Breaking down barriers: Aakanksha’s journey to inclusive education

In Nepal, HI is running an inclusive education project in partnership with UNICEF and Seto Gurans to train teachers in three towns in inclusive education for very young children. This project also aims to detect disabilities in 6,000 or so children as early as possible to allow them access to medical treatment and then educational support. One such child is six-year-old Aakansha, who has had hearing difficulties since birth.

“I thought it would be impossible for her to learn”

Until last year, Aakanksha was shut out of the education system due to a lack of knowledge about disability and disability rights in her family and community. Even the school had not asked her parents to enrol her, admits her teacher Nita Dhungana:

“When I met Aakanksha, she didn't speak, so I thought I would never be able to communicate with her, that her disability made it impossible for her to learn”.

Since then, Nina and the school’s head teacher have been trained in inclusive learning techniques, acquiring the skills needed to carry out early screening of children and identify functional limitations, as well as approaches to facilitate learning for these children by reducing barriers. It was then that Nina remembered Aakansha. She enrolled her in school and created the right environment for her to thrive.
When Aakanksha started school, she was shy and used to play on her own. However, with regular attendance, she began to interact and integrate with her classmates. To support her learning, a personalised support plan was put in place and appropriate activities were organised.

A key ring for communicating with others

The inclusive learning materials provided by the project, in particular the communication keyring, have been invaluable to Aakanksha. She uses the communication keyring to express her needs by showing the corresponding picture on the keyring when she needs to go to the toilet, for instance, or if she is feeling unwell. Her ability to play and interact with her classmates has also improved considerably.
In coordination with the municipality of Chandrapur and Impact Nepal, the children identified as having hearing difficulties during the early identification process underwent medical examinations. Aakansha was among them. It was determined that there was no medical solution for her hearing problem.
Once Aakanksha's hearing disability had been confirmed, an integrated family service plan was developed to provide her with the necessary services. The first step was to help her obtain a disability identification card so that she could access government benefits and services. With the help of the project's itinerant teachers, her family obtained the necessary documents.

Aakanksha's mother explained that they hadn’t known about these services before. When they learned of the benefits available, her mother began the process of obtaining the disability identity card, which enabled them to officially enrol her in school. She will also be entitled to financial support throughout her school career!

“I was very worried about my daughter, but now, with HI's support, I'm relieved to know that my daughter can also study. I support her at home as much as I can, and I've noticed that since she's started school, she's much more active.”