More Data Needed on Children with Disabilities

UNICEF NZ (UN Children’s Fund)
Press release
Friday 31 May, 2013

More Data Needed on Children with Disabilities, Globally and in NZ

A lack of clear data on children with disabilities is a barrier to ensuring their rights for inclusion, support and visibility are properly realised, says UNICEF’s annual international State of the World’s Children report, this year titled Children with Disabilities.

In New Zealand, UNICEF NZ and leading disability organisations are concerned that there is not enough accurate data on the number of children with disabilities, what sort of disabilities they have and how their lives are affected.

Barbara Lambourn, National Advocacy Manager at UNICEF NZ, said, “New Zealand has policies in place to support children with disabilities, such as the right to attend school and allowances to provide for special needs, but some of these rights may be unrealised and entitlements may not go far enough.

“For example, we know that Early Childhood Education is a key to success in later life, but we have limited data on the number of children with disabilities who access these services and whether those services are appropriate to their needs.

“What we do know is that children with disabilities in New Zealand are more likely to be in families affected by poverty, are more likely to suffer neglect and abuse and more likely to be in sole parent households with the parent dependent on a benefit,” said Ms Lambourn.

David Matthews, Chief Executive at CSS Disability Action, added, “As the report notes, children with disabilities are often excluded from the community. I wish I could say that children with disabilities are visible and fully included in New Zealand, but too many parts of this international report ring true for New Zealand as well.

“Children with disabilities are still sometimes excluded from school in New Zealand. Neither the Ministry of Education nor the Education Review Office collects adequate data on children with disabilities. That is not good enough.”

Children with Disabilities is a global report and a common theme across countries is that not enough is being done to ensure that children with disabilities have the best opportunity to reach their potential and enjoy the same advantages as other children.

The report lays out how societies can include children with disabilities because when they play a full part in society, everyone benefits. For instance, inclusive education broadens the horizons of all children even as it presents opportunities for children with disabilities to fulfil their ambitions.

Trish Grant, Director of Advocacy at IHC said, “The inclusion of children with disabilities begins with the belief and practice that disabled children are part of the community of all children. They should have equitable access to mainstream universal services and supports which other children enjoy, with additional supports and specialised services to enable participation.”

Ms Lambourn added, “Concentrating on the ability and potential of each and every child, to see what they can achieve - not what they can’t do, will create benefits for society as a whole, and reduce the costs of dependency on State support.”

The report also points to the importance of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, with around one third of the world’s countries failing to ratify it. New Zealand ratified the Convention in 2008. This aligns with UNICEF’s mandate to promote the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC). In particular Article 23 refers specifically to the right of children with disabilities to special care and support.

Rachel Noble, Chief Executive at the Disabled Persons Assembly NZ, said, “We welcome this report which links both the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Rights of the Child together to ensure that children with disabilities are recognised as valued members of our community. 
“Data collection and on-going discussions around the true meaning of inclusion are essential to ensure these children have their rights met and share similar aspirations as other children.”

Ms Lambourn added, “We need to make sure that what is best for children with disabilities is reflected in good policy and that resources are sufficient to enable their full inclusion, participation and contribution to society now and in the future.

“Children living with a disability should enjoy rights common to every child and participate in making decisions that affect their lives. We want all children to be visible, valued and active participants as contributors to a decent society. It is their inalienable right and no less than they deserve.” Ms Lambourn concluded.

Mr Matthews (CSS Disability Action), added, “At the end of the day, children with disabilities are children first and foremost. They want what every child wants – to be included in their community. The Government and the community need to listen to the voice of children with disabilities.

“Hopefully this report will make children with disabilities more visible. I believe we still have a long way to go before children with disabilities and their families are included in society.”
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