Children with disabilities
Fifteen per cent of the world’s population – at least one billion people – have some form of disability, whether present at birth or acquired later in life. Nearly 240 million of them are children. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities defines living with a disability as…, Discrimination against children with disabilities, Yet, children with disabilities are among the most marginalized people in every society. A range of barriers limits their ability to function in daily life, access social services (like education and health care) and engage in their communities. These include: Physical barriers – for example, buildings, transportation, toilets and playgrounds that…, For every child, every right, The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted in 2006 in response to the severe human rights violations experienced by people with disabilities worldwide. The CRPD obligates Governments to take concrete measures to promote their full and equal enjoyment of all…, Topics in disability rights, Stigma and discrimination, Stigma and discrimination are at the root of the exclusion children with disabilities face in every aspect of life. UNICEF works to transform attitudes, practices and social norms around disability to make families, communities, schools, health care, and social services inclusive and accessible, and to support the full participation of children…, Inclusive health and well-being, Children with disabilities often have limited access to health care, nutrition and support for their well-being. As a result, they experience poorer physical and mental health outcomes compared to their peers. UNICEF works to ensure that children with disabilities and their families can access disability-inclusive health services, support and…, Inclusive education, Children with disabilities face persistent barriers to education stemming from discrimination, stigma and the routine failure of decision-makers to address exclusion in school. As a result, they are among the most likely to be out of school, and are often placed in segregated schooling. Many miss out on opportunities to learn and develop skills…, Inclusive child protection, Children with disabilities face heightened risks of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation compared to their peers. They’re also more likely to be institutionalized and experience barriers accessing justice. UNICEF works to make child protection systems inclusive and accessible, including in humanitarian crises, so that children with…, Inclusive WASH, Many children with disabilities have limited access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities – creating barriers to other needs for which WASH is a necessary condition. UNICEF works to ensure that all children with disabilities realize their fundamental human right to accessible drinking water and sanitation, as required for their…, Inclusive social protection, Children with disabilities and their families are disproportionately likely to live in poverty, owing to the costs of having a disability, lack of access to education and other essential services, and inadequate social protection. UNICEF works to make social protection systems and social spending responsive to disability, so that children and…, Children with disabilities in emergencies, Children with disabilities are among the most marginalized in communities affected by humanitarian emergencies, compounding the barriers they face even in the best of times. UNICEF works to ensure that people with disabilities are represented in humanitarian decision-making, and that all crisis-affected children with disabilities have safe access…, Engaging children and adolescents, Children and adolescents with disabilities are the experts on their experiences and needs, and have the right to be heard in all matters that concern them. They are UNICEF’s foremost partners in our work to make societies inclusive and accessible. To ensure our programming supports their well-being, we consult children and adolescents with…, Assistive technology and inclusive products, Assistive technology includes products and services that maintain or improve an individual’s functioning, independence, participation and well-being. It encompasses specialized devices like wheelchairs, prostheses, hearing aids and eyeglasses. It also includes services like speech and occupational therapy, as well as assessments that match…, Data and evidence, A lack of data and research about children with disabilities has been both a cause and a consequence of their invisibility. Measures also vary widely across countries: Narrow medical definitions and assessments that use stigmatizing language yield lower estimates of disability prevalence, compared to broader measures that focus on functioning. But…, Research, No child should be left behind. Yet UNICEF research indicates that among 240 million children with disabilities globally, half have never attended school, and nearly a third do not eat enough of the right food. We remain committed to generating new evidence and, with our Global Research Agenda and Platform for Children with Disabilities, will…, Featured resources, What we do, UNICEF works to build a world where children with disabilities reach their full potential. Our work is guided by the social model and human rights–based approach to disability, recognizing disability as caused by unaccommodating social environments, institutions and attitudes. We promote accessibility as a precondition for children and adults with…, News and features
