategy
provides a safe environment for exploration and does not place any control over the child’s hands
but instead allows the child to lead the exploration.

A student who is deafblind in Uganda learning literacy skills through a USAID supported project.
Photo Credit: Perkins International
• Object/Picture Calendars and Schedules. Object/picture calendars and schedules help build
vocabulary and communication skills. Objects or pictures, oftentimes paired with braille or text to
encourage literacy development, are sequenced to represent events that happen during the child’s
day. An example of this is using an anticipation object to represent the next activity. Using this
technique, the teacher presents the child with an object directly related to an activity that is about
to take place. For example, if the child is about to eat breakfast using a spoon, a spoon would be
presented to the child using his or her best possible mode to explore (e.g., visual or tactile).
• Tactile books, Experience Books and Story Boxes. These strategies incorporate a variety
of concepts and skills to encourage the child at the emerging literacy stage. These shared
experiences with a communication partner foster joint attention and build relationships, encourage
communication and language development while fostering a variety of skills to build literacy.

Are students with multiple disabilities allowed to enroll in school? If so, are there
trained teachers who can support their education in an inclusive setting?
Are the methods mentioned above being used?

3.4.7 The Intersectionality of Literacy Instructional Approaches
An important thing to note about different instructional techniques aligned with each disability category
is that the majority of these techniques are beneficial for all students. This alignment is depicted in
Figure 17, which shows how each technique can apply to different categories of disability. Recognizing
that every student learns differently, including students without disabilities, introducing this differentiated
learning within the classroom can help improve learning for students with and without disabilities. For
example, using explicit instruction and book sharing benefits both students with and without disabilities.
Whenever possible, these instructional approaches can be incorporated into overall teacher training as
they simply reflect improved teaching strategies.
Figure 17. The Intersectionality of Instruction Techniques for Literacy
communication disorders
Students with intellectual

Students who are blind
Students with learning,

Students who are deaf
Students with multiple

emotional or attention
Students with
disabilities
disabilities
disability
Instructional Approach
Learning Media
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Assessments
Classroom
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Accommodation
Tactile Reinforcement
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
and Manipulatives
Shared Book Reading ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Explicit Instruction ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Cognitive Strategy
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Instruction
Demonstration ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Kinesthetic, Visual or Oral Kinesthetic Kinesthetic
Oral ✓ ✓ ✓
Engagement and visual and visual
Student Choice ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Simplifying Text ✓ ✓ ✓
Accessible Classroom
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Materials
Hand-Under-Hand ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

3.5 Assessment
Key Highlights
• There are several ways to assess knowledge; students with disabilities benefit from
access to multiple approaches to testing, to show personal progress and progress
compared to their peers without disabilities.
• Tests should incorporate principles of UDL allowing a variety of ways to present the
assessment, enable the student to respond, and motivate students to show a best effort.
• Accommodations are needed for many students with disabilities to best demonstrate
knowledge and progress.
As with all children, it is important to measure the progress of students with disabilities related to
learning and literacy acquisition. The purpose of assessment is not to highlight students’ failure but
rather to assess the extent to which instructional techniques have been effective in promoting positive
outcomes, and to determine skills that still need to be reinforced (Downing, 2005). There are two
primary types of assessment:
1. Formative assessments that gauge a students’ progress, often informally through class exercises,
answering or asking questions or worksheets, and
2. Summative assessments that evaluate a student’s cumulative performance.
With formative and summative assessments, it is important to incorporate concepts of UDL to enable
students to express what they have learned in different ways. When teachers engage students to
demonstrate their knowledge in ways that build upon their strengths, students have more opportunity
to show what they know (Meyer, Rose, & Gordan, 2014).
Typically, there are two ways to use summative assessment: norm-referenced and criterion-
referenced. Figure 17 shows the difference between the two approaches. Ideally, schools use
a combination of different assessment tools and tests to provide a comprehensive picture of a
student’s strengths and challenges (Hussain, Tedasse, & Sajid, 2015). For students with disabilities,
it is especially important to provide access to both forms of testing. Access to standardized, norm-
referenced tests is important to assess if students are accessing the same content in the curriculum
as other students without disabilities.16 However, for many students with intellectual disability or severe
learning disabilities who struggle academically, providing criterion-referenced tests can indicate
individual progress and growth.
16 For many students with intellectual disability, complex support needs or multiple disabilities, taking standardized tests
without modified materials to reflect individualized learning can be challenging. This is especially true in secondary school,
as the content of the tests becomes more advanced. It is a challenge to allow for students to have the opportunity but also
to not require a skill that may be too advanced. Different high-income countries handle this challenge in different ways. For
example, the United States allows for 1 percent of the population to be exempt from standardized testing. This may be hard
to implement in LMICs where there are limited identification procedures. Whenever possible, students need to be given the
opportunity to participate in standardized tests, as many children may be able to participate, but make exceptions based on
the individual.

Figure 17. Difference Between Norm-Referenced and Criterion-Referenced Assessments
Norm-Referenced Criterion-Referenced
Compares a student’s test score and growth Compares an individual’s student performance
with the scores of other students in the same against a pre-determined set of criteria to
grade (e.g., class, national assessment) assess growth
To highlight high and low achievers To find out what a student knows before
instruction and then after instruction has
finished
Are almost always standardized tests to allow for a Although it can be standardized, allows for more
consistent comparison flexibility in administration and materials
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
– Albert Einstein
Original source of image unknown

Similar to the principles of UDL that focus on instruction, tests can be designed in a way that meets
the needs of students with and without disabilities, which is often referred to as Universal Design for
Assessments (UDA). UDA does not change the standard of the test, but instead ensures that the test
can be easily used by all students. According to Thompson and Thurlow (2001), when designing UDA
it is recommended that tests use the following criteria:
• Define test content clearly, removing irrelevant cognitive, sensory, emotional or physical barriers.
• Build accessibility items from the beginning, be sure that items are not biased (such as referencing
colors, which is not accessible to students who are blind, or music that is not accessible to
students who are deaf/hard of hearing).
• Design the test so that all needed accommodations can be easily used.
• Develop simple, clear and intuitive instructions and procedures so that students with and without
disabilities can follow the test-taking directions.
• Use clear, plain language that reduces ambiguity and increases understanding.
Standardized, norm-referenced tests typically do not allow for questions or materials to be

individualized to a student’s specific strengths and needs. However, accommodations should be
provided if required by the student for both norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests.
UDA Accommodations Related to Receiving Information
• Allow audio recordings of text or having someone read the text out loud.
• Display fewer items or questions on each page or information in large print or braille.
• Mark tests with a highlighter to clarify instructions or other key elements.
• Be given a written list of instructions.
UDA Accommodations Related to Expressing Information
• Provide responses orally, using an AAC device or in sign language.

• Allow for typed responses on a computer.
• Use of a calculator or math table.
• Provide written responses in braille.
UDA Accommodations Related to Motivation
• Provide additional time to complete the test.

• Take a test in several sessions over a period of time to allow for breaks.
• Take tests at another time of day when the student is most focused and motivated to learn.
• Take tests in an alternate setting with fewer children or distractions.

Accessible Early Grade Reading Assessments
Widely used within USAID education programs, Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA)
measures foundational literacy skills. Information obtained through EGRA can help inform
educational systems and programs (Dubeck & Gove, 2015). EGRA has been used in dozens
of languages. The instrument contains six subtasks, of which four are considered to be “core”
subtasks. These include (RTI, 2015):
1. Listening comprehension
2. Letter identification
3. Non-word reading
4. Oral reading fluency with comprehension
It is recommended that EGRA be adapted to the language and context of the intended population.
EGRA can also be adapted to be accessible for students with different disabilities. Adapting EGRA
to be accessible for students with disabilities has taken place in several countries. For example,
partnering with local DPOs and engaging experts in literacy and disability, School-to-School
International adapted EGRA for students who are blind/low vision in the Philippines, Lesotho
and India, and for students who are deaf/hard of hearing in Morocco. Based on their experience,
School-to-School International followed a five-step process to adapt EGRA. The five-step process
includes (K. Solum, personal communication, April 26, 2018):
1. Adapted content. This includes adapting stories and words to make sure there are
no references to words that would be challenging to understand based on a specific
disability. For example, it would be necessary to omit references to color for an EGRA
adapted for students who are blind.
2. Appropriate stimuli. This includes conducting the EGRA using braille or large print as
well as allowing for certain parts of EGRA to be expressed by the student through sign
language or fingerspelling.
3. Accommodations. Reading braille and translating knowledge through fingerspelling takes
additional time. It is recommended that EGRA tests accommodate students with disabilities
by providing the student additional time. In addition, it is important to determine what type
of magnifiers may need to be used as well as what type of reading displays.
4. Assessors. Finding local assessors who can either read braille or are fluent in the local
sign language (including regional dialects if needed) as well as basic literacy concepts is
important to ensure accurate results.
5. Data. It is important to analyze the EGRA data comparing results to not only other schools
or regions for students with the same type of disabilities but also to students without
disabilities. This comparison will help determine if there are discrepancies in literacy
outcomes between the two groups of students.
This process was also used by RTI in Kenya, where they developed EGRAs in braille and sign
language as part of a nation-wide baseline assessment of braille and sign language literacy skills.

Identification
Hayes, A.M., Dombrowski, E., Shefcyk, A. & Bulat, J. (2018). Learning disabilities systems guide for low-and-
middle-income countries. Research Triangle Park, NC: RTI Press. Retrieved from https://www.rti.org/
rti-press-publication/learning-disabilities-screening-and-evaluation-guide-low-and-middle-income
Stages of Literacy
National Center on DeafBlindness (n.d). Literacy Development Continuum. Retrieved from
http://literacy.nationaldb.org/index.php/literacy-development-continuum/
World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund (2012). Early Childhood Development
and Disability: A discussion paper. Retrieved from http://www.ecdgroup. com/pdfs/ECD-Disability-
UNICEF-WHO-2012.pdf
Specific Instructional Techniques

Literacy for Students Who Are Blind/Low Vision
Paths to Literacy. Website. Retrieved from http://www.pathstoliteracy.org
Perkins School for the Blind. Braille & Literacy website. Retrieved from http://www.perkins.org/stories/
category/braille-and-literacy
Literacy for Students with Communication Challenges

International Society of Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Website. Retrieved from
https://www.isaac-online.org/english/home/
Penn State. Literacy Instruction for Individuals with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome and
Other Disabilities & AAC-Learning-Center. Websites. Retrieved from http://aacliteracy.psu.edu/
Literacy for Students Who Are Deaf/Hard of Learning

Visual Language and Visual Learning Lab (VL2 Lab) at Gallaudet University, Research Briefs. Retrieved
from http://vl2.gallaudet.edu/research/research-briefs/ (published in English, Spanish, Chinese)
American Sign Language and English bilingual stories for deaf children with literacy lessons (VLOG
#4). Retrieved from https://www.redeafiningacademiccollaboration.com/vlogblog
Literacy for Students with Intellectual/Development Disabilities

Center for Literacy and Disability Studies. Website. Retrieved from http://www.med.unc.edu/ahs/clds
Tar Heel Reader. Website. Retrieved from https://tarheelreader.org

Literacy for Students with Learning, Emotional and Attention Disabilities
Get Ready to Read (National Center for Learning Disabilities). Website. Retrieved from http://www.
getreadytoread.org/
Learning Disabilities Association of America. Website. Retrieved from https://ldaamerica.org/
Reading Rockets. Website. Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org
Literacy for Students with Multiple Disabilities

