Children with Disabilities

50
specifically calls on duty bearers to take all necessary
measures to ensure the protection and
safety of persons with disabilities in situations
of conflict, emergency and disaster, signifying
the importance of the issue.
• An inclusive approach that recognizes that
children with disabilities, in addition to their
disability-specific needs, have the same needs
as other children, disability being only one
aspect of their situation: They are children who
happen to have disabilities. Such an inclusive
approach also addresses the social, attitudinal,
informational and physical barriers that impede
participation and decision-making by children
with disabilities in regular programmes.
• Ensuring accessibility and universal design of
infrastructure and information. This includes
making the physical environment, all facilities,
health centres, shelters and schools, and
THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2013: Children with Disabilities
the organization of health and other services,
including communication and information systems,
accessible for children with disabilities.
• Promoting independent living so that children
with disabilities can live as independently as
possible and participate as fully as possible
in all aspects of life.
• Integrating age, gender and diversity awareness,
including paying special attention to
the double or triple discrimination faced by
women and girls with disabilities.
Disability-inclusive humanitarian response
ensures that children and adults with disabilities,
as well as their families, survive and live
with dignity, even as it benefits the population
as a whole. This approach calls for holistic and
inclusive programmes, rather than just isolated
projects and policies targeting disabilities. Key
Vijay, 12, survived a landmine explosion and has gone on to become a mine risk educator in Sri Lanka.
© UNICEF/Sri Lanka/2012/Tuladar