A recent Disability Scoop article highlights key portions of the document including current challenges:

"Despite progress achieved, (the committee) is concerned that profound challenges persist,” reads the statement. "Many millions of persons with disabilities continue to be denied a right to education, and for many more, education is available only in settings where they are isolated from their peers and receive an inferior quality of provision."

The key to inclusive education requires that all schools – private and state run – at all levels – from pre-school through tertiary education and life-long learning – undergo a transformation in culture, policy and practice.

In order to make learning truly inclusive, state-run and private school systems must be fully accessible, both physically and in terms of communication and support services, according to the U.N. panel. This should extend beyond the classroom to include transportation, cafeterias, recreational spaces and other facilities.

The document provides guidance for the Convention of Persons with Disabilities, a treaty currently ratified by 166 countries. The U.S. has not yet ratified the treaty.

Read the full article and link to the entire UN document here: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/09/07/un-panel-inclusive-education/22712/