Schools where all belong, works towards equity in education for children with disabilities. The project equips children across disabilities transforming lives that would otherwise have limited access to mainstream education. This inclusive education model works to strengthen education systems and all stakeholders in the sphere of influence to support educational aspirations of children with disabilities and has impacted 1,25,000 children and their wellbeing. This inclusive education model works to build competency and capacities of multi-stakeholders entrusted with the mandate of education of children with disabilities, including government officials, schools and teachers, panchayat-level staff and community members.
Programs
School Readiness Program
Building capacities for inclusvie education
never-the-less
Highlights
Schools Where All Belong has designed a School Readiness Program (SRP) that prepares children with disabilities to be part of mainstream education which has made a big difference in the lives of children with disabilities in the State of Karnataka. A carefully planned Individualised Education Plan (IEP) is developed for each child along with a mechanism to assess progress. Additionally, the students receive regular physiotherapy and speech therapy through offline and online consultation. Art-based therapy activities are also planned and conducted at the SRPs on a daily basis.
The ABC-IE (Assessment and Building Capacities for Inclusive Education) training is designed to facilitate individuals who have the responsibility for working with children with disabilities and for creating inclusive and enabling environments to aid learning and education. The State-level training program will assess, build competency and capacitate state-level teachers and panchayat level staff who have been entrusted the mandate for the education of children with disabilities. This inclusive education approach will ensure long term sustainability, transfer of skills and knowledge to manage bridge centres that enable mainstreaming and inclusion.
The Digital Equity Accelerator Program strengthens inclusive education for children with disabilities in Karnataka by leveraging technology to ensure equitable access, scalability, and sustained system impact. Through a robust digital delivery model, the program conducts state-level capacity-building workshops for government officials and teachers, enabling consistent implementation of inclusive practices across districts. It develops and deploys digital training content to expand outreach to remote and underserved regions, while facilitating remote physiotherapy, speech therapy, and art therapy consultations for children in rural areas. By strengthening programme coordination, monitoring, and evaluation across Karnataka and Kerala, the Program embeds digital equity as a central driver of improved access, operational efficiency, and measurable impact in inclusive education.
The Schools Where All Belong Physiotherapy Resource Centre Program is a therapy-based initiative run in the schools that addresses the rehabilitation needs of children with disabilities in inclusive education settings. Each centre supports up to 250 children, providing regular, individualised physiotherapy tailored to each child’s health, mobility, and participation in learning.Therapy is guided by structured care plans and continuous progress monitoring, ensuring responsive and effective support. Parents and caregivers are actively engaged and trained to continue therapy at home, helping maintain continuity of care and improve long-term outcomes.
The ‘never-the-less’ National Inclusion Conference is a strategic platform led by Fourth Wave Foundation to advance inclusive educational spaces for children with disabilities in India. Anchored in over two decades of systemic work through Schools Where All Belong, it draws on field-based evidence, policy engagement, and large-scale mainstreaming efforts across Karnataka. The program convenes policymakers, government officials, educators, corporate leaders, youth representatives, and disability inclusion advocates to deliberate on scalable, system-driven solutions that move inclusion from intent to implementation. It strengthens a national network committed to advancing accountable, high-quality education systems that ensure equitable access for all children.
never-the-less
never-the-less
Vasanthi Srinivasan on 'Disability and Inclusion' at the never-the-less conference 2023
C C Joseph on Fourth Wave Foundation's Inclusive Education Model at never-the-less conference 2023
