Introduction

Education is the cornerstone both for personal and national development and is recognized by international organizations and national governments alike as a fundamental and basic right. Universal education for all children was adopted as part of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In a national address to America's schoolchildren on the importance of education and training, US President Barack Obama (2009) stated:

These remarks on the importance of education notwithstanding, a majority of countries have failed to provide full access to education for children with disabilities. Despite the commitments made in several international declarations, access to education for people with disabilities, particularly in developing countries, is still often elusive. It is estimated that there are between 120 million and 150 million people younger than the age of 18 with disabilities around the world, and that more than 90 per cent of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school (UNESCO 2009).