Mpho Tshivhase

South African educator who pioneered inclusive education for children with disabilities

Mpho Tshivhase (b. 1975) is a groundbreaking educator from South Africa who transformed special needs education through her Integrated Learning Centers initiative. Growing up with a hearing impairment herself, she experienced first-hand the challenges faced by disabled students in traditional schools. After earning her master's in Educational Psychology from the University of Pretoria, she co-founded Inclusive Futures Foundation in 2003. The foundation's flagship program establishes schools where children with disabilities learn alongside their peers in fully accessible environments. Tshivhase developed the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, which has been adopted by 120 schools nationwide. Her 2010 documentary "Voices Unheard" exposed systemic barriers in special education. In 2018, she collaborated with UNESCO to create the African Inclusive Education Charter, now used in 15 countries. Tshivhase's work has empowered over 15,000 children and earned her the Global Education Prize in 2020. Her advocacy continues through the Disability Rights Hub she launched in 2021.