Information and Communication Technology supporting the inclusion of children with disabilities in education

Key messages

1. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) supports the inclusion in education of children with disabilities by enabling them to overcome some of the barriers causing their exclusion. ICT complements other face-toface methods and tools, such as teacher training and inclusive pedagogy.
2. The closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic prompted innovations in distance education through ICT. But not everyone was able to benefit from them. Children with disabilities, especially girls - already more likely to be excluded from advances in digitalisation - were largely left behind, exacerbating existing inequalities.
3. Ensuring access to inclusive and equitable education by 2030 will require us to rethinkthe means we use and accelerate the access to and affordability of digital technology in low- and middle-income countries.
4. A disability-inclusive and gender-responsive approach to ICT development must be adopted in the education sector to address differences in access to connectivity and digital learning and reduce the digital divide in order to enable all learners to reach their full potential.
5. Achieving optimal use of ICT in inclusive education requires the development of partnerships, the implementation of effective coordination between stakeholders and a strong political commitment to fostering innovation.