Education and Training Program
This program focuses on schools and universities where Wayana Foundation makes long term interventions to facilitate integration of children and youth in mainstream education. The program is divided into three main components:
- Empower educators to accommodate students with disabilities in public and private schools’ settings
- Advance the knowledge of university professors to integrate youth with disabilities in tertiary education system.
- Train youth and adults to meet the job market needs and competition providing them opportunities to be hired or equipping them to compete with their counterparts from non-disabled groups on national and international levels.
To achieve integration of persons with disabilities in Egyptian mainstream education system, Wayana Foundation set the following goals:
Understanding Disabilities
Educators should gain a comprehensive understanding of different types of disabilities, including physical, sensory, intellectual, and emotional disabilities. This knowledge is essential to provide appropriate support.
Inclusive Education Principles
Educators and schools staff training focuses on principles of inclusive education, which involve creating a classroom environment that welcomes and accommodates diverse learners, including those with disabilities.
Differentiation
Educators are trained in differentiated instruction techniques to meet the unique learning needs of students with disabilities. This includes adapting teaching methods, materials, and assessments.
Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)
Advance the skills of special education department and social and psychological specialists at schools to be proficient in developing and implementing IEPs, which are critical documents outlining goals, accommodations, and support services for individual students with disabilities.
Sensitization and Attitudinal Change
Address any biases or stereotypes that teachers may hold towards students with disabilities and foster an empathetic and inclusive mindset.
Communication and Collaboration
Develop teachers’ understanding about the urgency to work closely with other professionals like special education staff, therapists, and parents, to support students with disabilities.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Train teachers in UDL principles, which focus on creating flexible learning environments that can be customized to meet the needs of all students, including those with disabilities.
Accessibility
Ensure that teachers understand how to make physical spaces, teaching materials, and digital resources accessible for students with disabilities.
Use of Assistive Technology
Teachers are encouraged to with various assistive technologies and tools that can help children and youth with disabilities to access the curriculum and participate fully in classroom settings.
Assessment and Evaluation
Equip teachers with strategies and new teaching methodologies for fair and accurate assessment of students with disabilities, including alternative assessment methods.
Progress Monitoring
Teach teachers how to monitor the progress of students with disabilities and make data-driven decisions to improve their educational experience.
Family and Community Engagement
Encourage teachers to involve parents and the surrounding NGOs to promote the inclusion of students with disabilities in the school environment.
