Schooling children with disabilities: Parental perceptions and experiences

Abstract

Schooling of children with disabilities has become an important development agenda, as also emphasized in the SDGs. This paper examines how parents of children with disabilities from low income families living in a rural community in India understand and experience the schooling of their child with disabilities. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with mothers. Findings suggest that mothers greatly valued schooling both for its short and long term benefits; however they were acutely aware of the poor quality of schooling on offer. While parents emerged as strong enablers in supporting their child's schooling they were seemingly devoid of agency to enable their child with disabilities to access meaningful education.