| Abstract: | The needs of children in general and of children with disabilities in particular are not a high priority in most countries of the world. The United Nations estimates that there are 140 million disabled children in the world, 127 million of whom live in developing countries. One hundred million children are still without basic education, two thirds of them are girls; one in four adults is illiterate, two thirds of whom are women. In most of Asia and Africa, only about 1% of children with disabilities attend any form of school. Nevertheless there is progress to report. Some 80% of the world's children have been immunised for major disabling illnesses. But half of the 35 million children who die and the 35 million who become disabled each year could be prevented by the use of knowledge which is already available. There is also progress to report in early intervention, in community based rehabilitation and in partnership with families and communities. Responsibility for the education of disabled children is being assumed by ministries of education, most of whom are committed to the principle of education in ordinary schools. The UN and international agencies are stimulating and supporting innovation. More attention is being given to development and training of personnel. |
