Siri Battula - Department of Global Efforts
In the article, “UNICEF Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy (DIPAS) 2022-2030,” the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) details their goals and strategies to promote inclusivity and a society “where all children, including those with disabilities, live barrier-free” (2023). By 2025, UNICEF aims for DIPAS to increase the percentage of employees with disabilities by 2 percent, increase education and awareness with 75 percent of staff undergoing training, make disability inclusion mainstream, especially in children, and develop regional action plans across their offices. When it comes to accomplishing these goals, among many others, UNICEF identified various issues that must be addressed and the relevant strategy. For example, some of these major aspects of diversity inclusion include, accessible services, community mobilization, assistive technology, meaningful participation, and tackling the associated stigma. When it comes to accessibility and community mobilization, UNICEF plans to advocate for incorporation of reasonable accommodations in schools and beyond. Advocacy is a major component of creating change in this space, which every person can get involved in.
To answer the question of why this all matters, it comes down to the responsibility we have to provide every child with the opportunity to succeed. Currently, the article points out that children with disabilities are 49 percent more likely to have never attended school, 41 percent more likely to feel discriminated against, and 51 percent more likely to report feeling unhappy (UNICEF, 2023). As parts of an accepting community, it is key for each one of us to do our part in removing physical, attitude-related, and communication barriers to provide these children with the equal opportunity they deserve.
References
UNICEF Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy (DIPAS) 2022-2030. (2023, February). United Nations Children's Fund. Retrieved June 12, 2023, from https://www.unicef.org/unicef-disability-inclusion-policy-and-strategy-dipas-2022-2030
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