By Vasudha Arabandi, National Initiatives and Communications Associate
Global Accessibility Awareness Day is observed to celebrate and recognise the over 1 billion people worldwide who live with disabilities. Of these, 63.28 million people with disabilities reside in India, comprising 4.52% of the total Indian population. Among them, 2.04 million are children.
Education is considered one of the greatest equalisers in the world. But how do we ensure that education is accessible to those who may face barriers to accessing it? It is not enough to provide equal access; we must also ensure equal opportunity to access education meaningfully.
The young brain has significant plasticity. If a child with a disability receives a stimulating environment, opportunities for peer interaction, and active learning, the impact of the disability on functioning can be greatly reduced, as the brain adapts by forming new neurons and synaptic connections. Which is why action needs to be taken at an early stage, the first step in providing a solution is identifying the problem. Early screening can detect developmental delays, sensory impairments (such as vision or hearing loss), or learning disabilities at a stage when intervention is most effective.
To support children with disabilities effectively, the Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the Anganwadi Protocol for Divyang Children in 2023. The protocol follows a three-step approach: screening, referral, and inclusion. It helps identify developmental delays early, supports parents in navigating life with a child with a disability, and enables these children to lead fulfilling and enriched lives.
To further supplement this, the National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation – Navchetana recommends a set of 140 activities for children from birth to three years. These activities aim to support holistic development—cognitive, socio-emotional, language, physical, and creative. The guiding principle behind these activities is to strengthen what can be strengthened, and where that is not possible, to offer alternative strategies, such as using different senses to compensate.
These are small but significant steps within a larger ecosystem, aimed at making education truly accessible for all. This Global Accessibility Awareness Day, let us celebrate children with disabilities by recognising their unique strengths, nurturing their potential, and advocating for inclusive systems that support their growth. Small acts—like reading inclusive stories, organising awareness drives at schools, or supporting accessible infrastructure—can go a long way.
If a child is unable to participate in activities like “hide and seek” due to needing support to walk, the caregiver can instead engage the child in activities such as reaching for a ball, which encourages crawling and supports their current level of mobility. This not only enables the child to participate but also builds their ability to walk. True celebration lies not just in recognising their strengths but in building inclusive systems that empower every child to thrive. To ensure that every Divyang child is seen, heard, supported, and given the opportunity to thrive. While education is often called the great equaliser, it truly becomes one only when it includes and supports every child—embracing their uniqueness, empowering their journey, and ensuring that no one is left behind.