Children and young people with developmental disabilities are a large and growing population. But across the world, children and young people with development disabilities have been neglected in services and policy provisions for health and continue to experience stigma, barriers to participation, widespread health inequalities and premature mortality. The aim of this report is to increase awareness of the public health significance of developmental disabilities and the need for increased investment and accountability at all levels. It proposes priority actions to accelerate individual-, family-, community-, and society-level changes to achieve inclusion and health equity.
On 20 November 2009, the global community celebrates the 20th anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the unique document that sets international standards for the care, treatment and protection of all individuals below age 18. To celebrate this landmark, the United Nations Children's Fund is dedicating a special edition of its flagship report The State of the World's Children to examining the Convention's evolution, progress achieved on child rights, challenges remaining, and actions to be taken to ensure that its promise becomes a reality for all children.
One in every seven children is disabled. Children with disabilities are among the most likely to be marginalized, poor and vulnerable. UNICEF is committed to improving the lives of children, particularly those who face the greatest disadvantages. The report will investigate the web of barriers disabled children face: discrimination, harmful norms and the lack of accurate information. The report will analyse and provide good-practice guidance on: inclusive health and education; prevention; nutrition; protection from violence, exploitation and abuse; emergency response; institutionalization; and the role of appropriate technology and infrastructure
Brain disordersâ€"neurological, psychiatric, and developmentalâ€"now affect at least 250 million people in the developing world, and this number is expected to rise as life expectancy increases. Yet public and private health systems in developing countries have paid relatively little attention to brain disorders. The negative attitudes, prejudice, and stigma that often surround many of these disorders have contributed to this neglect. Lacking proper diagnosis and treatment, millions of individual lives are lost to disability and death. Such conditions exact both personal and economic costs on families, communities, and nations. The report describes the causes and risk factors associated with brain disorders. It focuses on six representative brain disorders that are prevalent in developing countries: developmental disabilities, epilepsy, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and stroke. The report makes detailed recommendations of ways to reduce the toll exacted by these six disorders. In broader strokes, the report also proposes six major strategies toward reducing the overall burden of brain disorders in the developing world.
The World Report on Disability suggests more than a billion people totally experience disability. They generally have poorer health, lower education and fewer economic opportunities and higher rates of poverty than people without disabilities. This report provides the best available evidence about what works to overcome barriers to better care and services.
The overarching goal of the Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities is to make health equity for persons with disability a global health priority. Specifically, the report aims to: - Bring health equity for persons with disabilities to the attention of decision-makers in the health sector - Document evidence on health inequities and country experiences on approaches to advance health equity - Make recommendations that stimulate country-level action. The report is targeted at decision-makers at all levels of the health sector, and is being developed in collaboration with Member States, civil society including representative organizations of persons with disabilities, academic institutions, technical experts, United Nations entities and other health sector partners.
Children living in poverty are more likely to have mental health problems, and their conditions are more likely to be severe. Of the approximately 1.3 million children who were recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits in 2013, about 50% were disabled primarily due to a mental disorder. An increase in the number of children who are recipients of SSI benefits due to mental disorders has been observed through several decades of the program beginning in 1985 and continuing through 2010. Nevertheless, less than 1% of children in the United States are recipients of SSI disability benefits for a mental disorder. At the request of the Social Security Administration, Mental Disorders and Disability Among Low-Income Children compares national trends in the number of children with mental disorders with the trends in the number of children receiving benefits from the SSI program, and describes the possible factors that may contribute to any differences between the two groups. This report provides an overview of the current status of the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, and the levels of impairment in the U.S. population under age 18. The report focuses on 6 mental disorders, chosen due to their prevalence and the severity of disability attributed to those disorders within the SSI disability program: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, learning disabilities, and mood disorders. While this report is not a comprehensive discussion of these disorders, Mental Disorders and Disability Among Low-Income Children provides the best currently available information regarding demographics, diagnosis, treatment, and expectations for the disorder time course - both the natural course and under treatment.
In the aftermath of the 2020-2022 pandemic, educators find themselves grappling with the decision to revert to traditional instructional methods or embrace the transformative power of 21st-century technologies. The swift integration of virtual classrooms, videoconferencing, and social media during the pandemic has left teachers navigating uncharted territory. Many, who once vehemently resisted technology, now stand on the precipice of a digital revolution in education. This dichotomy poses a pressing problem: a dearth of documented research and guidance for educators seeking to measure the true value of these technologies in the post-pandemic era. Exploring Technology-Infused Education in the Post-Pandemic Era, offers guidance and solutions to the challenges faced by educators. As teachers stand on the brink of a pivotal decision, the research community lags behind in providing the necessary insights to inform their choices. The questions loom large: What technologies emerged during the pandemic, and have they proven effective in the classroom? Can these innovations seamlessly coexist with traditional instructional methods? The void in documented research leaves educators in a quandary, lacking the evidence needed to make informed decisions about the integration of technology into their teaching practices. This critical gap impedes progress and hinders the unleashing of the full potential of 21st-century educational tools.
WHO has progressively strengthened its work for adolescent health, growing its portfolio of research, norms and standards, country support and advocacy, and expanding the scope of work across over 17 departments, regional and country offices to address the multifaceted needs of the global adolescent population. Central to a coordinated approach to adolescent health across the organization is the HQ Interdepartmental Technical Working Group on Adolescent Health and Well-being. In 2021, the group produced the first report on its work on adolescent health and well-being, celebrating efforts across many areas of work and all levels of the organization. This is the second in the series of biennial reports that comes on the wake of the Global Forum for Adolescents 2023 and is powered by its 1.8 Billion Young People for Change campaign. The report describes WHO’s efforts to elevate adolescent health and well-being through collaboration and by coordinating new initiatives, addressing emerging needs and establishing ambitious objectives with its development partners and adolescents. Target audience: this WHO serial publication is designed to be used by policy-makers, media and donors.
