Neerja Sharma — Lady Irwin College, New Delhi.

The focus of this paper is to draw attention to the fact that the goal of universal elementary education cannot be achieved without ensuring equity in opportunity for children with special needs. The attempt would be to explore the realms of social and cultural resources on the Indian landscape that can be accessed and strengthened to support the education of children with special needs, including those from disadvantaged environments. Socio-historically, the child with disability has been a part of the Indian social milieu. Assuming that learning does not take place only in the classroom, this paper will explore the ways in which the child’s social matrix can be engaged in the acquisition of developmentally appropriate knowledge and skills.