Teaching children with disabilities: ICTs in Bangkok and Addis Ababa

Abstract

Purpose

This paper intends to explore the levels of availability and restrictions in relation to the use of ICTs (information and communication technologies) for educating children with disabilities in Thailand's and Ethiopia's capitals.

Design/methodology/approach

In the course of an international research project, parents and teachers of children with different disabilities, the children themselves and further experts were interviewed about barriers and facilitators in the children's educational environment. For this paper only selected interviews focusing on sensory disabilities were analysed regarding the above mentioned areas of using ICTs.

Findings

ICTs are available in the respective cities. The levels of restrictions related to the socio‐economic situation in the two cities vary accordingly but show the same overall limitations. The intensity and kind of use of ICTs is strongly related to resources, the educational actors' awareness and knowledge.

Originality/value

Approaching the topic of ICTs in relation to disability might not be new, neither is the contextualisation with the Majority World. However, the combination of the three aspects against the background of current global developments (e.g. the growing gap between the poor and the rich) reveals the importance of taking a closer look at special needs education and ICTs in the Majority World. This opens the floor for discussion on how inclusion of the most marginalised groups in education affects development in general.

Citation

Schiemer, M. and Proyer, M. (2013), "Teaching children with disabilities: ICTs in Bangkok and Addis Ababa", Multicultural Education & Technology Journal, Vol. 7 No. 2/3, pp. 99-112. https://doi.org/10.1108/17504971311328026