Inclusive Education at the crossroads in Ashanti and BrongAhafo regions in Ghana: Target not achievable by 2015

Abstract

Results

Poverty alleviation among persons with disabilities via United Nations' sustainable development goals in Ghana: Voices of stakeholders with disabilities

“…Second, as expected, poverty was cited by participants as one of the main reasons for their inability to access education. This concurs with other studies (Danso et al, , ; Filmer, ; Kassah, ; Opoku et al, , Opoku, Mprah, Badu, Mckenzie & Agbenyega, ; UNICEF, ; WHO, ), which have reported that poverty and hostile physical environments restrict equitable participation in education by persons with disabilities. If Ghana is committed to improving the living conditions of persons with disabilities and encouraging their participation in productive activities, efforts should be made to facilitate their participation in education.…”

“…Even if individuals with a disability are successful in securing a job, they are highly likely to be underemployed or underpaid, which consequently reduces their earning power (Kassah, ; Opoku, Mprah, Dogbe, Moitui, & Badu, ; Opoku, Mprah, Mckenzie, Sakah, & Badu, ). This economic disparity, in the case of individuals with disabilities, is further pronounced by deficits in skill levels due to lack of education and formal training (Kassah, Kassah, & Agbota, ; Naami, Hayashi, & Liese, ; Opoku, Badu, Amponteng, & Agyei‐Okyere, ). This deprivation of access to formal learning, coupled with limited access to skills‐based education, may account for high rates of unemployment among individuals with disabilities, over and above the rates that might be expected.…”

The Family and Disability in Ghana: Highlighting Gaps in Achieving Social Inclusion

“…Sometimes when the family lacks the financial resources to provide for all the family members, only the typically developing siblings are supported. Probably, the negative perception that persons with disabilities are unproductive informs the decision of thefamily to educate other siblings at the expense of children with disabilities (Naami et al, 2012;Gregorius, 2016;Opoku et al, 2015). Although some have managed to engage in income-generating activities, they fear that without deliberate state intervention, many of their peers might live in abject poverty and resort to unscrupulous means, such as begging, to survive.…”

“…Specifically, when it comes to educating their members with disabilities, families see it as a waste of scarce financial resources (Kassah, 2008;Baffoe, 2013;Opoku et al, 2015). Without formal education, persons with disabilities may have limited or no skills to engage in productive economic activities.…”

In search of universal health coverage – highlighting the accessibility of health care to students with disabilities in Ghana: a qualitative study

“…In addition, the evidence focused largely on the general disability population, with relatively no study targeting students. The search of the literature identified few studies that explore social service issues regarding students with disabilities in Ghana but addressed barriers in accessing inclusive education (34,(41)(42)(43). No study has attempted to explore the accessibility of health services for students with disabilities, in the quest of achieving universal health coverage.…”