Literacy for Children with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss. Website. Retrieved from
http://literacy.nationaldb.org/
Assessments
National Center on Educational Outcomes. Universal Design for Assessment. Website. Retrieved from
https://nceo.info/Resources/faq/universal-design/universal-design-for-assessments

Chapter 4: Theory into Practice:
Implementers’ Guide on How to Support
Literacy for Students with Disabilities
in LMICs
While the preceding chapters of the toolkit focus on evidence-based intervention and instructional
approaches that support literacy acquisition for students with disabilities, this chapter explores how
these interventions and approaches can be implemented in LMIC context. Moving from theory into
practice can be a challenge in many environments, especially in the classroom realities in many LMIC
countries. This chapter of the toolkit provides:
• Background on the donor landscape related to inclusive education;
• Recommended do’s and don’ts for funding and implementing inclusive education programming; and
• Suggestions for supporting a phased approach when moving from segregated educational
systems towards inclusive education systems.
4.1 Background on Donor Support and Funding Landscape
Key Highlights
• A twin-track approach to disability-inclusive development includes supporting disability-
specific initiatives and programs, and including persons with disabilities as beneficiaries
in all other development and humanitarian aid programs.
• USAID’s Education Office is increasingly asking all education programs to include
students with disabilities as well as supporting a disability targeted approach.
• Other major bilateral donors and multilateral agencies are also becoming more engaged
and supporting inclusive education programming.
Donors are increasingly engaged in funding inclusive education programming. They are not only
funding disability-specific initiatives, but also beginning to require that all projects integrate the needs
of students with disabilities. This approach is referred to as a twin-track approach. Many donors-
such as the European Commission and World Bank-are supporting this approach in practice and
with policy. For example, DFID has established and regularly updates a Disability Framework that
highlights the need to promote inclusive education, requiring that all school construction use the
principles of Universal Design. See Figure 18 for a donor map with information on bilateral donor
commitment on disability-inclusive development and education. Historically, donors have focused
primarily on supporting children with physical disabilities with an emphasis on the provision of
wheelchairs and the construction of ramps. This narrow focus has since been expanded to support
all children with disabilities which includes supporting inclusive education. However, only recently
have programs on inclusive education moved beyond just promoting the need to include students in

Figure 18. Donor Mapping on Disability Inclusion and Inclusive Education
Donor Formal Commitment Formal Commitment

to Disability-Inclusion to Inclusive Education
Australian Department of DFAT’s Development for All 2015- Inclusive education is a core element
Foreign Affairs and Trade 2020: Strategy for Strengthening of programming focus
(DFAT) Disability-Inclusive Development17
The British Department for DFID’s Disability Framework18 Inclusive education is a core policy
International Development area defined in the framework
(DFID)
German Federal Ministry of Action Plan for the Inclusion of Mentions the importance and
Economic Cooperation and Persons with Disabilities; Disability commitment to commission applied
Development (GIZ) and Development in German research on inclusive education
Development Cooperation Policy
Paper19
Japan International JICA Thematic Guidelines on Mentions education as a condition
Cooperation Agency (JICA) Disability20 and environment for empowerment
Korean International The Framework Act on International Not specified
Cooperation Agency Development Cooperation,
including people with disabilities as
beneficiaries21
Norwegian Agency for Opportunities for All-Human Rights The right to education for children
Development Cooperation in Norway’s Foreign Policy and with disabilities specified under the
(NORAD) Development Cooperation22 priority of education; mentioned
under persons with disabilities
Swedish International Human Rights for Persons with The right to education of students
Development Cooperation Disabilities Work Plan 2009-2012 23 with disabilities mentioned
Agency (SIDA) throughout the document
USAID 1997 Disability Policy24 Inclusive Education mentioned as a
crosscutting theme in the Education
Strategy 2011-2015
Source: USICD International Development Agency Policy Website
17 For more information, http://dfat.gov.au/aid/topics/development-issues/disability-inclusive-development/Pages/disability-

inclusive-development.aspx
18 For more information, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfid-disability-framework-2015
19 For more information, http://www.usicd.org/doc/Strategiepapier330_01_2013.pdf
20 For more information, http://usicd.org/doc/JICA%20Thematic%20Guidelines%20on%20Disability.pdf
21 For more information, http://www.law.go.kr/lsInfoP.
do?lsiSeq=160744&chrClsCd=010203&urlMode=engLsInfoR&viewCls=engLsInfoR#0000
22 For more information, http://usicd.org/doc/Opportunities%20for%20All-%20Human%20Rights%20in%20
Norway%E2%80%99s%20Foreign%20Policy%20and%20Development%20Cooperation%20%E2%80%94%20
Report%2010.pdf
23 For more information, http://usicd.org/doc/Human%20Rights%20for%20Persons%20with%20Disabilities%20Work%20
Plan%202009-2012.pdf
24 For more information, http://www.usicd.org/doc/USAID%20Disability%20Policy%20Paper%201997.pdf

education toward the focus on how to improve the education system including increasing literacy and
learning outcomes. This signals an important shift that needs to be sustained and integrated into all
education programs.
USAID requires that all education programs include the needs of students with disabilities as a
crosscutting theme and find ways to engage this population meaningfully. For example:
• USAID/Ethiopia’s Reading for Ethiopia’s Achievement (READ) Technical Assistance (TA) used
technology for classroom vision and hearing screenings,
• USAID/Rwanda’s Literacy, Language and Learning (L3) developed inclusive learning materials, and
• USAID/ Rwanda’s Mureke Tusome conducted community awareness campaigns on disability.
USAID has also supported several targeted inclusive education programs both through country
mission initiatives and other funding opportunities supported by the USAID Education Office in
Washington, D.C. For example, USAID missions in Morocco, Mali and Haiti have all funded specific
programming focused on improving the education of students with disabilities. Likewise, the All
Children Reading Grand Challenge for Development (ACR GCD) devoted a round of funding to
conducting innovative pilot projects that could be potentially replicated in other countries. Through
this initiative, inclusive education projects were supported in Ghana, India, Lesotho, Morocco and the
Philippines. USAID is also implementing Sign On For Literacy, which supports innovative solutions to
provide greater access to local sign language for students who are deaf. These initiatives highlight the
growing commitment towards providing inclusive education and supporting a twin-track approach to
disability-inclusive development.
4.2 Do’s and Don’ts of Funding for Inclusive Education
Key Highlights
• It is important that inclusive education programming supports the social model approach
to development and does not reinforce negative and harmful stereotypes associated with
the medical and charity approaches.
• LMICs have the opportunity to leap over challenges, mistakes or less effective practices
related to the education of children with disabilities; LMICs can learn from the mistakes of
other countries working in this area and build upon best practices early on.
• When conducting inclusive education programs, it is important to implement technical
approaches that are evidence-based, avoiding programming that may reinforce stigma,
discrimination and segregation.
When implementing inclusive education programs, it is important to implement programs that: (1) are
aligned with the CRPD, (2) engage DPOs as planners and active participants, not just beneficiaries,
and (3) ensure that programs are inclusive and empower persons with disabilities. It is important that
education programs apply a social approach to disability-inclusive development instead of a medical
or charity model. Figure 19 provides a summary of different models of disabilities with examples of
how they can manifest in an educational setting.

Figure 19. Models of Disability and Education
Charity
Depicts persons with disability as unfortunate or deserving pity or charity. This model
reinforces negative stereotypes as it does not address the strengths of individuals or their
ability to be active and participating members of society.
Education Example: Provides education or assistive devices as an act of charity rather than
recognizing education is a human right and assistive technologies are vital learning tools. The
education of children with disabilities is often outside of the general education system and
provided by religious groups or NGOs.
Medical
Focuses on a person’s limitations and the need to “fix” the person rather than looking at
possible societal barriers. This model reinforces stereotypes as it emphasizes deficiencies and
not strengths of an individual.
Education Example: Requires a medical diagnosis to enroll in school. Assumes all individuals
with the same diagnosis learn the same and thus teaches to the disability label instead of the
child. Provides limits on child’s potential based on disability label.
Social
Focuses on the barriers that exist in society and how to reduce those barriers to ensure full
and equitable participation in society. This, along with the rights-based approach, are the
preferred models for disability.
Education Example: Recognizes that all children have unique learning strengths and learning
challenges. Provides individualized supports to build upon strengths while addressing
challenges to promote learning.

Figure 20 provides some illustrative examples of what donors and implementing partners may want
to consider when implementing inclusive education practices. This list of examples is not exhaustive
or comprehensive but rather highlights successful and challenging practices that are currently being
implemented in LMICs, as well as lessons learned from high-income countries that can serve as
examples. It is most useful as a supporting tool during program planning discussions.
Figure 20. Do’s and Don’ts for Funding
✓ Do ✗ Do not Explanation
General Inclusive Education

Do support programs Don’t support According to the CRPD, funding and future
that provide inclusive initiatives that reinforce programming must focus on an inclusive education
educational settings. segregating students model.25 Unfortunately, segregated schools continue to
with disabilities in be often supported with the rationale that “segregated
separate settings away schools are the only current model and it is better to
from their same-age support them versus abandoning those children in the
peers. schools without a better alternative in place.” Given
the scarcity of funds, unless inclusive education is
prioritized and supported by donors and governments,
the goal of inclusion will never be realized. The CRPD
General Comments also support that all donor and
government-funded programs immediately shift
to supporting inclusion with clear plans on how to
transition from the outdated segregated system.
Do establish model Don’t create model A program cannot be called “model” if it is inherently
or pilot programs that or pilot programs that discriminatory. Model programs instead need to be
include children with the exclude children based inclusive of all students regardless of type of disability
full range of disability on category of disability or those with higher support needs. Furthermore, to
categories and level of or severity. implement programs that exclude certain children
support needs. can inadvertently reinforce stereotypes and stigmas
and further isolate and potentially harm children. It is
recommended to avoid this practice, as model programs
for inclusive education signify providing education for all.
Do recognize the unique Don’t place students As discussed throughout the toolkit, students who
communication needs who are deaf in inclusive are deaf benefit from an environment that respects
of students who are education settings their linguistic and cultural identity. Placing students
deaf who benefit from a without providing who are deaf in local inclusive schools without the
multilingual environment support and an inclusive appropriate supports while not addressing ability
which may not be their communication to interact directly with their peers and teachers
local general education environment. can result in students becoming more isolated and
school. segregated. It is crucial that the educational setting
for students who are deaf be based on a student’s
individual needs, reflect the educated choice of the
family and child and promote full communication.
25 Please keep in mind how inclusive education is defined by the deaf community (see section 3.4.3) and the different
implications associated with educational settings for students who are deaf/hard of hearing that allow for full linguistic
immersion and social interaction.

