Disability is not an inability

Rivaldo Kavanga Children with disabilities account for 10.9% of all children globally. There are about 240 million children with disabilities globally, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund’s (Unicef) latest report, ‘Seen, counted, included: Using data to shed light on the well-being of children with disabilities’. However, children with disabilities continue to be the most marginalised and excluded members of society. They face daily discrimination in the form of exclusion, negative attitudes, lack of equipment to aid them and access to basic services like healthcare, education and justice. Denying children with disabilities their right to education has a lifelong effect on learning, achievement and employment prospects and thus hinders their potential economic, social and human development. Understanding disabilitiesDisability is a part of the human condition. According to Unicef, disability is a complex and evolving concept, involving aspects of body function and structure (impairments), capacity (measured by the ability to carry out basic activities without the benefit of assistance in any form) and performance (measured by the individual’s ability to carry out these same basic activities using available assistive technologies and assistance). A disability is also referred to as the interaction between certain conditions or impairments and an unaccommodating environment that hinders an individual’s full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.Challenges children with disabilities faceChildren with disabilities face heightened risks of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation compared to children without disabilities. Disability is also a stronger predictor of exclusion from education than gender or socio-economic status. They face barriers to access services such as education, healthcare, justice and funding. According to the Namibian national census of 2011, almost 27 000 children under 18 had a disability in Namibia, and from this total, only about 5 500 of these children receive a disability grant. This further gives a greater indication on the exclusion of disabled children in society. What do children with disabilities want? “I just want to be given an opportunity like every child, but with more time and patience,” Cleric Tembwe, a learner with a disability, said. Children with disabilities have made it quite clear that all they want is to be included in all spaces and be given the same opportunities. It is evident that if children with disabilities are given the chance, they will make the most of it. Edward Ndopu is a prime example of how young disabled children can become successful and positively contribute to society when given a chance. At the age of two, Ndopu was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a degenerative disease that affects the nervous system. He was given until the age of five to live. He, however, outlived these expectations and managed to complete his educational career and along the way achieved a number of milestones during his academic career. He is one of 17 renowned global advocates appointed by the secretary-general of the United Nations for the Sustainable Development Goals. “I want to demonstrate to children with disabilities, using my life as a point of reference, that they can grow up to become protagonists in the story of their own lives,” he said while addressing members of the Children’s Parliament in Namibia.What we can doInfographicsWhat do children with disabilities want? They want to see children with disabilities on TVThey want to see disabled ministers and presidentsThey want disabled cartoons and animationsThey want ramps and equipment in every school and building for them to access itThey want wheelchair lanes on roadsThey want to move around freely and with easeChallenges children with disabilities faceDiscriminationAccess to justiceAccess to educationAccess to healthcareViolence Lack of freedom of movement

Disability is not an inability

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-06

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Disability is not an inability

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-06

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