Disability Detect
Disability Detect is an award-winning mobile screening app that helps teachers identify disabilities and learning needs in children aged 3 to 17.
Theirworld Education Innovation Award winner
Global estimates suggest that 10 to 16 percent of children have a disability or special educational need. In many of the countries where organisations like ours work, the proportion identified in schools is far lower. Children go unsupported, teachers lack the tools to recognise learning needs, and the data needed to drive better policy is often unavailable.
Paper-based screening is slow, inconsistent and difficult to integrate into national education data systems. A single screening can take 30 minutes per child, and the results are hard to standardise across schools, districts or countries. Children with disabilities are significantly less likely to complete primary or secondary school than their peers, and the gap starts with identification.
This is the problem we set out to solve with Disability Detect.
A faster, more reliable way to screen
Teachers at the Nyabihu school for the deaf in Rwanda
Disability Detect is a non-medical, observation-based digital screening tool that enables teachers and Special Educational Needs (SEN) Officers to screen children across seven functional domains: vision, hearing, mobility, cognition (literacy and numeracy), self-care, communication, and attention and concentration.
The app is built on the Washington Group Questions (WGQ) framework, supporting international comparability and evidence-based screening. It does not provide clinical diagnoses. Instead, it generates screening-based insights, referral recommendations and individualised child profiles to inform inclusive teaching and follow-up assessment.
Each screening takes approximately 10 minutes per child. Results are generated instantly, and the app works fully offline, automatically syncing data when an internet connection becomes available.
Features
- WGQ based screening
- Offline data entry
- Instant results
- Referral recommendations
- Generated learning plans
- Dashboard analytics
- Child profiles
- Chatbot
Structured screening built on the Washington Group Questions (WGQ) framework for international comparability and evidence-based rigour
Full screening capability without internet access. Data syncs automatically when a connection is restored.
Screening outcomes are generated immediately, with severity indicators that guide next steps.
The system generates clinical referral suggestions based on screening results, connecting children to the support they need.
After each screening, the app automatically generates an Individualised Learning Plan (ILP) with tailored teaching strategies. Examples include adapted lesson pacing for cognitive needs, visual aids for hearing-related difficulties, and mobility-adjusted classroom arrangements.
School-level and district-level data, aggregated with trend analysis. Designed for integration with national Education Management Information Systems (EMIS).
Individual progress tracking over time, anonymised for privacy. Teachers can monitor development and adjust support.
In-app guidance for teachers on how to interpret screening results and implement ILPs. Closed loop with answers programmed and approved by Chance for Childhood.
Available on Android and iOS
Proven at scale
Disability Detect has been deployed across three countries, screening more than 60,000 children in partnership with governments, INGOs and education providers. Chance for Childhood holds signed memoranda of understanding with the governments of Ghana and Rwanda, and the app has been deployed in projects funded by UNICEF and the Scottish Government.
In Ghana, Disability Detect is used across 110 schools through a partnership with the Ghana Education Service, with work now underway with the Ministry of Education to embed inclusive education and the app in schools nationally. In Rwanda, 8,500 children have been screened across 57 schools as part of the Scottish Government-funded RISE project. In Uganda, the app was deployed in the Kyaka II refugee settlement and is now being piloted at two refugee reception centres in partnership with the Office of the Prime Minister.
Children screen across 3 countries
Faster than paper-based screening
Schools in Ghana alone
“The use of the Disability Detect App has decentralised the screening process. Teachers now take the lead, while coordinators provide guidance and oversight,”
The Disability Detect App has made it easier for us to identify children who may need extra support. Previously, many of these children would have been overlooked, but now we can respond early and involve parents quickly.
Partner with us
Disability Detect is available to NGOs and development organisations through a partnership agreement with Chance for Childhood. Every deployment is tailored to your context, school network and staffing, and begins with a Memorandum of Understanding designed around your operational requirements. A typical Year 1 partnership includes four components.
App licencing
Annual access for every school in your network, covering WGQ screening, instant results, referral recommendations and child profiles.
SEN Officer training
A five-day online programme covering safeguarding, app navigation, offline data workflows, referrals and dashboard reporting. In-person delivery is available on request.
Dashboard setup
One-time configuration of a secure web dashboard with two-factor authentication, giving your organisation direct access to screening data, trend analysis and aggregated reporting.
Technical Support
Email and WhatsApp helpdesk with a 48-hour response time, bug fixes, software updates, quarterly refresher webinars and a peer learning network for SEN Officers.