Do engage students Don’t support programs To develop a participatory approach, it is important
with disabilities, DPOs, that only address to include input from a diverse set of stakeholders.
families of children with few or none of these Do not assume that persons without disabilities or
disabilities, government essential stakeholders. families of children without disabilities represent
representatives, All programs and the disability community. Aligned with the CRPD,
key school officials activities benefit from the principles of “nothing about us without us”
and teachers, and actively engaging these should be adhered to in all programming and thus
community leaders in important actors. should engage DPO and families accordingly. This
inclusive education signifies designing inclusive education programs
programming. with services and supports that engage students
with disabilities, DPOs, families of children with
disabilities, government representatives, key school
officials and teachers and community leaders. DPO
may also require additional training to help ensure
that inclusive education policies and other programs
are being implemented appropriately.
Do support access to Don’t support alternative All children can learn; however, some students
the national curriculum curricula that are not need adapted or modified curriculum to reach their
that is adapted or individualized to the full academic potential. An alternative curriculum
modified as needed. needs of the student sets arbitrary barriers on students based upon
or are pre-determined their disability diagnosis or label. It is important
based on disability type to presume competence and give students the
opportunity to succeed while meeting their
individualized educational goals.
Do pilot programs Don’t implement Inclusive education is new programming for many
and use evidence- programs at the national countries and implementing partners. There
based practices and level without first piloting is limited available information on what works
evidence to test new to assess how proposed as far as effective instructional approaches in
programming before instructional approaches LMICs. Because of this, it is important to first pilot
going to scale. can be applied within programming and incorporate lessons learned
the specific context. before implementing programming at a national
level or implementing large-scale projects.
Do create education Don’t rely on retrofitting Not unlike the challenges of retrofitting a building
programs that are programs to include the versus building an accessible building, retrofitting
inclusive of the needs of needs of students with programs to be inclusive can be challenging.
students with disabilities disabilities. When inclusion is not required from the beginning,
from the beginning. there is often not funding available for later adding
inclusive education programming; thus, inclusive
programming is either minimal or non-existent.
When inclusion is an afterthought, it tends to be
swept aside during implementation to address other
priorities. It is important to make inclusive education
programming a core part of all programming and
require newly funded programs to be designed
inclusively from the start.

Do document indicators Don’t merely report It is essential to have indicators of “doing the right
of impact, such as the number of students with thing” with students with disabilities, which means
number of materials disabilities served, since insuring their educational progress, regardless
incorporating UDL techniques to reliably of their label or even the accuracy of their
principles, number of identify students with identification. Thus, it is recommended that the
teachers trained and disabilities is still at emphasis of project implementation be on benefits
number of assistive such an early stage of and outcomes for students whose educational
technology devices used development. progress deviates significantly from the class mean
rather than merely documenting the number of
students with disabilities served by a project. The
absence of comprehensive identification does not
preclude a focus on benefits and outcomes for
students who face barriers to learning.
Do address community Don’t assume social, Addressing community attitudes, including engaging
and society attitudes societal and other and educating parents of children with and without
as part of inclusive attitudinal barriers can disabilities on the benefits of inclusive education, is
education programs be addressed at a later a key component to sustainable inclusive education
together with DPOs. date. programs. It is beneficial for programs addressing
the education of children with disabilities to include
social behavior change elements in all programs.
School management committees and parent teacher
associates may also require training on how to help
support inclusive education within the school and
community.
Identification of Students with Disabilities

Do focus on funding Don’t focus solely on The purpose of early identification of students who
educational supports identification without would benefit from special education services in
and services for also providing supports the classroom is to ensure they receive appropriate
students and teachers. and services for supports and services to reach their full academic
students and teachers. potential. To identify students as needing special
education services, but then not offer services,
defeats the purpose of identification. It is important
for governments and educational systems to put a
plan in place to provide and expand services and
supports as needed. The worst-case scenario is that
identification is used to justify removing students
from classrooms, resulting in reducing student
access to education. It is recommended to prioritize
identification once there are appropriate services
and supports in place to ensure that identification
does not inadvertently lead to exclusion or
segregation.

Do support classroom- Don’t use tools not Having reliable census data is important but requires
based screenings and designed for educational different processes, tools and protocols than what is
evaluations/assessments use (such as census needed to identify a student who qualifies for special
that are strengths-based questions or medical education services and supports. Instead, census
to determine eligibility assessments) to make tools, such as the Washington Group Questions*
for special education educational decisions. and International Classification of Functioning (ICF),
services and supports. are recommended for census use, while culturally
appropriate identification tools are developed and
used for educational purposes.
Do support vision and Don’t support It is important that vision and hearing screenings be
hearing screening in assessment centers or conducted in schools to ensure that all students are
schools. rely solely on community screened. Ideally, screening results in students being
clinics to determine if referred to additional services in the community
students have vision or (e.g. eyeglasses and additional hearing exams).
hearing challenges. In many cases, students may have simple eye or
ear infections that can be treated. If glasses and
hearing aids are not available, teachers can make
adaptations and accommodations in the classroom.
Assessment centers are not considered best
practice as they are not assessing students in the
classroom setting and often require families to cover
travel costs. Instead, mobile clinics are a less costly
alternative, increasing engagement of teachers and
schools. Organizations may benefit from working
directly with schools to address inclusive practices
in School Improvement Plans for students with
disabilities after identifying additional needs.
Do focus on identifying Don’t ignore the fact Millions of children with actual or suspected
children excluded from that many students with disabilities are excluded from both inclusive and
school and providing an disabilities (formally segregated schools. Within the Annual Student
impetus for their school identified or not) are Experience Report (ASER) process when community
achievement. excluded from attending members survey every household related to the
school with their peers educational needs of children, they may want
and do not receive to ask questions about reasons children are not
benefits from education attending school. These questions may serve as an
projects. initial screening for the presence of disabilities. The
community surveyors can then provide information
to parents about educational opportunities for their
children. Additionally, they provide information to
project implementers and school officials about the
educational barriers that are preventing all children
from attending school. ASER reports ideally include
the percentage of out-of-school children identified
and the number of parents who received information
on educational options for their children.
* For more information about the Washington Group Questions please visit their website at http://www.washingtongroup-
disability.com/washington-group-question-sets/short-set-of-disability-questions/

Teacher Training
Do strengthen and Don’t assume that Special education is a service delivering specially
support special inclusion equates not designed instruction; it is not a place (special
education systems. providing specialized school, special class). When supporting inclusive
services and supports as education systems, it is important to provide the
needed. students with disabilities and the general education
teachers with appropriate services and supports to
promote learning. Placing children with disabilities
in an inclusive setting without support can result in
teachers and students feeling overwhelmed.
Do support multi-tiered Don’t support systems For inclusive education to be effective, different
support and expertise that only prepare levels, or tiers, of support are needed. When
that prepares general general education supporting or implementing inclusive education
and special education teachers OR special programs, it is important to address these various
teachers to provide education teachers to types of supports to help support both teachers and
the appropriate level support the needs of students in the classroom.
of academic and students with disabilities.
behavioral support
to students with and
without disabilities.
Do support deaf Don’t support programs Fluency in any language cannot be achieved
education using well- that only provide through minimal exposure. Though providing
prepared teachers fluent introductory sign introductory sign language training to teachers is
in sign language and language training and encouraged as a way to promote an understanding
who have knowledge assume it meets the of the deaf culture and promoting diversity, someone
of deaf culture in their needs of students who who has received minimal language training should
particular country. are deaf. not be expected to provide instruction in that
language. It is preferred practice that students who
are deaf/hard of hearing receive an education from
someone who is fluent in sign language.
Do promote the Don’t assume that if It is important that persons with disabilities are hired
recruitment and hiring of someone is deaf and as teachers. They can serve as vital role models for
persons with disabilities knows sign language students with disabilities. Likewise, persons who
to be credentialed as or is blind and knows are blind or deaf tend to be more fluent in either
teachers. braille they are prepared braille or sign language as compared to teachers
to teach deaf education without the lived experience of disability. However,
or braille literacy. knowledge of braille and/or sign language alone
does not qualify someone to teach. Instead, these
individuals may benefit from receiving teacher
training at the same level as other teachers in the
school. To ensure that this happens, it is imperative
that teacher pre-service training at colleges and
universities do not discriminate against students
who have disabilities.

Do use trainers Don’t assume a In many large-scale or national education programs,
that have practical teacher can learn new cascade training is used to reach a large population
experience educating information about of teachers. However, training teachers to become
students with disabilities inclusive education trainers in inclusive education who have no practical
if implementing a and teach it to others experience in educating students with disabilities
training using a cascade without having real-life is not an effective practice. All trainers in inclusive
model (training a experience educating education benefit from having real, hands-on
teacher to then train students with disabilities. experience educating students with disabilities
other teachers). before transferring those skills to others.
Do adapt training to the Don’t export trainings For teacher training to be effective and meaningful,
local context receiving from other countries it is important that the trainings are culturally
input from teachers, without making them relevant and build upon previous training and
families of children with relevant to the local knowledge. Importing inclusive education trainings
disabilities, and DPOs. context and culture. from one country to the next without receiving
participatory input from the different stakeholders
engaged in supporting the education of students
with disabilities is not seen as good practice as
the trainings often become less relevant to the
participants.
Do promote mentoring Don’t assume Teachers benefit from receiving on-going support
programs and ongoing information provided when implementing new instructional techniques
support or coaching as in training is sufficient and strategies. Implementing programs with a
part of teacher training and that ongoing and mentorship or ongoing access to support is an
programs. classroom support is not effective way for teachers to receive additional
needed. feedback and suggestions on inclusive education,
as well as providing resources in case they have
additional questions once implementing the
information obtained from trainings.
Do incorporate UDL Don’t use scripted UDL is an effective way to improve the education
practices and other lesson plans that of all children, including those with disabilities. It is
techniques to promote only address the recommended that trainings be child centered and
child-centered learning “average child;” instead allow for teachers to adapt content and techniques
into teacher training and incorporate techniques to meet the specific needs, strengths and
scripted lesson plans, if that address variability preferences of students with and without disabilities
using them. in learning styles and in their classroom. However, in many LMICs, scripted
preferences of students lesson plans have been useful to support teachers
with and without who may be new to teaching or are less familiar
disabilities. with the instructional approach being taught. When
scripted lesson plans are deemed necessary, it
is important to integrate UDL practices into the
proposed scripts to effectively teach students with
and without disabilities.

Educational Supports
Do support use of IEPs Don’t support IEPs that An IEP is a helpful tool to help identify students’
that address a student’s are overly simplistic learning strengths, needs and preferences, as well
current performance, or are deficit-based, as the nature of specially designed instruction
annual goals and focusing solely on (including UDL accommodations) that will enable
benchmarks, and academic challenges. students to make appropriate progress. However,
needed services and when overly simplified, an IEP becomes less
supports. effective. Likewise, if an IEP is deficit-based, focusing
on what students cannot do without recognizing
what they can do or what interests or motivates
them, an IEP can potentially reinforce stigma.
Do support IEPs Don’t support IEPs that For IEPs to be a tool that can be used by teachers
that have SMART have generic goals or and families, it is beneficial to provide individual
individualized goals that are not measurable. goals that meet the SMART criteria. Using “goal
provide a useful a tool banks” that provide goals that could be used
for teachers and families. for multiple students with disabilities is also not
encouraged as these goals would not allow for
individualization.
Do incorporate assistive Don’t assume that only Assistive devices include a wide variety of low-,
devices that support the children with physical medium- and high-tech tools that can help support
needs of various types disabilities need learning. When providing assistive devices, it is
of students (e.g., brailler, assistive devices (e.g., important to not only look at mobility or sensory
FM systems, AAC wheelchairs, crutches) challenges (e.g., wheelchairs, eyeglasses and
devices) into instruction. hearing aids) but also look at other devices that can
promote the achievement of goals in a broad array
of domains including communication, academics,
engagement and appropriate behavior.
Promoting Literacy Skills

Do allow for a flexible Don’t adhere to Students with disabilities may express their literacy
definition of literacy that definitions of literacy competency differently than students without
is inclusive of students that view traditional disabilities. For example, students who are blind
with disabilities. writing or oral fluency will not read print words but utilize braille. Other
as the only ways to students may demonstrate their literacy knowledge
demonstrate skills. with pointing to pictures or using AAC devices
to show comprehension of a story. Students with
disabilities need a flexible definition of literacy that
enables them to address their learning goals.

