UNICEF advocates for the protection of all children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and expand opportunities for them to reach their potential.
Our work on disability is guided by a human rights-based approach, and the social model of disability (also commonly referred to as the human rights model of disability), with a focus on equity and reaching the most marginalized.
According to the World Report on Disability, 1 billion people have a disability with at least 1 in 10 being children and 80% living in developing countries. In accordance with the social model outlined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), children with disabilities have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others (CRPD, Article 1).
While the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) applies to all children, the CRPD further strengthens the rights of children with disabilities. It does not introduce additional rights, but it imposes additional obligations on Governments to take action to remove the barriers keeping children with disabilities from realizing their rights.
All-Staff Disability Orientation including ASL, subtitles and audio description
The web-based Disability Orientation for UNICEF staff and partners is a multi-media, 40-minute video that includes interesting and thought provoking statements, resources and good practices across the globe. The objective of the orientation is to strengthen understanding of, and capacity to support, programming for children and women with disabilities.
The Disability Orientation consists of two main modules, each containing five lessons. The first module provides an overview of the disability movement and what disability means according to the CRPD. The second module focusses on how to mainstream disability through our work.
The Disability Orientation can be completed individually or in groups.
It is currently available in English, with subtitles as well as with accessibility deatures including voice over and American Sign Language. The Disability Orientation with accessibility features will be available in French and Spanish in the coming year.
