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Keeping The Promise: Reflections On A Global Workshop On Children With Disabilities In Developing Countries
By: Renata Bursten, Dragonfly Staff

The Acadamy for Educational Development convened a Global Workshop of grassroots practitioners, service providers, professional educators, parents of children with disabilities, NGOs and advocacy groups to discuss the worldwide challenge of full intergration of children with disabilities. Here is your chance to read their report.

The Global Workshop held in Washington in February 1997 was part of a continuum of efforts, a new attempt to give children with disabilities and their families not only a voice, but a more secure future. Over 100 people came together under the leadership of the Disabilities Studies and Services Center (DSSC) of the Academy for Educational Development (AED) to find ways to expand opportunities for children with disabilities and their families.
,Part consciousness-raising, part advocacy training, and part strategic planning, the Global Workshop brought together the best thinking on the issues and interests of children with disabilities. The focus was on observing and hearing about best practices, on sharing what is working where, and on encouraging dialogue among key groups. Not until assuring participation for children with disabilities and their families becomes a consistent and integral part of government agendas and of development assistance can full membership in society become a reality for everyone.
,Participants identified gaps in social services and described practical solutions to fill those gaps. Some left with new skills and ideas to apply in their individual situations. Others left with national and international models of successful advocacy. All left with new ideas, hope, and determination. The Global Workshop was one important step in the effort to reduce the global economic, social, and humanitarian costs of ignoring the potential of children with disabilities. This report tells the story of that Workshop.

Keeping The Promise