Promoting the rights of Children with disabilities innocenti digest no

scope of this 
Digest
The enjoyment of human rights by children with dis-
abilities can be fully realized only in an inclusive soci-
ety, that is, a society in which there are no barriers to 
a child’s full participation, and in which all children’s 
abilities, skills and potential are given full expression. 
The 
Digest 
reviews concrete initiatives and strate-
gies for advancing the social inclusion of children 
with disabilities. These initiatives are by no means 
confined to income-rich countries. Indeed, some of 
the poorest countries in the world are now leading 
the way through a combination of political will, part-
nership with local communities and, above all, the 
involvement of children and adults with disabilities in 
decision-making processes.
This 
Digest
is intended to help raise the profile 
of childhood disability and to give impetus to the 
challenge of ensuring that children with disabilities 
are fully included in efforts to promote the human 
rights of all children. It examines the situation of 
children with disabilities from a global perspective, 
considering countries and societies with widely dif-
fering levels of economic development and service 
provision, and a variety of sociocultural realities 
that influence attitudes towards persons with dis-
abilities. It seeks to demonstrate that the inclusive 
policies and practices required to promote the 
enjoyment of the rights of these children are both 
feasible and practical. 
1 introduCtion

---

2
Innocenti Digest No. 13
Promoting the Rights of Children with Disabilities
Box 1.1 Disability terminology
Language is powerful and the choice of words used 
can either perpetuate social exclusion or promote 
positive values. Accordingly, the term ’children 
with disabilities’ rather than ’disabled children’ is 
employed in this 
Digest
to emphasize children’s 
individuality rather than their condition. 
The term ’impairment’ is used to refer to the loss or 
limitation of physical, mental or sensory function 
on a long-term or permanent basis. ’Disability’, on 
the other hand, is used to describe the condition 
whereby physical and/or social barriers prevent a 
person with an impairment from taking part in the 
normal life of the community on an equal footing 
with others. 
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Dis-
abilities states:
Persons with disabilities include those who have 
long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory 
impairments, which in interaction with various bar-
riers may hinder their full and effective participation 
in society on an equal basis with others. (Article 1)
i
Under the International Classification of 
Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) established 
by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2001, 
disability is conceived as the outcome of the 
interaction between impairments and negative 
environmental impacts.
ii
The World Health 
Organization emphasizes that most people will 
experience some degree of disability at some point 
in their lives. Accordingly, the ICF classification 
focuses on a child’s abilities and strengths and not 
just impairments and limitations. It also grades 
functioning on a scale from no impairment to 
complete impairment. By shifting the focus from 
cause to impact, ICF places all health conditions on 
an equal footing.
Sources:
i 
United Nations, Convention on the Rights of Persons with 
Disabilities, United Nations, New York, 2006. See 
.
ii 
For more on the International Classification, see 
or contact the Classification, 
Assessment, Surveys and Terminology Unit, WHO (see 
’Links’ section).
© UNICEF/HQ95-0451/David Barbour
2
Innocenti Digest No. 13
Promoting the Rights of Children with Disabilities

---

3
Promoting the Rights of Children with Disabilities
Innocenti Digest No. 13