Case Study Details - The EDISON Alliance - COVID 19, technology-based education and disability: the case of Colombia; emerging practices in inclusive digital learning for students with disabilities

Colombia’s educational sector has distinguished itself through innovative experiences in the past three decades. In recent years, national bodies such as the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications (MinICT) have launched specific programmes for the inclusion of students and people with disabilities both at formal education in all levels and also as part of a lifelong learning strategy. The study describes policies, opportunities and challenges related to the utilization of information and communication technology (ICT) to create more inclusive learning environments in Colombia. It will present and analyse key features of the national policy and few emerging initiatives. In each case, it will review, for each target population, accessible ICT products and services in formal and non-formal educational settings.

Impact / Outcome

For example, in 2020 the YouTube channel from the National Institute for the Deaf (INSOR) Educativo Colombia had 345,887 subscriptions and 3,319 views. Other example is what Civil society organizations provide to people with disabilities. The Programa Emociones Conexión Vital, or Vital Connection Emotions Program, witch objective is to build socio-emotional skills and resilience, based on the connection that exists between skills and inclusion as a behaviour and cultural heritage, was developed through virtual and remote modalities with the support of tutors and synchronous virtual meetings, training employees of the Secretariats of Education and Health in 48 territorial entities, and 2,121 teachers in 300 schools.

Funding sources

Public

Key Metrics

Production of accessible educational content; Enhance teacher training in the use of ICTs