Children with disabilities face significant barriers to accessing inclusive education in emergency contexts – and humanitarian organisations often do not know how to best include them.

This tool is designed to help people working in humanitarian action build an understanding of how to include children with disabilities in education in emergencies (EiE) work through practical, real life scenarios.

This interactive simulation helps users bridge the gaps between standards and practice – helping you strengthen practical judgement on disability inclusion in humanitarian education responses.

The Simulation

This interactive simulation is designed to support humanitarian actors with promoting the inclusion, participation, and learning of children with disabilities in EiE.

In the simulation, you step into the role of an Education Officer, working for a humanitarian organisation.

As you make your way through the simulation, you will be responding to new information, navigating challenges, and making decisions with the goal of including children with disabilities in your EiE programming.

The tool uses a scenario-based, reflective learning approach:

  • Choices are shaped by feasibility, timing, and constraints
  • Feedback focuses on consequences and trade-offs, not compliance
  • Learn through observation, reflection, and adaptation

Through the simulation, disability inclusion is treated both as a “must do” (as per the IASC Guidelines) and a process, not a one-off decision. In this regard, the simulation emphasises progressive realisation, consistent with humanitarian principles and international guidance.

Start the Simulation

Audience

This tool is intended for practitioners who are already working in or alongside humanitarian education responses. It is designed for:

  • Education in Emergencies practitioners
  • Programme managers and technical advisors
  • Field coordinators and education officers
  • Staff working on disability inclusion, protection, or child-focused humanitarian programmes

It assumes basic familiarity with humanitarian contexts and EiE concepts.

Prior knowledge of disability inclusion is not required, though experience in education or inclusion work will deepen the learning.

Outcomes

By the end of this simulation, you will be able to:

  • Understand how and why children with disabilities may be excluded at different stages of an emergency response
  • Identify common points where inclusion breaks down
  • Recognise when and how disability inclusion can be introduced, strengthened, or institutionalised within existing constraints such as time and resources
  • Envision what a disability-inclusive EiE response may look like and include

Start the Simulation

The simulation is available in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.