Research 

‘Children with physical, sensory, intellectual or mental health disabilities are among the most excluded of all the world’s children and face serious barriers to the full enjoyment of their human rights. They are less likely than other children to be in school, they often have trouble using the health services they need, and are particularly vulnerable to violence, abuse and exploitation. They are also more likely to be denied the right to grow up in a family environment than their able-bodied peers. The barrier is frequently not the impairment itself, but rather a combination of social, cultural, attitudinal and physical obstacles, which children with disabilities encounter in their daily lives. Many of the factors contributing to the high levels of impairment are potentially preventable, and include congenital defects, malnutrition, childhood illnesses, lack of sanitation and clean water and accidents.’ [p. 6]