However, the disability experience varies greatly. 32 per cent more likely to experience severe corporal punishment.41 per cent more likely to feel discriminated against.51 per cent more likely to feel unhappy.47 per cent more likely to be out of primary school, 33 per cent more likely to be out of lower-secondary school and 27 per cent more likely to be out of upper secondary school.49 per cent more likely to have never attended school.53 per cent more likely to have symptoms of acute respiratory infection.25 per cent more likely to be wasted and 34 per cent more likely to be stunted.42 per cent less likely to have foundational reading and numeracy skills.24 per cent less likely to receive early stimulation and responsive care.The report makes clear the barriers children with disabilities face to participating fully in their societies and how this often translates to negative health and social outcomes.Ĭompared with children without disabilities, children with disabilities are: These indicators are disaggregated by functional difficulty type and severity, child’s sex, economic status, and country.
The report includes internationally comparable data from 42 countries and covers more than 60 indicators of child well-being – from nutrition and health, to access to water and sanitation, protection from violence and exploitation, and education. All too often, children with disabilities are simply being left behind.” “From access to education, to being read to at home children with disabilities are less likely to be included or heard on almost every measure. “This new research confirms what we already knew: Children with disabilities face multiple and often compounding challenges in realizing their rights,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. Children with disabilities are disadvantaged compared to children without disabilities on most measures of child well-being, the report says. NEW YORK, 10 November 2021 – The number of children with disabilities globally is estimated at almost 240 million, according to a new UNICEF report.