Do recognize that Don’t assume that all Students with disabilities may require different
students with different children learn through approaches to literacy skills development based on
types of disabilities may phonetics and may not their strengths and needs. For example, students
acquire literacy skills in need an adapted or who are deaf may not benefit from a phonetic
different ways. modified approach to approach but learn better with a combination of
literacy acquisition. materials and strategies, such as inclusion of signed
stories, finger spelling, sight words, writing and
bilingual strategies such as codeswitching. Support
an evidence-based approach to literacy that is
aligned with different disabilities while allowing
flexibility to support individual preferences.
Do use the principles Don’t take a “one size fits UDL recognizes that students receive information,
of UDL to help support all” approach to literacy express information and are motivated to learn in
learning for all students without recognizing that different ways. Supporting educational programs
including those with students may learn and and preparing teachers to provide differentiated
disabilities. express information, and instruction that addresses the variability of student
be motivated to learn in learning will increase educational progress for
alternative ways. students, with and without disabilities, alike.
Do build foundational Don’t assume that Many young children with disabilities have reduced
skills and early emergent students with disabilities exposure to books and print due to not just their
literacy skills for enter school with the disability but to inaccurate beliefs about their
students with disabilities same access to pre- capacities to read. Additional pre-literacy supports
if needed. literacy or emergent may be needed for students with disabilities to
literacy skills as peers obtain literacy skills.
without disabilities.

Do the inclusive education programs being implemented in the country follow the
recommended, or “do’s”, practices?
Are there inclusive education programs that follow the “don’t” practices?
How can current programs be transitioned to align better with recommended
practices?
How to best ensure that future programs follow recommended practices?

Do support early Don’t assume young The purpose of early identification is to provide
identification, early children with disabilities early intervention services. Identification without
childhood intervention will not benefit from services can risk placing a label on children without
and inclusive early early childhood providing them with the early supports needed to
childhood education, programs nor promote achieve developmental and learning goals. Children
understanding that early identification that with disabilities, as with all children, benefit from
the purpose of early is not coupled with early early childhood education and thus it is important
identification is to intervention. that these programs are also fully inclusive of young
provide early services. children with disabilities.

4.3 Supporting Inclusive Education Programming
Key Highlights
• A twin-track approach to disability-inclusive development includes supporting disability-
specific initiatives and programs, and including persons with disabilities as beneficiaries
in all other development and humanitarian aid programs.
• USAID’s Education Office is increasingly asking all education programs to include
students with disabilities as well as supporting a disability targeted approach.
• Other major bilateral donors and multilateral agencies are also becoming more engaged
and supporting inclusive education programming.
Donor-supported education programs cannot be effective if they exclude or ignore 20 percent or more
of school-aged children. Likewise, creating education systems that focus primarily on the needs of those
who are “easy” to educate will ultimately be rendered ineffective, as it fails to recognize diverse learning
needs of all students. Recognizing that all children learn differently and may need additional educational
supports at some point is simply good practice. For education programs to be fully inclusive of students
with disabilities, it is critical to address the unique needs of students with disabilities throughout all
stages of the project. Too often the needs of students with disabilities are taken into consideration as an
afterthought in program design and implementation. To avoid this, it is critical that inclusive education
be clearly stated as part of key program goals. However, even with donor, government and implementer
commitment, many implementers are often unaware where to start or how to best support literacy
approaches for students with disabilities.
Each inclusive education program will be different depending on the country and context. Similar
to all education programs, there is no strict recipe for inclusive education programs that can be
transferred from one country to another without modifications or adaptations. However, there are
some suggested phases that donors and implementers can consider when designing, implementing
and evaluating projects. These suggested phases are as follows:
Phase 1: Engage with key stakeholders
Phase 2: Understand current practices, paradigms and needs
Phase 3: Plan for inclusion
Phase 4: Move from segregation towards inclusion
Phase 5: Take programming that has been proven effective to scale
Phase 6: Address gaps in research and increase general knowledge basis
Phase 7: Share best practices and lessons learned

Less able does not mean less worthy.
All children have the right to an
education and all individuals can
make that a reality.
4.3.1 Phase 1: Engage with Key Stakeholders

As part of the design process, it is important to meet
with relevant stakeholders to receive their inputs on
programmatic priorities in their country. Their valuable inputs
can help design programs that build upon the strengths of
current practices while addressing continuing challenges
and needs. These stakeholders are key to implementation
and thus it is highly beneficial to engage them throughout thee
project. Some of the key stakeholders follow:
• Ministries of Education
• DPOs and the disability community
• Families of children with disabilities
• Teachers and administrators
• NGOs and civil society
• Other donors
Annex G provides more information on how to engage each of these key stakeholders in project
design and implementation.

Are the above-mentioned stakeholders regularly engaged and consulted?
How can stakeholder engagement be strengthened and improved?

4.3.2 Phase 2: Understand Current Practices, Paradigms and Needs
Knowing the complexities—including goals, challenges and existing resources—is needed to design
programs that build upon existing services and address contextual needs. Even countries with
emerging inclusive education systems have different strengths and weaknesses. For example, one
country may have a system in place to educate general education teachers on inclusive education
with no supports for special education services for students and teachers in place. Other countries
may have strong specialized services with general education teachers having never received any
form of training on inclusion. Understanding the point from which a country is starting and their
goals is vital to develop programs that support inclusive education goals. This information can help
determine appropriate activities and intervention that best respond to a country’s priorities, needs
and strengths. A situational analysis can be conducted for both programs focusing on disability-
specific issues as well as other education programs that work to address the needs of children with
disabilities as part of their beneficiaries. It is recommended that a situational analysis utilize a multi-
modal approach to research using both qualitative and quantitative data. This includes using a variety
of learning techniques such as:
• Conducting a desk review including government policies and strategies, NGO and DPO reports,
and academic articles.
• Interviewing key stakeholders including many of the diverse groups mentioned above
• Conducting classroom observations including inclusive and segregated classrooms and schools
as well as private and public schools if applicable.
• Conducting surveys of DPO members, families of children with disabilities, and teachers.
It is important to engage various stakeholders, including the MOE, the DPO community and families
of children with disabilities in the development of any research questions or tools to ensure that the
situational analysis also captures information that is important to the different groups. It is also a
beneficial practice to engage DPOs representatives as interviewers, observers or enumerators to help
facilitate their engagement in the process.
It is recommended that situational reports examine policies, systems, trainings and holistic supports
that promote the education and literacy skills of students with disabilities. It is also important that
the analysis address the needs of all types of disabilities rather than only addressing the needs of a
few select categories of disabilities. This means assessing the needs of all children with disabilities
including those who may be considered to have severe disabilities and those with multiple disabilities.
It is also recommended to include gender issues throughout the document to ensure programs and
services are available to both boys and girls with disabilities. Annex H provides information that would
be helpful to cover in a situational analysis.

Has an inclusive education assessment been conducted within the country? If so,
how can it be used as a tool? If not, how can the current situation be best assessed?

Teachers who have received inclusive education training through the USAID SHRP program provide literacy skills to
students in Uganda. Photo credit Research Triangle Institute
Closer Look at Inclusion: Including Disability into Gender

Assessments, Analysis and Inclusion Plans
In addition to conducting a disability situational analysis to help guide disability-targeted
programming, it is also important to include disability as a key element of all Gender
Assessments, Analysis, and Inclusion Plans. Conducting Gender Assessments and Analysis
is a required policy at USAID (see ADS 201.3.9.3 and ADS 201.3.11.6) (USAID, 2010). These
documents assess how gender differences potentially impact the participation of individuals,
and thus inform and guide programming accordingly. These documents also assess other
vulnerabilities that may impact equitable participation, which in most countries include
disability status. Therefore, it is recommended that the issues of gender and inclusive education
be a core component of all education and gender assessments. For more information on how
to include disability as part of these core documents, please refer to USAID’s Guide on How to
Integrate Disability into Gender Assessments and Analysis (2010): https://www.usaid.gov/sites/
default/files/Guide_How_Integrate_Disability_Gender_Assessments_2010.pdf

4.3.3 Phase 3: Implement Disability-Inclusive Programming
The project implementation phase is where design and planning become a reality, and where
theories of literacy instruction are implemented. Too often, general education and literacy programs
consider the needs of students with disabilities as an afterthought and during implementation
struggle to make programs inclusive as inclusion was not initially woven into the project design.
It is possible to conduct inclusive education specific programming that takes into account the
accessibility needs of persons with disabilities and enables them to be active participants instead of
just beneficiaries. A few suggestions to help ensure that education programs are inclusive follow:
• Work plans: Work plans should reflect information from assessments, indicate how programs will
integrate inclusive programming and describe programs that will be implemented.
• Budget: Budget should reflect disability-specific programs as well as any accommodations that
would be needed (such as sign language interpretation, materials in alternative formats, providing
assistive devices to support learning) to promote disability-inclusive programs.
• Staffing Plans: Staffing plans should specify outreach to recruit and retain qualified staff with
disabilities, including accommodations they may need related to employment, and even family
members of people with disabilities. Staff plans should also indicate hiring technical experts or
consultants to support inclusive education activities as well as possible sub-grants to DPOs and
family organizations.
• Staff and partner trainings: Since local staff may be new to inclusive education and disability
awareness, it is important to train them. Local partners may also benefit from training so they can
begin to consider inclusion in their own programs.
• Accessibility: All activities and public events should be held in accessible venues with
accommodations that enable persons with different types of disabilities to participate equitably.
When securing new programmatic office space, it is important to consider accessibility features so
that partners and DPOs can meet with program staff if needed.
• Community Awareness: When conducting any community awareness activities, it is important to
address the importance of educating students with disabilities and dispelling harmful myths about
their capacity to learn and become literate. Addressing attitudinal barriers is important to ensure
that community and parents accept the concepts of inclusive education and do not become
barriers to students with disabilities receiving an education.

Are all education programs inclusive of students with disabilities?
How can this be strengthened or improved to ensure that all programs are inclusive?

4.3.4 Phase 4: Move from Segregation Towards Inclusion
To be aligned with the CRPD and other international and often national policies, it is important to
develop programming that supports inclusive education. However, moving from a system that is
highly segregated towards one where both students with and without disabilities are welcomed and
supported in the general education setting can be challenging. Many stakeholders are overwhelmed
by this challenge and are unsure of where to start. Often people look for a roadmap they can apply.
As all countries are different, unfortunately, there is no single roadmap that can be followed. Instead,
each country will take their own path building on existing strengths and resources. However, there are
some general approaches that can be applied in most settings. Below are frequently asked questions
and answers related to supporting an inclusive education system in LMICs.
Answer: The purpose of identifying students who may

Question: As the number of have a disability or additional learning needs is to provide
students with disabilities within students with the additional supports and services that they
the country remains largely may need to reach their full academic potential. Therefore,
unknown, should identification many argue that it is ineffective to prioritize identification
be the priority before providing before developing services as this may result in potentially
services? Without accurate stigmatizing labels without the accompanying support.
data on the number of students One of the worst-case scenarios is to use identification as
with disabilities, how can justification to segregate students and deny students access
countries appropriately budget to the same learning opportunities as their peers without
and plan? disabilities. Keep in mind that including students who are
deaf/hard of hearing within hearing schools may deny them
opportunities to learn language from adults and peers who
are deaf/hard of hearing, and accommodations need to be
made to ensure language access by providing students
with a deaf community of sign language users. Access to
reliable data is a valuable tool to help governments with
budgeting and planning. Ideally, education systems move
forward by providing both identification and services, as
well as developing effective data collection methods. If this
is not feasible, then it is recommended that the emphasis be
placed on development of services using an estimated 10-15
percent of the student population as having a disability. 26
Methods for reliable identification can then be thought
through and planned so that this estimate is not used over a
prolonged period.
26 These estimates are based upon high-income figures. It is feasible that rates of students needing special education
services may increase in countries that have experienced conflict, disaster or have high rates of poverty.

