Putting children with disabilities at the centre of our crisis response
Compared to others their age, children with disabilities are more likely to be impacted by inequality and discrimination, limiting their access to education and development opportunities. Responding to their needs and supporting their engagement and participation are critical in our mission to protect their rights.
In times of crisis, children are the ones who are most vulnerable. When you’re living with a disability, the toll of an emergency is even greater.
Huma* experienced what this meant amid the destruction and chaos of the earthquake in Turkiye.
The 10-year-old girl was born with albinism, a genetic condition that affects pigmentation, which also meant Huma had a visual impairment. When she was younger her mother took her to a doctor and an eye clinic – but the earthquake made it difficult to access continuous care.
Displaced from their home and living in a tent, Huma’s family struggled to get the specialised glasses the young girl needed. Says her mother Asmaa*:
“After the earthquake, her eyesight has deteriorated ... It became difficult for her to see her lessons, especially things written in thin font. As the days went by, her eyesight began to deteriorate to the point that when she went out on the street, she couldn't see the vehicles. Especially under the sunlight, the situation is worse.”
With her mother’s persistence Huma was finally checked by a doctor at the hospital and Save the Children helped Huma to get the glasses she desperately needed.
“Imagine someone who couldn't see and started to see”
Asmaa says, “After she got the glasses, her eyesight changed dramatically. She even adjusts the lenses herself. Her happiness at being able to see like any other child is indescribable. To understand how she felt, imagine someone who couldn't see and started to see.”
Huma started to read independently and study with her brother. She grew more confident and started making friends. She was able to pursue her passion for singing, playing and drawing.
Asmaa noticed the difference in Huma: “Before the glasses, she was a bit of a recluse. When her brother studied with her cousin, she didn't join them because she couldn't see as clearly as they did.”
“But now, as soon as she put her glasses on, she started sitting and studying with them. She has changed a lot … She is more self-reliant and more socialised.”
Huma is also bolder with her dreams, with a desire to help people: “When I grow up, I’d like to be an eye doctor.”
Children can achieve their full potential, with support
Around the world, children like Huma demonstrate amazing resilience amid the difficulties they face. Whether caught up in conflict, disasters, hunger or disease, they can face their hardships with the strength and determination for a brighter future.
With early intervention and assistive tools, children with a disability can thrive and achieve their full potential.