Reimagining education to truly include disabled students is a reflection of Indian democracy

With the 2024 general elections underway in India, disability rights activists are advocating for disabled people to be viewed as a “decisive voting block”, urging citizens to vote for “inclusivity and disability rights” and for political parties to engage with disabled people in their electoral promises.

The manifestos of the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) parties include such promises. For example, both parties have proposed to include disability as grounds for discrimination in the Constitution, with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, fully implemented. However, it is essential to recognise that the education of children with disabilities is a broader concern for democratic participation.

Existing education policies view inclusive education as children with and without disabilities studying in the same school. Yet, inclusive education is not just the presence of disabled young people in school. It is a reflection of democracy: how can we ensure access, achievement, and participation of all children within educational systems?

Education policies reflect how nations respond to differences, and what the nation is willing to do to ensure equal rights and opportunities. Inclusive education concerns how we envision schools and classrooms for all children to reflect their aspirations. It is about providing youth with tools to challenge injustice, and encouraging them to be critical, questioning citizens regardless of ability,...

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