Month 1
Contract, school list upload, dashboard setup
Months 1-2
SEN Officer training
Months 2-6
Screening rollout and helpdesk support
Month 6
Data review
Months 7+
Ongoing support and planning for year 2
We provide a tailored quote based on the size and scope of your programme.
Frequently asked questions:
Partnership and costs
What does year 1 partnership include?
App licensing for every school in your network, covering WGQ screening, instant results, referral recommendations and child profiles. A five-day SEN Officer training programme delivered online, covering safeguarding and data privacy, app setup and navigation, offline data workflows, referral and case management, and dashboard analytics. Secure dashboard setup with two-factor authentication for real-time tracking, trend analysis and EMIS data export. Year 1 technical support including email and WhatsApp helpdesk with a 48-hour response time, bug fixes, software updates, quarterly refresher webinars, and a peer learning network for SEN Officers.
How is the training structured?
The training is a five-day programme delivered online, with in-person options available on request. It covers safeguarding and data privacy, app setup and navigation, offline data workflows, referral and case management, and dashboard analytics. The curriculum accommodates a range of technical literacy levels among SEN Officers.
How much does it cost?
Annual licensing is £59 per school per year. Dashboard setup is a one-off fee of £60 per school. Training is £2,700 per cohort. Technical support is included in the annual licence. As examples, a deployment across 100 schools with one training cohort has a Year 1 cost of £14,600, and 150 schools with one cohort is £20,550.
How are payments structured?
Payment is staged. An initial payment on contract signing covers training and dashboard setup. The balance is invoiced in advance as quarterly instalments covering maintenance and support. Exact amounts and triggers are set out in the contract.
Does Chance for Childhood have government agreements in place?
Yes. Signed memoranda of understanding are in place with the governments of Ghana and Rwanda.
Methodology and evidence
What methodology does the screening use?
The app is built on the Washington Group Questions (WGQ) framework, developed by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (2020). It also integrates the UNICEF Child Functioning Module (2017) into its screening logic. These are internationally recognised frameworks used across education and health programming globally.
What does the screening cover?
The app screens across seven functional domains: vision, hearing, mobility, cognition (literacy and numeracy), self-care, communication, and attention and concentration. It is non-medical and observation-based, designed to be administered by trained education professionals rather than clinicians.
Where has Disability Detect been deployed?
The app has been used in Ghana, Rwanda, and Uganda. In Ghana, 30,000 children have been screened across 110 schools through a partnership with the Ghana Education Service. In Rwanda, 7,936 children were screened across 57 schools as part of the RISE project funded by the Scottish Government, with every child who needed an assistive device receiving one. In Uganda, the app was deployed in the Kyaka II refugee settlement and is now being piloted at two refugee reception centres in partnership with the Office of the Prime Minister.
Has Disability Detect received any external recognition?
Chance for Childhood won the Theirworld Education Innovation Award, which supported the development of the AI-generated Individualised Learning Plans and the embedded teacher-support chatbot. The app has been deployed in projects funded by UNICEF and the Scottish Government.
Technical infrastructure
Does the app require any internet connection?
No. The app works fully offline. Data is entered and screenings are completed without internet access. When a connection becomes available, the app syncs automatically. Data is encrypted both in transit and at rest.
What platforms does the app run on?
Disability Detect is available on Android, iOS, and through a secure web dashboard.
How does the data flow through the system?
User input is validated within the app, sent through an API, stored in a PostgreSQL database, and surfaced through the dashboard analytics. The system supports real-time sync and offline queuing.
What languages is the app available in?
The app is currently available in six languages: English, French, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, and two local dialects. Additional language localisation can be added for £4,400 per language.
Data protection and compliance
How is children's data protected?
All data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Dashboard access is controlled through role-based permissions and two-factor authentication. Consent is obtained before any data is collected. Analytics data is aggregated and anonymised, and individual data is shared only with authorised personnel.
What data protection standards does the platform follow?
The platform is aligned with GDPR principles and applicable national data protection legislation. Data security architecture draws on the World Bank Data Protection Toolkit (2018). The app’s interface follows W3C Web Accessibility Guidelines (2022).
Who owns the intellectual property?
Chance for Childhood retains full ownership of the Disability Detect platform, developed and maintained in partnership with TechEra, a Ghana-based software firm. The core WGQ methodology is in the public domain. All proprietary enhancements, platform architecture, and AI components are IP-protected under a signed service contract governing development, maintenance, and GDPR compliance.
Discover more:
Stay in the loop
Sign up to get the latest updates on our work and ways you can make a difference.
By signing up, you agree to our data policy. Learn more in our privacy policy.