Breaking Barriers: Leveraging Mobile Technology to foster Numeracy and literacy Among Disabled Children in Nigeria

Individuals with disabilities represent the largest multicultural minority in the world, with 1 out of 20 children under 14 years living with a severe or moderate disability (Azoulay, 2020). However, educational outcomes for this prevalent minority remain bleak. Globally, students with disabilities are less likely to complete primary or secondary education, achieve basic literacy skills, and are more likely to experience income poverty (UNESCO, 2019). This issue is particularly complex in developing countries, where educational support environments, both traditional and virtual, are often inadequate to meet the needs of this historically excluded population.
To address this issue in Nigeria, the Kwara State School for Special Needs, a government-owned primary and secondary school for disabled children, is developing a web-based application aimed at improving learning outcomes for children with special education needs. Dischild is an interactive educational application that combines video-based learning, exercises, and live learning sessions. It provides audio instructions and visual aids customized to various disabilities, enhancing foundational literacy and numeracy skills. The project aims to examine the effectiveness and preliminary impact of mobile education on learning outcomes for children with disabilities in Nigeria, particularly in primary schools catering to students aged 8-16 years.