Early Childhood Development and Disability: - World Health ...

5. Conclusion and next steps:
Implications for policy and
programming
The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of disability in early childhood
and highlight the importance of providing opportunities during this period to ensure
children with disabilities have the same opportunities as all children to reach their
development potential and participate meaningfully in their home, school and community
environments. The evidence presented underscores the urgent need to strengthen and/
or scale-up early childhood development initiatives for young children with disabilities
and their families.
Coordinated and sustainable responses are required from a range of stakeholders at all
levels to ensure that the rights and needs of young children with disabilities and their
families are met. Critical are family members and those stakeholders who deal directly
with young children to meet their health, education, protection and other needs. Essential
are those who contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of policies,
budgets and services (e.g. governments, NGOs, professional organizations, media, private
sector, and parent and disability advocacy organizations).
While the CRPD provides a “renewed” starting point for recognizing the rights and needs
of children with disabilities building on existing CRC, EFA and MDG initiatives, a sustained
commitment is required to mobilize and support stakeholders to develop inclusive and
targeted ECD programmes which are integrated into existing health-care and education
systems. This includes within existing strategies, such as CBR, the Global Partnership for
Education, Out-of-School Children Initiatives (OOSC), and other efforts to meet international
goals, targets and commitments.
This document is not an end in itself—it is an initial effort by UNICEF and WHO to
stimulate discussion, planning and action on issues related to disability, early childhood
development and early childhood intervention.
Conclusion and next steps: Implications for policy and programming 31