One in ten children Dominicans present difficulties in at least one functional domain, but the country still lacks an official registry that allows identifying how many live with disabilities and what their needs are, the United Nations Children’s Fund warned this Tuesday. (Unicef) as the International Day of People with Disabilities is commemorated tomorrow, Wednesday.
The data comes from the report State of the Situation of the Rights of Children and Adolescents in the Dominican Republicbased on the survey ENHOGAR MICS 2019. According to the document, the 10.1% of children from 2 to 17 years have some functional difficulty; the proportion increases to 11.3% in the group from 5 to 17 years old.
Despite these figures, the lack of a national registry limits the planning of inclusive public policies. “To transform this reality, it is essential to have reliable information that guides more effective public decisions,” he stated. Anyoli Sanabriainterim representative of UNICEF in the country.
Setbacks in education
The educational exclusion remains one of the main challenges. The report indicates that he 23% of childhood with disabilities do not attend schoolwhile the number of students served by the educational system fell drastically: it went from 26,581 in 2016 to only 6,163 in 2019a reduction of more than 75%.
Insufficient coverage in specialized services
Between May and June 2019, the Comprehensive Care Centers for Disability (CAID) offered 2,957 therapeutic interventions633 group sessions and 881 medical care, reaching 680 beneficiaries. However, coverage continues to be limited in the face of national demand.
The report also points out additional vulnerabilitiessuch as difficulties in accessing essential services, greater exposure to risks during emergencies, care overload —especially in women— and more likely to suffer abuse or isolation.
UNICEF drives data for policies inclusive
The agency highlighted that the ENHOGAR MICS 2025which will allow update indicators and delve deeper into gaps that affect children with disabilities.
At a global level, UNICEF reported that in 2024 it supported 5.2 million children with disabilities in more than 140 countries, within the framework of its DIPAS strategy to promote inclusive communities and without barriers.
“We can and must do more to ensure that no child HE left behind“he emphasized spokesperson for the organization.
