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Assistive Technology for Children with Disabilities Assistive Technology for Children with Disabilities
PREFACE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Children with disabilities are among the most stigmatized and excluded When children with disabilities are given opportunities to flourish as any
groups of children around the world. They are likely to have poorer health, other children, they have the potential to lead fulfilling lives and to contribute
less education, less economic opportunity when they grow up, and are to the social, cultural and economic vitality of their communities. Yet
more likely to live in poverty and deal with greater inequalities than their surviving and thriving can be especially difficult for children with disabilities.
peers without disabilities. Furthermore, girls with disabilities face even more All too often they are isolated and excluded, cut off from health, education
discrimination due to gender, disability and other compounding factors such and social services, and with limited opportunities to participate in family
as poverty and ethnicity. and community life. This frequently impacts on their future employment
opportunities and participation in civic life.
It is estimated that approximately 1 in every 10 children in the world has
a disability and less than 10% of children with disabilities in low-income One of the most important requirements for children with disabilities to
countries go to school. Besides poverty and prejudice, the lack of access flourish is their access to assistive technology. For many children, assistive
to assistive technology, as well as inaccessible transport and school technology represents the difference between enjoying their rights or being
environments are major barriers, which restrict children with disabilities to deprived of them. However, in many low-income countries only 515 percent
access education and to participate in the community. of those who need assistive technology are able to obtain it. There is an
urgent need to address this situation.
Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
obliges States Parties to take all necessary measures to ensure the full Assistive technology includes products and related services that improve the
enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by children with functioning of children with disabilities. It can be instrumental for childrens
disabilities on an equal basis with other children. In addition, the CRPD in development and health, as well as for participation in various facets of life.
several other articles also recognises the importance of access to assistive These include communication, mobility, self-care, household tasks, family
technology and urges Member States to ensure its availability at an relationships, education, and engagement in play and recreation. Assistive
affordable cost. Assistive technology has been found to be the first step for technology can enhance the quality of life of both children and their families.
any next steps: for a child with a disability to play with other children; go to Recognizing its importance, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
school and be educated; and to become a successful citizen and contributing Disabilities (CRPD) urges governments to ensure the provision of affordable
member of society. assistive technologies and related services in several of its articles.
Recognising the long-term collaboration between WHO and UNICEF, this Too often, assistive technology has been a missing link in the chain of
discussion paper highlights the importance of assistive technology and how it prerequisites that enable children with disabilities to lead a life where
can make a critical impact on the lives of children with disabilities and enable they can enjoy and exercise their rights. While national governments
them to enjoy opportunities like any other children. This discussion paper have primary responsibility to ensure that persons with disabilities can
draws on a wide range of research, studies and evidence while discussing the access assistive products, international cooperation in the area of assistive
key issues around assistive technology and factors to be considered to ensure technology can also be a critical catalyst. This UNICEF-WHO discussion paper
that such technologies can be accessed by girls and boys with disabilities is a way forward to foster international cooperation to improve access to
around the world. assistive technology, especially for children with disabilities.
Countries need to do more to ensure true implementation of the CRPD, to To improve access to assistive
ensure universal access to assistive technologies in particular. There is also technology, all related stakeholders
a need for all actors including Member States, UN agencies, civil society need to maintain a high level
organisations, disabled peoples organisations, parents of children with of commitment to realizing
disabilities and people with disabilities themselves to work together to the mandate of the CRPD - to
ensure access to assistive technology. Article 32 of the CRPD specially asks develop national plans, policies
for international cooperation to improve access to assistive technologythis and programmes for provision
UNICEF-WHO discussion paper is a definite step towards it. of assistive technology. The
stakeholders include governments,
United Nations (UN) agencies,
Rosangela Berman Bieler Kees de Joncheere development organizations, disabled
Chief, Disability Section Director, Department of Essential peoples organizations, service
Program Division Medicines and Health Products providers, academic institutions, the
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34 Assistive Technology for Children with Disabilities Assistive Technology for Children with Disabilities 35
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