New project gives hope for future of disabled children

According to the World Health Organisation, “98% of disabled children in developing countries do not receive an education.”

Integr8, a programme of the Christian disability charity Through the Roof, wants to address this and aims to see every disabled child in developing countries fulfil their God-given potential. In August the charity’s first education mission enabled a team of teachers to travel to South India to provide training in working with disabled children to teachers, Christian leaders and community workers.

A key team-member, and unique aspect of the trip, was 17 year-old Abigail, who has Asperger’s syndrome and Dyspraxia, who shared her personal experience of disability with teachers. Delegates said that Abigail had ‘inspired and challenged’ them to provide appropriate support for disabled children.

Team leader, Tim Wood, said “During our trip, we delivered training to around 120 teachers, headteachers, community workers and Christian leaders, equipping them with new skills and strategies to help disabled children fulfil their potential – if each of those teachers were to use these new methods to make a difference to just five children, our trip will have benefited 600 disabled children!”

Teachers and community workers were enthused and encouraged by the course and arranged to meet together again. Attendees also planned to pass on Integr8’s training to other teachers, recognising the potential, needs and capabilities of young disabled people and raising standards in special education.

Integr8 plans to return to India in 2009 to train new teachers and build on the initial training, and is now planning other international trips.