OECS endorses landmark disability assessment

The Eastern Caribbean has taken an important step towards a more inclusive future for children and young people with disabilities, following the endorsement of a landmark regional assessment by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Council of Ministers: Human and Social Development (COM: HSD).

Endorsed on 8 October 2026 during the Council’s 10th meeting in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the assessment will examine how systems and services can better uphold the rights of children and young people with disabilities and support them to reach their full potential.

Led by UNICEF in partnership with the OECS, governments, organisations of persons with disabilities, civil society, academia and development partners, the assessment will apply a Cradle-to-Career systems approach to understanding their experiences. It is the first initiative globally to apply this approach to a disability assessment.

The assessment will cover Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

It will examine how health, education, social protection, child protection, community services and employment systems work together to meet the needs of children and young people with disabilities as they grow, learn and transition into adulthood.

The study will identify barriers that prevent children and young people with disabilities from accessing essential services, participating fully in their communities and realising their rights. It will also document good practices and opportunities to strengthen inclusion across sectors.

Intensive field missions and stakeholder consultations are planned for Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. These engagements will bring together children and young people with disabilities, caregivers, government representatives, service providers, organisations of persons with disabilities, academia and development partners.

Their experiences and perspectives will help identify where support is falling short and what needs to change to make services more accessible, coordinated and responsive.

“This landmark assessment provides a unique opportunity to understand how systems can better support children and young people with disabilities at every stage of life and ensure that no one is left behind,” said Maryam Abdu, UNICEF Representative a.i.

“By generating evidence and amplifying lived experiences, we can strengthen policies and services that empower every child to learn, thrive, and reach their full potential.”

His Excellency Dr Didacus Jules, Director General of the OECS, welcomed the endorsement, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation.

“This assessment demonstrates the Caribbean’s determination to place inclusion at the heart of development. Through strong partnerships and evidence-driven action, we have an opportunity to transform systems so that every child and young person with a disability can participate fully and contribute meaningfully to society,” he said.

The Honourable Shevern John, Minister of Social Welfare, Community Empowerment, Ecclesiastical Affairs and National Heritage of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Chair of COM: HSD, said the endorsement reaffirmed the region’s commitment to the rights and dignity of children and young people with disabilities.

The assessment is expected to generate the most comprehensive regional evidence base to date on disability inclusion, identify gaps and opportunities across sectors, and inform a roadmap for more inclusive policies, programmes and investments.

The initiative aligns with the OECS Strategic Priority 5, Advance Equity and Inclusion, which seeks to reduce disparities in health, education and social outcomes. It also builds on the August 2026 launch of the OECS Regional Child Policy and Strategic Plan 2026–2032.

By placing the experiences of children and young people with disabilities at the centre of regional evidence and policy development, UNICEF and its partners are working towards a Caribbean where systems are more responsive to their needs, their voices inform decisions and they have equal opportunities to learn, participate and contribute to society.

Every child has the right to be included, to have their voice heard and to reach their full potential.