• Children with Disabilities

Children with disabilities in Africa are among the most neglected groups in the policy domain as well as in the private sphere. The majority of these children face enormous economic, political, and social barriers that have an adverse impact on their physical, social and intellectual development and wellbeing. Many of them do not have access to the most basic needs such as health services and education, experience multiple deprivations even within their family and are invisible in national policy agenda.

The African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) believes that revealing the realities and drawing attention to the life situation of children with disabilities is the first step to lay the foundation for the establishment of sound policies, strategic plans and effective services and support to childr en with disabilities in Africa. It is within this context that the ACPF took the initiative to document the reality of children with disabilities and their families in Africa through in-depth studies aimed at generating evidence about their situation and by so doing it hopes to encourage greater national commitment to children with disabilities.

The multiple-country study is an effort to make the situation of children with disabilities more visible, so that parents, community leaders, policy makers, as well as child rights activists and their organizations, commit themselves to better protecting and promoting the rights of children with disabilities. The  study seeks to analyse how cultural, social, physical and other societal barriers prevent children with disabilities from enjoying their constitutional rights to equality, freedom and human dignity. It also seeks to establish opportunities and practices that could be used to address these barriers to enhance disabled children’s participation in society.

Children with disabilities in South Africa: The hidden reality is therefore part of a multiple-country study conducted by ACPF. We hope that this report se rves its purpose and contributes towards guaranteeing children with disabilities to equal opportunities, treatment and full participation in South Africa. It is our greatest hope that this research supports the formulation and implementation of national policies, programmes and legislations that promote the full participation, equality and empowerment of children with disabilities in South Africa.