Inclusive education for children with disabilities - the role and practices of International Non-Governmental Organizations in the northwest region of

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Given Somaliland's situation of extreme poverty, persons with disabilities are most often excluded from employment, education and areas of social- cultural life. The educational and health needs of persons with disabilities are rarely prioritised in the allocation of scarce resources. The lack of provision experienced by PWDs is due to the institutional, attitudinal and enciviromental barriers that are faced with PWDs and their families. Most of the Somaliland's policies and strategies regarding disability focuses largely on the individual and are influenced by the medical model of disability. This can result in structurally and politically entrenched isolation and discrimination of PWDs, their inclusion in social life of the community and their access to education. Children with disabilities are disproportionately affected by the aforementioned - due to their situation and limited capacity. It is now broadly recognised by the international development community that access to education for PWDs, particularly for children is the foundation to improving an individuals' life and the collective family. The most frequent arguments for inclusive education has been and continues to be the references to the: rights- based discourse; the discursive links between disability and poverty and the economic argument. Likewise, disability inclusion of is the major theme in the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations. The goals recognise the need to address inclusion of disabled people as well as put emphasis on how disability relates to education and employment. For example, Goal 4 focuses on inclusive education for all and the promotion of inclusive learning environments in order to provide equal access for persons with disabilities. As a result, the international community and INGOs have prioritise issues pertaining to disability in their development programmes.