Disability in Ghana
Disability is prevalent in Ghana and around 5 million people in Ghana live with a disability, which is around one- fifth of the total population (Disability Rights Convention Ratified-2012). Children with disabilities are one of the most marginalized and excluded groups in society.
Children with any form of disability often are said to be hidden in their communities. According to Ghana’s 2010 Population and Housing Census data, one in three out-of-school children are not in school due to some form of disability (UNICEF Connect-Eulette Ewart-Communication Manager at UNICEF Ghana).
Most of the children are shunned for their disability, marginalised and forgotten. According to research, one child in every five aged six to 24 years with a disability has never attended school and they are often left at home, unable to go outside the house let alone make it to school. Those who are in school are often stigmatized and face discrimination on a daily basis in the form of negative attitudes. Some of the parents have rejected them and some of the children have even been left on their own to die in some cases. These children are sometimes deprived from realizing their rights to education, healthcare, and even survival.
Usually, there is a stigma attached to their disability which makes it challenging for families to step out boldly into the community with their child. In spite of the government’s inclusive education policy, these children are still at risk of stigma (UNICEF-Ghana).
Children's Disability in the UK
At FLC, we believe that children with SEND as well as their families should also enjoy an equal standard of living as others. Families caring for a child with SEND or with a chronic illness, need additional resources to address disability-related needs. Therefore, at FLC charity we also support families as children are not independent.
In 2011 and 2012, a research study revealed that about 800,000 children within the 0–15 years age range, lived with a disability in Great Britain. Data in the UK revealed that poverty is associated with 21% of children with a disability as compared to 16% of children without a disability (The European Journal of Health, 2018). In 2021/22, an estimated 16.0 million people in the UK had a disability and the figure represents 24% of the total population and about 11% of children were disabled (House of Commons Library, 2023).