Answer: Children with disabilities are represented in all
Question: Who needs to be geographic regions, ethnicities and socio-economic classes.
trained within the education Thus all public schools will have children with some form
system to support inclusion? of disability already enrolled. Since all schools will have
students with disabilities represented at all grade levels, all
teachers, administrators and support staff require some basic
knowledge of inclusion and how to diversify instructional
approaches (see section 2.3). Since it is recommended that
special education services be integrated into government
budgets, data collection, and curriculum, all decision-makers
within the MOE will benefit from understanding the concepts
and benefits of inclusive education. Also, engagement and
partnership with families of children with disabilities are key
factors in students’ academic success. Thus, families may
require training on their rights, how to advocate for their child
and how to support and reinforce learning at home. It is also
important to educate parents of students without disabilities
so that they can provide support for successful inclusion.
Answer: Many USAID and other donor-supported programs

Question: How can the recommend using scripted lesson plans as a way to help
concept of differentiating teachers become comfortable and confident in teaching. As
learning and the application seen in Malawi, teachers often use scripted plans as a guide
of UDL principles be applied if for teaching but then modify instruction to allow for additional
there is a determined need to explanations or extra practice exercises (Mattos & Sitabkhan,
provide teachers with a scripted 2016). If scripted lessons plans are being used, then there is no
lesson plan? reason why these lesson plans cannot be designed in a way
that incorporates the three principles of UDL. For example,
scripted lesson plans can help teachers become more
comfortable in presenting information orally as well as writing
information on the chalkboard. Likewise, scripted lessons
plans can provide students with the option of how they want
to respond to questions or exercises by providing multiple
options throughout the teachers’ guide.

Answer: Overaged student enrollment is a challenge in
Question: Many children with
many LMICs where students’ early education may have
disabilities are older but have
been disrupted by conflict, long distances to school or
previously not received a formal
socio-economic considerations. For example, in Liberia, 82
education. Should students with
percent of students in primary school are too old for their
disabilities who are older start
grade (Darvas & Namit, 2016). Children who are overage are
their education at grade one or
more likely to drop out of school, and girls who are overage
be integrated within the grade
are at a greater risk for teenage pregnancy. These risks
level as their peers of the same
also apply to students with disabilities who enter school at
age?
an advanced age. Whenever possible, it is recommended
that students with disabilities be placed in the same-aged
classroom as their peers without disabilities. Once placed in
a higher grade level and recognizing they may have missed
foundational learning provided in earlier grades, additional
supports and services from special and general education
teachers will be needed to help with remedial learning and
building basic literacy skills. This specialized support may
need to take place in other settings within the school, while
still ensuring inclusion with their peers as much as possible.
Answer: Many practitioners use model schools, or schools

Question: Are model schools which are inclusive, to demonstrate that inclusion is feasible and
needed to demonstrate that to carry out pilot programs. While there are certainly advantages
inclusion is a viable option? to this approach, there are also associated challenges. For
example, too often schools used as model schools are not
actually models of good practice as they exclude students with
certain types of disabilities and with complex support needs.
Similarly, implementing model programs in systems where this
is the only education option for children with disabilities can
result in over-representation of children with disabilities, not
reflecting a school with natural proportions of children with and
without disabilities. Families of children with disabilities may
also choose to move closer to the model school if it is the only
option for their child, resulting in families being uprooted and
losing important community connections. Another challenge is
that if only one or two model schools exist, they may not reflect
the reality of all regions within the country. While model schools
may show that inclusion is feasible in one region, these models
are typically not replicated across the country. Model schools
are often stand alone and fully supported by NGO support
without full government ownership or buy-in.
That said, piloting professional training and instructional

approaches can be very useful to adapt and apply lessons
learned before going to scale. One alternative to developing
model schools, if funding allows, is to designate multiple schools

Students who are deaf/hard of hearing learning local sign language in Kenya through the USAID Tusome project.
Photo credit: Research Triangle Institute
that are inclusive as “lab schools” to pilot professional training

and instructional approaches before taking these techniques
to scale. This will help capture lessons learned from various
settings and support comprehensive application.
Answer: The technical knowledge and expertise usually

Question: What happens to the
available in segregated settings are still needed as
segregated or specialized schools
countries transition towards inclusive environments.
during the transition towards
However, the location of where these supports are
inclusion?
provided will change. Many countries have transformed
specialized schools to centers of excellence or resource
centers. In these cases, specialists become itinerant
specialists and provide support to students and teachers
in inclusive settings. As their roles shift towards supporting
inclusion, it is important that in-service and pre-service
trainings also reflect this change. The infrastructure for
these centers also can be transformed to continue to
support persons with disabilities in the community. For
example, instead of using the building to provide direct
instruction to students, it can be used as a community
resource center, community braille library or inclusive early
childhood education center, while also serving as a hub for
specialists as they provide support to inclusive schools.

Transition to Inclusion: Armenia Case Study
In Armenia, Open Society Foundations collaborated with segregated schools
and general education systems to help support inclusive education. This
model consists of “a resource center model providing specialist support
for children with SEN [Special Needs Education] in mainstream schools [that] would
gradually depopulate the special schools while simultaneously building a place for their
professional expertise in a new, inclusive education system (Lapham & Papikyan, 2012).” This
demonstrates the feasibility of evolving the special schools as inclusion-centric resource
centers.
Lapham & Papikyan (2012) examined three special schools’ transition to inclusion resource
centers and four inclusive mainstream schools. The inclusive schools received professional
and technical support from the three resource centers. Activities that transpired in the 2009-
10 and 2011-12 academic years included:
• Training of inclusive school teachers
• Training parents and providing consultation
• Training for the children with disabilities at home
• Supporting the creation and development of teaching materials and syllabi
• Training for regional teachers and parents
• Hosting round-table discussions involving representatives from all stakeholder groups
• Offering interactive seminars with the parents and the students at inclusive schools
(Lapham & Papikyan, 2012).
Lapham and Papikyan (2012) note that in order for transition from segregation to inclusion to
be a steady and stable process, all stakeholders need to be involved in providing feedback,
observing and supporting. The initiative found that what is required is a focused inquiry of
four factors: (1) special schools as resource centers; (2) teachers and the school environment;
(3) family and the community; and (4) the policy environment of the country. The four factors
play a role in ensuring Armenia’s greater inclusion efforts in the education system.

Do the above questions apply to the country?
What other questions are most commonly asked about inclusive education?
What resources exist to help answer these additional questions?

4.3.5 Phase 5: Take Programming That Has Been Proven Effective to Scale
Funding for inclusive education has traditionally been limited, with insufficient funding available
to take programs to scale at a national level. Too often, inclusive education programs that were
developed have been innovative but lacked scalability and sustainability. Piloting programs can be a
useful practice to trial techniques and approaches in a new context, but it is important to develop pilot
programs in a way that is scalable to ensure real impact. It is also important to consider scalability
within the program design phase as well as to ensure host government buy-in at the early stages
to promote government transfer and ownership. Donors may also want to consider moving beyond
funding inclusive education in small increments and begin to look at the type of support needed to
financially support inclusive education at a larger level.
One cost-effective option for taking inclusive education measures to scale is incorporating the
education of students with disabilities into larger education or health programs. For example, in
Cambodia, Sightsavers partnered with the World Bank to integrate vision screenings together with
the national health deworming program. This practice not only leveraged additional health funds but
was also less disruptive (as there was only one classroom intervention and not separate interventions
for both deworming and vision screening) and was able to reach more children as children no longer
had to travel to a clinic to be screened (Sightsavers, 2017).

Are inclusive education programs currently at scale at a national level? If not, how
can programs be scaled in the future?
How can programs be designed taking into consideration scalability?

4.3.6 Phase 6: Address Gaps in Research and Increase General Knowledge Base
There is a dearth of research conducted in LMICs regarding effective pedagogical practices related to
education of children with disabilities. Few research studies have been completed on issues related to
the impact of the different supports described in Chapter 2: Holistic Supports, and there is even less
information on effective literacy techniques with a focus on LMICs. As part of the literature conducted
for this project, more than 300 regional or LMIC country-specific documents were reviewed. Research
studies from Africa and Asia were then further reviewed and analyzed to ascertain possible trends in
research as well as research gaps.
Analysis showed that in both Africa and Asia most research provides either a summary of the
situation of inclusive/special education in the respective country or a summary of research conducted
on teachers’ attitudes toward inclusive education and students with disabilities. For example,
33 percent of research conducted in African countries provided a general overview of inclusive
education in the country compared to 47 percent of research in Asia. Twenty five percent of studies in
Africa focused on teacher attitudes or perceptions of inclusive education and children with disabilities
compared to 29 percent of studies found in Asia. The next most common areas of research were
related to the general situation of children with different categories of disabilities, with 18 percent
of research in Africa addressing these issues compared to 9 percent in Asia. Only 2 percent of
African studies and 3 percent of Asian studies focused on instructional approaches and techniques
to promote learning. As a result, many evidence-based research studies cited in this toolkit came
from research conducted in high-income countries. Figures 21 and 22 provide a breakdown of the
percentages of research by topic area in the regions of Africa and Asia.
Based on initial research analysis and research conducted for this toolkit, gaps in research remain in
LMICs on the following topics:
• Impact of inclusive education instructional approaches (such as adapted curriculum, IEPs,
reasonable accommodations, access to teacher assistants, etc.) on learning outcomes of students
with and without disabilities.
• Incorporation and outcomes of UDL in low-resourced environments with large class sizes.
• Effective literacy techniques for students with different types of disabilities and levels of support
needs in low-resource settings.
• Approaches to modify curriculum and provide alternative supports to teach literacy skills to
students with different categories of disabilities.
• Effectiveness of existing screening and assessment practices to identify students with disabilities
in the classroom and the need to strengthen identification systems.
• Training standards for special and general education teachers related to inclusive education and
provision of additional teacher training supports.
• Effective approaches related to community and family engagement and partnership to improve
educational opportunities for students with disabilities.
• Behavioral communication change (BCC) approaches to improve attitudes and perceptions of
students, teachers, families and community members regarding inclusive education.

Figure 21. Analysis of Special/Inclusive Education Research in Africa
2%
Instructional
Approaches
1% 1%
Identification Community
9%
Policy
25%
8% Teacher
Teacher/ Attitudes
Parent Roles
18%
Disability
Specific
33%
General
Information
3%
Teacher
Training
Figure 22. Analysis of Special/Inclusive Education Research in Asia
3%
Instructional
Approaches
1% 1%
Identification Community
1%
Teacher/
Parent Roles
6%
Policy
29%
9% Teacher
Disability Attitudes
Specific
3%
Teacher
Training
47%
General
Information

Whenever feasible, incorporate research studies into literacy programs that focus on the needs of
students with disabilities in LMICs to continue to capture lessons learned and to improve techniques
and supports to improve literacy skills for students with and without disabilities.

