PUSHING FOR DISABLED CHILDREN’S RIGHTS TO EDUCATION, NUTRITION

Save the Children Philippines has called for wider access to education for some 300,000 school-age children with disabilities to build their confidence and develop full potential

Lawyer Albert Muyot, chief executive officer of Save the Children Philippines, said access to schools for children with disabilities is critical to develop talents and ensure meaningful participation in society.

“Children with disabilities suffer not only physical frailties, but also discrimination due to the social stigma caused by the lack of acceptance by families and the society,” said Muyot in a statement.

Save the Children Philippines joined the Second Conference on the State of Children with Disabilities in the Philippines held at Novotel hotel last Dec. 3. The event was in line with the celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with Norfil Foundation, National Council on Disability Affairs, Council on the Welfare of Children and University of Santo Tomas as co-organizers.

Aseries of discussions of evidence-based practices in local school and urban communities and presentation of nationallevel efforts promotion of disability inclusive services for children, aligned with the National Strategic Plan on Children with Disabilities were conducted during the conference.

Save the Children Philippines will highlight the condition of children with disabilities as having equal rights to access quality education, health and nutrition services. The Department of Education reported that in 2011, only 5,916 children with disabilities were included in regular classes.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that there are 1.4 million Filipinos with disabilities, and 300,000 of them are school-age children.

Save the Children Philippines implements Kasali project in 52 barangays in Pateros, Taguig and Parañaque to provide education to children with learning disabilities and provide access to preschoolers to health and nutrition services. “Kasali,” in Filipino means “included.