Inclusive Education Screening Tool and Pilot Activity – Desk Review

Children with disabilities are less likely to be enrolled in school in low- and middle-income countries in Asia and beyond. Further, in most school systems in these countries, children with disabilities are not identified as having a disability and thus do not receive necessary support, even when the country has an inclusive policy education. Reports and studies indicate gaps in the identification of children with disabilities in school systems, gaps in teacher professional development and support, and a lack of specialized materials and resources. This desk review aims to provide critical information to policymakers and practitioners in US Agency for International Development (USAID) focal countries in Asia on the landscape of inclusive education for children with disabilities. Four main sets of research questions guide this desk review: 1) What are the disability prevalence rates in USAID-supported countries across Asia, and where do gaps exist in available data on students with disabilities? 2) What are the primary and secondary school completion rates of children with disabilities? 3) What policies exist, how do they vary across countries in USAID-supported countries in Asia, and are they being effectively implemented? 4) What is the education landscape for children with disabilities in USAID-supported Asian countries? What interventions to date have shown promise in improving aspects of inclusive education for children with disabilities, and what are the costs associated with implementing such programs?