What research has been conducted within the country to help strengthen education
for children with disabilities?
Are there additional areas that need to be researched?
What are options to help ensure that these research questions are being addressed?
4.4.7 Phase 7: Share Best Practices and Lessons Learned

Although there is growing literature and interest in inclusive education, information available on
instructional approaches to support literacy acquisition remains sparse. There is also a need to
document how the recommended supports (Chapter 2) can be implemented. Much of the available
information takes the form of anecdotal evidence or is easily lost within larger program reports. This
includes information on both what worked within a LMIC and what did not work. Gathering and
sharing information on lessons learned can help other groups avoid similar mistakes. Since inclusive
education programs largely remain under-resourced, it is important to use the little money that is
available to build on the knowledge and experience of others in this area. Information can be shared
more publicly amongst the various stakeholders by:
• Creating documents and other guides based on both research and practical experience.
• Encouraging communities of practice that bring together diverse stakeholders to share experiences.
• Presenting results on inclusive education and literacy in larger literacy workshops, symposia and
conferences.
• Publishing program results and lessons learned in peer-reviewed journals.
It is also important to implement programs that apply international standards and best practices
related to inclusive education. Though inclusive education programming may be just emerging in
many LMICs, high-income countries have experience and research-based practices that can be
modified and applied in different settings. Knowing what practices to embrace and those to avoid is
particularly important in settings with limited funding.

How are best practices currently shared among stakeholders?
How can this be improved and strengthen?

Donor Support and Funding Landscape

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Chapter 5: Conclusion
Literacy is for everyone. Most students with disabilities who are illiterate are so not due to their
capacity to learn, but rather due to misperceptions that they cannot learn literacy skills. This toolkit
helps discredit these harmful misperceptions by providing evidence-based techniques that support
learning and literacy acquisition for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities often
need additional supports and services to reach their full academic potential. Though many of the
recommendations laid out within this toolkit may be aspirational for many LMICs, it is important to
be aware of the full range of services and supports available to serve as a guide for future inclusive
education interventions. Many of these techniques will need to be adapted to reflect the local context
and culture. This entails building upon existing country strengths and allowing for flexibility while
maintaining standards to promote learning for all. As donors, governments and NGOs implement
national literacy programs, it is important that they recognize they cannot achieve learning for all
if they discount the needs of approximately 15-20 percent of the student population that require
additional learning supports. Moving forward, the needs of students with disabilities need to be a core
component of all education programming. The evidence-based techniques presented in this toolkit
can serve as a useful guide to help students with disabilities learn literacy skills and improve overall
instructional practices that benefit students with and without disabilities.

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Glossary of Terminology
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A disorder marked by a chronic pattern of
attention difficulty and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with a child’s functioning and
development.
Annual Student Experience Review. An annual review of monitoring activities (data review, external
reports, student surveys and other informational collections) of a student’s experience at school.
Anxiety Disorder. An anxiety disorder is different from normal feelings of nervousness or

anxiousness; anxiety disorders include excessive and pervasive fear or anxiety which can be
sweating, heart palpitations and feelings of stress.
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). A method or a device that improves

communication for individuals with complex communication needs through low-tech AAC (e.g., the
use of picture displays and alphabet boards) and high-tech AAC (e.g., apps to support communication
on iPads and tablet technologies).
Bilingualism for sign language. Also known as bimodal bilingualism, this exceptional linguistic
process lies in acquiring fluency in a signed and a spoken language (two separate modes). Those two
modalities cause simultaneous production of the two languages.
Braille. A system of six raised dots that allow for persons who are blind to read print text tactilely.
Brailler. A type of “braille typewriter,” where corresponding keys represent the various six dots of the
braille code, the most common of which is the Perkins Brailler.
Co-enrollment schools. A school model that incorporates bilingual and dual language education
practices for teaching students who are deaf/hard of hearing and students who are hearing in the
same classroom.
Communication disorders. A disability that impacts the ability to receive, send, process and comprehend
concepts or verbal, nonverbal and graphic symbol systems. Individuals may demonstrate one or any
combination of communication disorders.
Complex communication needs. Individuals who have speech, language and communication
challenges that severely impact the ability to communication learning, interests or thoughts.
Complex support needs. Individuals who may or may not have an intellectual disability but often
require multiple supports or accommodations to reach their academic potential.
Comprehension. The ability to process text, understand its meaning and integrate it with one’s
existing knowledge. It is an intentional active process occurring before, during and after reading.
Vocabulary knowledge and text comprehension are the main elements of effective reading.
Computer text-to-voice software. Software that translates/adapts text into speech. This software
assists people with vision needs, learning disabilities or language barriers.
Conduct Disorder (antisocial or aggressive behaviors). A disorder based on behavioral and

emotional problems in young children and adolescents. They have great difficulty following rules and
behaving appropriately in social settings. This disorder causes severe social issues and can lead to
further social and emotional difficulties in adulthood.

CRPD Committee. The body of independent experts which monitors implementation of the Convention
by the States Parties. They examine reports and make suggestions/recommendations based on the
report then forward to the States Parties.
Dialogic Reading. An interactive technique that prompts adults to engage children with questions
and discussions while reading.
Disabled Persons Organizations (DPOs). Organizations in which persons with disabilities constitute
a majority (over 51%) of the staff, board and volunteers, and where persons with disabilities are well
represented within the organization.
Decoding. The process of translating print into speech by rapidly matching a letter or combination of
letters (graphemes) to their sounds (phonemes) and recognizing the patterns that make syllables and
words. 27
Developmental delays. When a child does not reach their development milestones at the same
rate as the majority of their peers the same age. Delays include gross/fine motor, language, cognitive,
behavioral, emotional and/or social development.
Dyscalculia. A type of specific learning disability that affects a person’s ability to understand numbers
and learn numeracy.
Dysgraphia. A type of specific learning disability that affects a person’s handwriting ability and the
capacity related to fine motor skills.
Dyslexia. A type of specific learning disability that affects reading and related language-based
processing skills. Dyslexia can affect reading fluency, decoding, reading comprehension and other
related elements of literacy and reading.
Early childhood development. The physical, cognitive, linguistic, social and emotional development
of a child from infancy to age eight.
Early childhood intervention. A system of coordinated services that promote a child’s growth and
development during the critical years of life (usually before age 3). Usually provided to children with
identified disabilities or developmental delays.
Educational Management Information Systems (EMIS). A system used within the education
sphere to help organize information about students and services for national educational planning
and management.
Emotional and behavioral disorder (EBD). A disability which consists of an inability to build/
maintain social relationships, an inability to learn, chronic behavioral stress under normal conditions
and physical symptoms/pains/fears related to personal or school issues.
Evaluation. Often referred to as “Assessment,” an evaluation is a comprehensive process conducted

by a multidisciplinary team using multiple tools that can provide information about a student’s
academic strengths, challenges and what accommodations might mitigate those challenges.
27 Reading Horizons. (n.d.). What is Decoding? Retrieved from https://www.readinghorizons.com/reading-strategies/

decoding/what-is-decoding.

Explicit instruction. A holistic system of instruction. Explicit instruction is skill-based, interactive,
integrative, developmentally appropriate, student-tailored and cognitively engaging.
Expressive language disorders. A condition where an individual has challenges using oral language
or talking.
Fingerspelling. The process of spelling out words by handshapes which signify letters of the manual
alphabet. Sign languages around the world have their own manual alphabets.
Fluency. “Reading fluency is made up of at least three key elements: accurate reading of connected
text at a conversational rate with appropriate prosody or expression.”28
FM systems. A wireless system that makes it easier to identify and understand speech for students
who are hard of hearing where an individual speaks directly into a wireless microphone that is then
transmitted to a receiver or hearing aid.
General education. Formal school-based education system that is generally made available to
students in a community, generally operated by the Ministry of Education.
Individualized Education Plan (IEP). A plan or program developed that determines an individual
student’s academic goals and monitors the progress of those goals to ensure that the student is
progressing in school. An IEP also determines what type of supports or accommodations a student
may need to reach their full academic potential.
Identification. The process of applying a phased process using both screening and evaluation
techniques to determine if a student would benefit from additional learning supports or special
education services. This process should be conducted by trained individuals within the classroom
setting.
Itinerant teacher. A qualified teacher or specialist who travels from school to school to provide
educational supports to multiple schools potentially across several communities.
Kinesthetic learning. A multi-sensory learning style that incorporates tactile techniques to support
visual and/or auditory learning.
Language processing disorders. A disorder that focuses on the difficulties of processing of

expressive and/or receptive languages.
Learning disabilities. A general term that refers to neurological disorders in learning. Learning
processing can interfere with learning basic reading, writing or math skills.
Local sign language. The distinct sign language developed within a given community, region or
country.
Low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). Countries that are “divided into four income groupings:
low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high. Income is measured using gross national income (GNI) per
capita, in U.S. dollars, converted from local currency using the World Bank Atlas method.” 29
28 Read Naturally. (n.d.). Fluency. Retrieved from https://www.readnaturally.com/research/5-components-of-reading/fluency

29 The World Bank. (n.d.). How does the World Bank classify countries? Retrieved from https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/
knowledgebase/articles/378834-how-does-the-world-bank-classify-countries

Manipulative. A physical object (e.g., blocks) that helps instruct abstract concepts to children by
using both visual cues or prompts.
Mood disorder (depression, bipolar disorder). A condition that is also known as an affective
disorder; it affects a person’s persistent emotional state and its related functions.
Motor skills. The function/ability to perform complex muscle-and-nerve acts that produce specific/
intentional movements.
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). A childhood disorder with a pattern of hostile, disobedient
and defiant behaviors targeted at adults or other authority figures. With ODD, children also have
angry/irritable moods and argumentative/vindictive behaviors.
Paraprofessional. Also referred to as a teacher assistant, a paraprofessional supports the general

education teacher in instructional for student with disabilities.
Phonetic awareness. A general skill that entails identifying and manipulating units of oral language
such as words, syllables, onsets and rhymes.
Picture exchange communication system (PECS). A nonverbal symbolic communication method

used with children with little or no communication abilities to communicate via pictures.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A mental health disorder that some children develop after
experiencing or witnessing a deeply shocking, terrifying or dangerous event.
Refreshable braille display. A device that displays braille code through round-tipped pins raised
through holes on a flat surface. Refreshable braillers are usually linked to a computer or another
technical device.
Resource rooms. A separate room where students with disabilities are given specialized instruction,
other related services and additional assistance. Instruction within a resource room is usually
provided by a trained professional either on an individual basis or within a small group setting.
Schizophrenia. A long-term and severely complex psychosocial disability that affects a person’s
ability to think clearly, manage emotions and behave rationally.
Self-determination. The belief that people have the right to direct their own lives. Along with skills,
attitudes and opportunities, self-determination also leads to being able to transition effectively to
adulthood and employment.
Sight words. A term referring to a specific reading skill in identifying common words that appear with
frequency. “Who, the, he, were, does, their, me, be” are a few examples.
Sign language. A visual language that employs signs made with the hands, facial expressions and
body movements; all play an important role in conveying information and communication. Like any
language in the world, sign languages usually have their own grammar and syntax. Sign languages’
primary users are people who are deaf/hard of hearing.
Slate and stylus. A low-cost writing tool for braille that allows for the braille to be pushed in using a
specialized pin.

