“Free But Not Fair”: A Critical Review of Access to Equal Education for Deaf Children in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The first special school for children with disabilities in Sri Lanka opened over 100 years ago, in 1912. Over the years, a number of students with disabilities have gone on to tertiary education. However, deaf sign language users appear to have been left behind: To date, no deaf learner accessing education exclusively through Sri Lankan Sign Language has entered a local university. This chapter begins with a critical review of the trajectory of educational provision for deaf children followed by an appraisal of the contributions made by the Sri Lankan deaf associations toward increasing education access for deaf children. This leads to an analysis of the audiological and speech-language therapy services available within the school context and an evaluation of the limited but growing local “insider” research on deaf education. The chapter ends with reflections and recommendations for ensuring full and equal access to education for deaf children by 2030.