Child-Friendly Hygiene and Sanitation Facilities in Schools

HAVE APPROPRIATE DIMENSIONS AND FEATURES FOR CHILDREN
facilities periodically and try out and experiment with new ideas.
As many as one in five of the world's poorest are disabled, for whom access to basic services is a daily
struggle. Exclusion from basic services and facilities, such as sanitation and safe water, can result in
reduced opportunities, isolation, poor health and poverty. All too often special adaptations for disabled
school children are not incorporated into design of sanitation and water facilities. Also, if currently no
disabled children attend school, such adaptations should be included to allow for the incorporation of
disabled children in the community to attend school.
The three main types of disabled children for which adaptations in facilities have to be made are:
• Blind or poor-sighted children: special grips and guiding systems as well as proper lighting for the
poor-sighted children
• Children in wheelchairs or with crutches: no entrance steps, wider doors, special grips or foldable seats
• Children with missing arm(s) or paralysed arms: lids, taps and knobs that can be opened with one
hand, are not heavy or can be operated with the feet.
When incorporated in the original design, the above adaptations can be made at few additional
expenses, using locally available materials while making a big difference in a disabled child's life and
access to education.
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