Special education. The specially designed instruction of educating students with disabilities, which
accommodates their individual needs. This process entails individually planning, systematically
monitoring, adapting equipment and materials, and developing accessible settings.
Special education teachers. Teachers who are specifically trained to teach and work with students
with a range of learning, mental, emotional and physical disabilities. They teach basic skills such as
literacy and communication and adapt general education lessons for other subjects like reading,
writing and math.
Story sentence strips. An approach to building fluency in language by teaching grammar, mechanics,
punctuation, organization, parallel structure, sentence combination and other language/literacy skills.
This approach utilizes paper strips.
Symbolic materials. Types of symbols used in representing students with disabilities’ thoughts or for
communicating messages. Symbols can be visual or tactile.
Tactile. A means of learning non-textual information via pictures, maps, diagrams or other images.
Teacher assistant. See paraprofessional.
Twin-track approach. Developing programs that both address the specific needs of persons with
disabilities in a targeted manner as well as developing an inclusive design that enables persons with
disabilities to participate in programs in an equitable manner.
Vision and hearing screenings. A screening that assesses if a person has challenges with their
vision or hearing. It is often used to identify students who would benefit from a more comprehension
vision or hearing exam by a medical professional.
Water and sanitation for health (WASH). Programs that address safe water, sanitation and proper
hygiene to improve health and reduce related illnesses.

Annex A: Experts Interviewed
Dr. Ola Abu al Ghaib, Deputy Director, Leonard Cheshire Disability (LCD).
Angela Affran, Africa Regional Coordinator based in Ghana, Perkins International.
Dr. Heather Aldersey, Assistant Professor, Queens College.
Dr. Jean Andrews, Retired Distinguished Professor.
Dr. Rima Azzam, Independent Consultant (technical expertise in learning disabilities and Arabic).
Sarah Brasiel, Education Research Scientist, National Center for Special Education Research, U.S.
Department of Education.
Susan Bruckner, Senior International Technical Advisor, Education Development Center.
Dr. Jennae Bulat, Director of Teaching and Learning, Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International.
Dr. Brent Carson Elder, Assistant Professor, Rowan University.
Dr. Susan Copeland, Associate Professor, University of New Mexico.
Dr. Julie Durando, Project Director, National Center on Deaf-Blindness.
Ines, Escallon, Inclusive Education Expert, Inclusion International.
Karen Heinicke-Motsch, Senior Technical Advisor, CBM.
Leo Hosh, Senior Director for Child Development and Protection, World Vision.
Sarah Houge, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Mill Neck International.
Mohamed Konnah, Director of Special Education, Ministry of Education of Liberia.
Kristen Layton, Director of Strategy, Innovation and Learning, Perkins International.
Ingrid Lewis, Managing Director, EENET.
Kristin Lyon, Intensive Resource Teacher Advisor, Olathe School District, Kansas.
Dr. Linda Mason, Professor, George Mason University.
Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Global Disability Advisor, World Bank.
Julia McGeown, Inclusive Education Technical Advisor, Humanity and Inclusion (HI).
David McNaughton, Professor, Penn State University.
Christiana Okyere, PhD candidate (thesis on itinerant special education model in Ghana), Queens College.
Stephanie Ortoleva, Executive Director, Women Enabled International.
Kristina Solum, Director of Programs, School-to-School International.
Corinne Vinopol, President, Institute for Disabilities Research and Training (IDRT).
Dr. Gabrielle Young, Assistant Professor, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Annex B: Self-Reflection Checklist
QUESTIONS YES NO
1. Has your country signed and ratified the CRPD?
2. Are there national and/or local laws that require the inclusion of all
students with disabilities?
3. Is there a national and/or local plan on how to promote the education
of students with disabilities?
4. Do schools educate students with disabilities in segregated schools or
self-contained classrooms?
5. Are all students able to receive a beneficial education in their local
school regardless of type or severity of disability?
6. Does the school system recognize the need for students who are
deaf to be educated in a communication-rich environment where
they communicate directly with peers and teachers using local sign
language?
7. Are teachers responsible for teaching students who are deaf qualified
and fluent in local sign language?
8. Is there a hierarchy of teacher training supports available within the
country and schools where all general education teachers are trained
in inclusive education, special education teachers are available to
support teachers and students have access to technical experts in a
variety of fields?
9. Does teacher training include Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
principles?
10. Does teacher training include different instructional techniques to teach
literacy skills to students with disabilities?
11. Are administrators and principals also trained on inclusive education?
12. Are Individual Education Plans (IEPS) used within the classroom?
12.1 Do these IEPs provide specific academic goals?
12.2 Are parents engaged in the development of IEPs?
12.3 Do IEPs address both a students’ academic strengths and needs as
well as provide suggestions for accommodations?
12.4 Are students regularly monitored and assessed on IEP implementation?
13. Do all students with disabilities have access to the national curriculum?
14. Do students with disabilities have access to assistive technologies as
needed?
15. Are teachers trained on how to use assistive technologies to promote
literacy skills?
16. Do students with disabilities have access to other related services
(speech therapist, occupational therapist, braille literacy experts,
audiologist, etc.) if needed?

QUESTIONS YES NO
17. Are students with disabilities actively engaged in their own education
process, including being able to set goals and to develop and
implement plans?
18. Are families engaged in their children’s learning in a way that promotes
partnership?
19. Have there been disability awareness campaigns to educate the
community on the importance of students with disabilities receiving
literacy instruction in inclusive settings?
20. Are Disabled Persons Organizations actively engaged in all education
programs serving students with disabilities including the design,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation?
21. Do all students receive vision and hearing screenings in schools?
22. Is a phased approach to identification for additional learning supports
put into place with teachers trained on these methods?
23. Are there local screening tools and assessment tools developed within
the country?
24. Does the identification process identify students’ academic needs as
well as their academic strengths and preferences?
25. Do early childhood education programs include students with
disabilities and offer services for infants and toddlers if needed?
26. Is instruction differentiated to address the diverse ways students learn,
express information and are motivated to learn?
27. Are assessments adapted or modified as needed to assess the learning
progress of students with disabilities?

Annex C: International Frameworks and
Policies
Listed below are summaries of a few of the international frameworks related to inclusive education:
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Salamanca Statement (1994)
• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006)
• Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who are Blind, Visually
Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled (2013)
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (2015)
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC). Adopted in 1989, the CRC
addresses the general rights of all children with its Article 23 specifically addressing the rights of
children with disabilities. Though the article does not address inclusive education it does state that
children should receive an education that allows social integration and individual development to
the fullest extent possible. For more information on the CRC, please visit http://www.ohchr.org/EN/
ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CRC.aspx
The United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities. Adopted in 1993, this non-binding framwork provides 22 rules concerning the rights
of persons with disabilities. Rule number 6 is focused on education and supports students being
educated in the general school system and the need to provide appropriate accommodations.
For more information on the Standard Rules, please visit https://www.un.org/development/desa/
disabilities/standard-rules-on-the-equalization-of-opportunities-for-persons-with-disabilities.html
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Salamanca

Statement. Adopted in 1994, this document highlights the need to provide inclusive education
for children with disabilities. Held in Salamanca, Spain, and attended by 92 governments and 25
international organizations, this document was adopted during the World Conference on Special
Needs Education. For more information on the Salamanca Statement, please visit http://www.unesco.
org/education/pdf/SALAMA_E.PDF
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The CRPD has
been ratified by 177 countries30 and addresses the full spectrum of rights of persons with disabilities, including
access to health, education, political participation and employment (United Nations, 2018). The CRPD has 50
Articles, of which many are relevant to implementing and supporting literacy programming for students with
disabilities. The three main articles related to the education of children with disabilities are as follows:
• Article 4: General Obligations. This article requires the active engagement of DPOs in development
of policies or programs related to persons with disabilities. Specifically, the article states “In the
development and implementation of legislation and policy to implement the present Convention,
and in other decision-making processes concerning issues relating to persons with disabilities,
State Parties shall closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities, including
children with disabilities, through their representative organizations.”
30 The number of ratifications as of April 2018.

• Article 24: Education. Governments should ensure inclusive education system at all levels and for
all persons with disabilities (regardless of types of severity of disabilities). In additions, governments
should provide:
• Reasonable accommodations as needed
• Support within the general education system to support their education
• The facilitation of “learning in braille, alternative script, augmentative and alternative modes,
means and formats of communication and orientation and mobility skills, and facilitating peer
support and mentoring”
• The facilitation of “learning sign language and the promotion of linguistic identity of the deaf
community.”
Governments should also employ teachers, including teachers with disabilities, who are qualified in
sign language and/or braille and to train staff to work at all levels of education (United Nations, 2006).
• Article 32: International Cooperation. All international development and humanitarian aid programs
should be inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities. International cooperation should
also support capacity building and the sharing of best practices as well as research and access
to technical knowledge. As a signatory of the CRPD, the US should follow the principles of the
Convention and thus is encouraged to ensure that all US-funded development programming is
fully inclusive of persons with disabilities. However, if the host government has ratified the CRPD,
then all US-funded support must be inclusive to be aligned with local law.
For more information on the CRPD, please visit:
https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-
disabilities.html
Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who are Blind, Visually
Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled. Adopted in June 2013, the Marrakesh treaty introduces a
“standard set of limitations and exceptions to copyright rules to permit reproduction, distribution and
making available of published work” in accessible formats for persons who are blind/have low vision
or are print disabled (World Intellectual Property Organization [WIPO], 2017). The purpose of this
treaty is to increase the information that is accessible online or in an audio version for persons with
disabilities. As of January 2018, 35 countries have ratified the treaty.31
For more information on the Marrakesh treaty, please visit: http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ip/marrakesh/
The United States and the CRPD

On July 30, 2009, President Obama signed the CRPD. On December 12, 2012, a vote to ratify
the CRPD came before the US Senate but failed to pass the required 2/3 vote by 5 votes
(USICD, 2018).
31 The United States signed the Marrakesh treaty on October 2, 2013 but as of January 2018 has not yet ratified the treaty.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition to the CRPD, Goal 4 of SDGs also addresses
the need for countries to provide quality education to children with disabilities by ensuring “inclusive
and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030. The
SDGs includes several indicators and targets that specifically address the need to provide education
to children with disabilities. The targets related to inclusive education are as follows (UN Division for
Social Policy and Development: Disability, 2016):
• Target 4.5: “By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all
levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities,
indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations.”
• Target 4.a: “build and upgrade education facilitates that are child, disability and gender sensitive
and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.”
For more information on the SDGs, please visit:

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs

Annex D: Six Partnership Types
1. Meeting families’ basic needs

• Accessing emotional support.
• Accessing informational support.
• Having quality child care.
• Attending to health needs.
• Ensuring safety (including child abuse and neglect).
• Accessing financial resources.
• Forging community partnerships to address needs.
2. Referring and evaluating for formal services and informal supports

• Advocating for child, family, and teacher rights.
• Referring families to the state’s Parent Training and Information Center.
• Coaching families in knowing and acting on child, family, and teacher rights.
• Implementing Child Find.
• Initiating and reviewing student referral.
• Collecting evaluation information on child.
• Documenting families’ resources, concerns, and priorities.
• Discussing evaluation results.
3. Individualizing in developing and providing appropriately

ambitious programs
• Advocating for child, family, and teacher rights.
• Referring families to the state’s Parent Training and Information Center.
• Coaching families in knowing and acting on child, family, and teacher rights.
• Considering the effective incorporation of assistive technology.
• Preparing in advance of IFSP/IEP process.
• Conducting IFSP/IEP meeting.
• Finalizing IFSP/IEP document.
• Implementing IFSP/IEP.
• Planning for transitions.

