Increased Access to Inclusive Education Project

The Increased Access to Inclusive Education Project, implemented by LM International Ethiopia from February 2022 to December 2024, worked to expand equitable access to quality education for children facing barriers to learning (CFBL) in Adama, Asela, Bishoftu, Modjo, and Batu in Oromia Region. The project focused on reducing stigma and gender-related barriers, strengthening inclusive and special needs education systems, and ensuring that children with disabilities can participate meaningfully in school and community life.

Through partnerships with government institutions, civil society organizations, schools, families, and communities, the project combined teacher training, advocacy, awareness creation, child support services, accessible infrastructure, parent empowerment, and community networks. Five Inclusive Education Networks and 19 family networks were established, while IE/SNE clubs were created in 14 targeted schools to promote peer support, participation, and disability inclusion.

The project trained 317 teachers in Braille and Sign Language, supported 445 children facing barriers to learning, established two Special Needs Education resource centers, constructed three disability-friendly toilets and renovated another, and trained 360 candidate teachers through collaboration with Asela College of Teacher Education. It also supported parents through income-generating activities, reaching 79 parents with 1,275,500 birr in startup capital.

Overall, the project strengthened local capacity, improved awareness of disability rights, expanded support for inclusive learning, and contributed to more accessible and supportive school environments. Its participatory approach emphasized local ownership and sustainability, while lessons from the project highlighted the importance of parent-led networks, economic empowerment, accessible infrastructure, and continued advocacy to overcome persistent attitudinal barriers.