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Children with disabilities
Some 93 million children ─ or 1 in 20 of those aged 14 or younger ─ live with a moderate or severe disability of some kind. Most societies are inaccessible for children with disabilities. Prejudices, negative attitudes, traditions and inadequate knowledge and poor resourcing present obstacles for children with disabilities in accessing their rights.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC) is the foundation for Save the Children work. UN CRC states that children with disability have the same rights as other children. This means that they have the right to grow up in an environment that supports their development, that they have the right to express their opinions, to be heard and that they are entitled to education. The rights of children with disabilities are reinforced in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). States which have signed these conventions are responsible for promoting and fulfilling the rights of all children including children with disabilities.
Article 2 of the UN CRC, which is one of four fundamental principles, prescribes that no one should be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex or disability. However, discrimination and exclusion are common for the majority of people with disability, particularly children. They are often an invisible group in important policies and plans. National policies and plans on education seldom have enough focus on children with disability and their inclusion. Another challenge is that children with disability are often considered as victims and that they lack the capacity to influence their own situation.
Save the Children advocates for the realization of the rights of children with disability and to ensure that they have the same opportunities, receive proper support and education and that they are empowered to influence their own situation.
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Kabataang Aralin sa Lahat Ibahagi (KASALI) in the Philippines: A study of whether and how children with disabilities are being included in classrooms and early childhood centres
Kabataang Aralin Sa Lahat Ibahagi (KASALI) Project, 2014 – 2018, has created an opportunity for Save the Children to advocate for (disability) inclusive education (IE) in partnership with the government, civil society, and community stakeholders. KASALI i
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Disability Inclusion in Psychosocial Support Programs in Lebanon: Guidance for psychosocial support facilitators
Disability Inclusion in Psychosocial Support Programs in Lebanon: Guidance for Psychosocial Support Facilitators is designed to support PSS Facilitators to strengthen inclusion of children and adolescents with disabilities in a range of PSS activities, i
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Inclusion for All: Research Case Study
The Inclusion for All program, funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and implemented by Save the Children and its partners, seeks to increase the access of children with disabilities (CwD) to quality education and to strengthe
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Family Care for Children with Disabilities: Practical guidance for frontline workers in low- and middle-income countries
This Guidance is a resource for people who work with children and families using a case management approach in middle-income and low-income countries. It contains information about how to work with children with disabilities and their families. Basic case
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From the Day They are Born: A qualitative study exploring violence against children with disabilities in West Africa
Despite the building evidence on violence against children globally, almost nothing is known about the violence children with disabilities in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) experience. The prevalence of violence against children with disabilities
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Including Children with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action: Guidance
In cooperation with Handicap International, UNICEF has produced these six booklets on how to include children and adolescents with disabilities in humanitarian programmes. The booklets cover the sectors of child protection, education, health and HIV/AIDS,
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"Yes, Children Can!" Kosovo Campaign Highlights
The document outlines the highlights of the "Yes, Children Can!" Campaign, launched under the "Community-based services for Children with Disabilities" regional project, from March 21st- April 2nd, 2018. The various activities organized during the campaig
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Budgeting of Pre-school Education for Children with Disabilities in the Municipalities of Elbasan and Korça, Albania
In 2012, the Ministry of Education and Sports approved the Law “On Pre-University Education” which paves the way for the implementation of inclusive education. Even though 6 years have elapsed since the law has been passed, children with disabilities stil
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Realizing the Rights of Children with Disabilities in Kosovo
An estimated 45,000 children in Kosovo live with disabilities. They are often stigmatized and excluded from society. At Save the Children, we fight to make sure that their voices are heard and that their rights are respected.
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Guidance: Including Children with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
Children and adults with disabilities are among the most marginalized people in any community affected by crisis. To make matters worse, they often are excluded from humanitarian assistance. While crises put children with disabilities at risk, they can al
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Disability Inclusion and Disaster Risk: Principles and guidance for implementing the Sendai Framework
Natural disasters are an inevitable reality for most people. While they seem to be increasing in occurrence, our knowledge in disaster management and prevention is also improving. As we harness this knowledge and plan responses, it is crucial that we do n
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"We are All Children" Campaign on Inclusion of Children with Disabilities
This resource contains infographics from the ongoing "We are All Children" campaign on inclusion of children with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.