4. Extending student learning in home and community
• Guiding families to teach children through everyday activities and routines.
• Making home visits.
• Advocating for preferred informational, emotional, and logistical support.
• Addressing behavioral challenges in home and community settings.
• Helping connect students and families to neighborhood and community peers.
• Supporting children and youth to be included in community recreational activities.
• Supporting students and families to attend community venues and events.
• Building community partnerships to address school, student, and family needs.
5. Participating and volunteering with program/classroom/school

• Creating family friendly environments within the program.
• Encouraging families to attend program/community events and meetings related to child
development.
• Guiding families in how to assist with learning as a volunteer.
• Guiding families in how to contribute to other program tasks.
• Guiding families to volunteer in community events that have school, student and family
benefits.
6. Advocating for systems improvement

• Taking advantage of resources from Parent Training and Information Centers.
• Participating in advocacy and leadership training.
• Mentoring families and being mentored by families in advocacy activities.
• Informing families about program and community advocacy events and encouraging them
to consider participating.
• Ensuring that local and state special education advisory committees have family leadership.

Annex E: Template for Functional/
Ecological Assessment of Learning
Environments
Student:
School:
Grade/Age:
Environment/Class:
Activity:
Student Characteristics:
Key: + = independent P = partial assistance — = refusal or full assistance
Peers Without Intervention

Disabilities Target Student Strategies (e.g.,
Inventory (steps for Performance (+, Discrepancy adaptations,
the activity) Natural Cues P, —) Analysis prompts)

Annex F: Challenges and Interventions for
Students with Intellectual Disability and
Complex Support Needs
By Dr. Susan Copeland
Learning Challenge Some Ideas for Intervention

Need more time to learn new skills because of Provide many opportunities to practice skills in
difficulties with memory. as many different ways as possible. Come back
to newly learned skills periodically to review
them.
Often have difficulty transferring something Practice new skills with different types of
learned in one setting to a different setting or activities, books, writing materials and tasks.
different task.
Often have low vocabulary levels (this affects Build vocabulary and expressive language in
every area of literacy so should be a foundation every lesson.
of every literacy program).
Because of vocabulary issues may have Use simple, clear directions given one to two
difficulty following verbal directions. steps at a time.
May struggle to complete tasks with multiple Break multistep tasks down into steps (task
steps. analysis); model what you want students to
do (for example, use visual supports such as
a visual schedule, visual task analysis, graphic
organizers).
May not use speech to communicate. Provide other ways for students to respond
or contribute using pictures, alternative
communication systems, sign language,
computers, tablets.
May have difficult with decoding due to Provide sustained, ongoing instruction using
problems with working memory. active learning.
May have trouble learning abstract concepts. Use explicit, active instruction to help make
connections between abstract concepts such
as letter-sound associations.
Often have fine motor problems that make Provide lots of practice but also provide
handwriting difficult. opportunities to ‘write’ using dictation, keyboard
or magnetic letters to bypass fine motor skills to
develop written expression (i.e., don’t wait until
motor skills are solid before teaching students
to express themselves using print).

Learning Challenge Some Ideas for Intervention
May not be motivated to participate in lessons. Create lessons that include a game or
opportunity to work with others; develop
lessons where the topic of instruction is familiar
or of special interest to the student.
May have articulation problems that make Using techniques such as echo reading,
fluency difficult. reader’s theater and repeated reading of a
familiar text can help.
May become easily confused during a lesson. Give clear feedback and use lots of positive
reinforcement to keep motivation level high.
Reading comprehension may be lower than Use pictures, graphic organizers, read alouds to
expected due to lower levels of vocabulary and support comprehension.
complexity of text.

Annex G: Recommendations for
Stakeholder Engagement
It is important to design, implement, monitor and evaluation programs that take into consideration
the unique viewpoints of a diverse group of stakeholders. Recommendations on how to engage these
stakeholders are as follows:
• Ministries of Education (MOE). The MOE, or its equivalent in a country, is responsible for
leading education planning and plays a pivotal role in educational reform, policy and curriculum
development, and service delivery (Hayes and Bulat, 2017). It is important that the MOE be
responsible for the education of children in the country, including children with disabilities. In many
countries there is a continued practice of having ministries of Social Welfare oversee the education
of children with severe disabilities (especially students with intellectual disability or developmental
disabilities). The World Report of Disability states that this practice of having divided ministry
oversight should be avoided and discontinued as it “further segregates children with disabilities
and shifts the focus from education and achieving social and economic inclusion to treatment and
social isolation” (WHO, 2011). While most countries do have a Department of Special or Inclusive
Education, these departments can be underfunded and are often staffed by individuals who
have limited knowledge in educating students with disabilities. Conversely, there are also many
departments that are staffed by individuals with expertise in inclusive education who are also
strong advocates but are limited by the lack of resources to make substantial change within the
country. It is important to not only engage with the MOE but also specifically with representatives
from the Department of Special/Inclusive Education. In many programs, there is a hierarchy within
the MOE on who may engage with the donor and the implementing partners. These individuals
may not always be aware of disability policies, strategies and priorities. It is important to engage
those who are directly involved in supporting the education of students with disabilities to ensure
that their views and input are substantially involved in the design and implementation of a project.
• DPOs and the disability community. DPO engagement is a key component to all disability
programming and thus was placed as a requirement for developing disability programming
and policy within the CRPD (see section 2.7). Additional suggestions for engaging DPOs as
stakeholders include:
– Engage umbrella DPOs or national representative organizations that bring together different
national DPOs representing different types of disabilities.
– Ensure that all different types of disabilities are represented as much as possible in meetings
(for example, representation from persons with physical disabilities, sensory disabilities (deaf,
blind and deaf-blind), intellectual disability, learning disabilities and psychosocial disabilities.
– Ensure gender parity by promoting the inclusion of women, girls and youth with disabilities as well
as ask for the participation of any DPOs that may represent women with disabilities in the country.
– Promote geographic and ethnic diversity by asking DPOs to bring in members who represent
rural and urban areas as well as members of relevant ethnic, racial or cultural minorities
– Ensure that all DPO members can equitably participate by providing an accessible meeting
space that is physically accessible and has accessible bathrooms, as well as provide accessible
communication by providing local sign language interpreters and materials in alternative formats.

• Families of children with disabilities. Including the perspective of parents and families of
children with disabilities is key (see section 2.5.2). Given their unique insights, these stakeholders
also need to be a part of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation or programs.
While some countries may have DPOs that represent families of children with disabilities, there are
other countries where there are no formal parent support or advocacy structures. In some cases,
DPOs in a country only represent parents of children with intellectual disability. However, it is
important to include the perspectives of parents of children with other types of disabilities as well.
As with the DPO community, it is important to bring in as many diverse perspectives as possible
to represent parents (e.g. different types of disabilities, geographic setting, social economic status,
etc.). It is also important to not only engage mothers of children with disabilities but also engage
other relevant family members such as fathers and extended family caregivers where appropriate.
• NGOs and civil society. NGOs working in this sphere are important to include as part of the
participatory process. NGOs can be international NGOs/contractors working in this area as
well as local NGOs. In many cases, local NGOs may be providing direct educational services
by supporting segregated schools. These individuals can help ensure that programs build upon
past initiatives, understand the contextual challenges and avoid duplication of services. Donors,
the MOE and DPOs can serve as valuable sources to understand which DPOs are working in
the education of children with disabilities and can be effective contributors to the participatory
process.
• Other donors. As discussed earlier in this section, many donors are becoming increasingly
engaged in inclusive education. It is important to meet with them and include them as part of this
participatory process to better understand their current programs and future plans in this area.
Donors can include other bilateral organizations, UN agencies and multilateral organizations and
private and corporate foundations.
Resources for finding local DPOs:

• Disabled Persons International (DPI) http://www.dpi.org/dpi-members.html
• International Disability Alliance (IDA) http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/en/
about-us/ida-members-organizations
• United States International Council on Disabilities http://www.usicd.org

Annex H: Information to Include in
Situational Analysis
It is recommended that situational analysis capture the overall policies and programming related to
inclusive education. It is also important to not just focus on one type of disability but provide a cross-
cutting approach that addresses the needs of all children with disabilities. Information that can be
included in a situational analysis is as follows:
• Policies and strategies (including those policies that may serve as a barrier for inclusion)
• Government official definition of disability
• Disability prevalence rates and other statistics disaggregated by sex, age, and other categories
• Enrollment, repetition and drop-out rates
• Literacy rates
• Estimates and causes for out-of-school children
• Existing educational settings (inclusive, integrated, segregated)
• Identification processes and protocols
• Teacher training for both general education teachers and special education teachers
• Access to and the inclusion of students with disabilities in teaching and learning materials
• Access to the curriculum, including instruction in early grade reading
• Access to accommodations, including classroom adaptions, braille or materials in alternative
formats and instruction in local sign language
• Access to technology and assistive devices
• Provision and implementation of IEPs
• Available therapy services
• Available accessible transportation
• Community living versus living in institutions/social homes
• Family engagement and education (including families with and without children with disabilities)
• DPO engagement
• Community engagement
This list may be edited or expanded depending on the reality within the country. It may also be useful
to compare existing practices to the standards or guidance set forth in the UN CRPD to highlight where
countries may be aligned or yet to be aligned with the international treaty.

United States Agency for International Development
Office of Education
Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment (E3)
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20523, USA
www.usaid.gov

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Toolkit for International Education Stakeholders

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR

Cover photo credit: RTI International

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR

LICENSE: Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0 IGO

Chapter 1: Background on Students with Disabilities 7

Chapter 2: Establishing a Holistic Approach to Educating Students with Disabilities 22

Chapter 3. Promoting Literacy Skills for Students with Disabilities 63

Chapter 4: Theory into Practice: Implementers’ Guide on

Cited Resources 137

Glossary of Terminology 153

Annex B: Self-Reflection Checklist 159

Annex C: International Frameworks and Policies 161

Annex D: Six Partnership Types 164

Annex E: Template for Functional/Ecological Assessment of Learning Environments 166

Annex F: Challenges and Interventions for Students

Annex G: Recommendations for Stakeholder Engagement 169

Annex H: Information to Include in Situational Analysis 171

AAC Augmentative and alternative LMICs Low-and-middle-income countries

viii Universal Design for Learning to Help All Children Read

Toolkit for International Education Stakeholders ix

This toolkit helps provide evidence-based research on the “how” to

Toolkit for International Education Stakeholders 1

The toolkit was developed through a participatory process. This involved:

2 Universal Design for Learning to Help All Children Read

Purpose and Structure of the Toolkit

Toolkit for International Education Stakeholders 3

Universal Design for Learning

Universal Design for Learning:

4 Universal Design for Learning to Help All Children Read

Brain Networks UDL Principles

Source: CAST, 2018

The three means principles are of UDL are described as follows.

Multiple means of Engagement (foster students’ motivation in a variety of ways)

Multiple means of Representation (present information to students in a variety of ways)

3 For more information on Book Builder, please visit http://bookbbuilder.cast.org

Toolkit for International Education Stakeholders 5

Reflect on Your Context

4 For more information on Dragon Dictation, please visit http://learningworksforkids.com/apps/dragon-dictation

6 Universal Design for Learning to Help All Children Read

Special Education is a service, not a place.

1.1 The Situation of Children with Disabilities

Toolkit for International Education Stakeholders 7

Global Education of Students with Disabilities:

8 Universal Design for Learning to Help All Children Read

Bullying and Disability

Toolkit for International Education Stakeholders 9

Closer Look at Inclusion:

10 Universal Design for Learning to Help All Children Read

1.2 Defining Literacy for Students with Disabilities

Toolkit for International Education Stakeholders 11

1.3 Educational Settings and Learning Outcomes

1.3.1 Understanding Different Educational Settings

12 Universal Design for Learning to Help All Children Read

Figure 2. Four Dimensions of Exclusion, Segregation, Integration and Inclusion

Original source of figure unknown

Toolkit for International Education Stakeholders 13

Figure 3. Characteristics of Inclusive Education

Inclusion Means Inclusion Does Not Mean