Assessing disability of children

Highlights

This report  describes the disability assessment systems in the five countries, identifies potentially transferable best practices, general and specific observations about practices, and, finally, provides recommendations for technical guidance and further disability assessment system reform in the region and beyond. Specifically, this report:  

1. examines the extent to which disability assessment system reform in five countries has led to understanding of disability in line with human rights-based approach to disability, improved assessment of individual child needs and the extent it has contributed to effective policy and service planning and provision for children with disabilities and families,
2. examines the extent to which the use of ICF in disability assessment, certification and eligibility determination has facilitated a transition from medical towards a human-rights based approach to disability inclusion,
3. examines the extent to which disability assessment reform has contributed to a common understanding of disability and strengthened cross-­sectoral collaboration, particularly in the context of de-institutionalization and transition to family and community-based care, early identification, and response to risks of family separation, family support (and reintegration) services, gate-keeping system (decision-making in the best interest of the child), promoting case management,
4. examines the extent to which it has led to systemic transformation (human and financial resources, capacity building, legislation), and
5. provides a synthesis of the key findings and recommendations for future reforms.