Bangladesh

Author: Tim Tyson Short and Caroline Noble The Centre for Services and Information on Disability is the winner of the Stars Foundation impact education award for its work to end the stigma of disability in Bangladesh. The Dhaka-based centre works with some of the most marginalised children and young people in Bangladesh, offering them access to education and employment, and promoting their inclusion in society. CSID received a STARS Foundation Impact Award for its pioneering work with disabled children amongst some of the poorest communities in Bangladesh. The challenge In Bangladesh, where over 20 per cent of the population is disabled, only 4 per cent of disabled children are estimated to be accessing basic education, recreation and leisure activities, and at least 80 per cent live in low-income families. This marginalised group is excluded from mainstream development plans, both within government and the NGO sector. As a result, many of these children face a life stigmatised and shamed of their disability, or forced to work on the streets as a source of income for their families. The response Centre for Services and Information on Disability (CSID) fights for the inclusion of disabled people in society and promotes their equal rights. CSID targets the most vulnerable children within this marginalised group, such as those living on the streets in slums and in rural areas, as well as those with severe degrees of disability and/or with no access to education and …