# Introduction s per World Health Organization estimates more than a billion people (15% of world's population) live with some form of disability. Almost 95 million children in the age group of 0-14 years have some form of disability, of which approximately 13 million suffer from "severe disability"(World Health Organization 2011). An increasing number of disabled infants are surviving into childhood and adulthood, presenting a unique challenge to country's health, education and social care services (Sen & Yurtsever 2007). # II. Impact of Disability on Individual, Family & Society Disability casts a significant impact in the development of a disabled child and a constant struggle for the families as well (Sen & Yurtsever 2007). A disabled child tends to have poorer health related outcomes -being more vulnerable to preventable conditions like obesity / dental caries / intestinal parasitic infestations (Reinehr et al. 2010 # IV. # Proposed Measures A disabled child represents a vulnerable section of the society because of the socio-psychological restrictions due to disability. The need is to have a comprehensive program for the welfare of the disabled child and their family members to enable them to lead a normal life. Diversified measures should be implemented to exhaustively address the multiple concerns of a disabled child as discussed in Table I. All these measures should be effectively supported with robust childhood disability data collection system and adequate support for encouraging research activities in the field of disabled child. Removing barriers in public accommodations, transport, information, and communication to enable children with disabilities to participate in education, employment, and social life, reducing their isolation and dependency 3. Involvement of non-governmental organizations and international funding agencies for provision of adequate funding support 4. Creation of awareness among the general population using mass media # Conclusion To conclude, for doing adequate justice to the differently abled (previously disabled) child, ample scope exists. Political commitment, multi-sectoral involvement and collaboration with international agencies are the main pillars for extending the benefit of welfare measures to the disabled child. 5![Facilitating early support to disabled children Rehabilitation of the disabled child Capacity building and human resource development measures: 1. By ensuring training of rehabilitation professionals or community-based workers to address geographical access 2. Fostering community based rehabilitation services 3. Involvement of nursing staff or key workers in the process of rehabilitation Education opportunity 1. Encouraging inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream schools 2. Provision of financial support to schools for facilitating such inclusion and bringing about the desired structural renovations 3. Appropriate training of mainstream teachers to deal with disabled children can improve teacher's confidence and skills 4. Advocating establishment of special schools for those disabled children who cannot be integrated in mainstream schools 5. Reservation of seats in professional courses 6. Provision of scholarships Employment options 1. Vocational rehabilitation 2. Formulation and enforcement of antidiscrimination laws at workplace 3. Application of principles of ergonomics for enhancing their involvement and contribution to the national economy Lack of self-belief 1. Empowering children to manage their own health through self-management courses 2. Psychological rehabilitation Social and financial aspects A range of financial measures, such as tax incentives or funding for reasonable accommodation, etc Support to family members 1. Trained nurses can be utilized in managing the disabled child in early stages 2. Assisting family in developing good coherence V.](image-2.png "5 .") and Nahar et al. 2010and Tappeh et al. 2010); lower educational opportunitiesand achievements (World Health Organization 2011);unemployment (World Health Organization 2011); risk ofexposure to violence (World Health Organization 2011);numerous types of deprivations -food, housing, accessto safe water, sanitation, and health care services (Sen& Yurtsever 2007 and Yousafzai et al. 2011); andincreased dependency on others for their developmentand survival (World Health Organization 2011 andYousafzai et al. 2011). At the same time, familymembers have to face multiple challenges such as poorawareness about the child's condition (World HealthOrganization 2011); adverse impact on social life,working life and family relationships (Sen & Yurtsever2007); financial constraints (III. Determinants for Poor Health CareDelivery to the Disabled ChildrenProposed MeasuresMultiple political, health care delivery systemand social determinants such as inadequate andincomplete policies (viz. lack of financial and othertargeted incentives for children with disabilities to attendschool or lack of social protection and support services)(World Health Organization 2011); dearth in theprovision of health care, support and rehabilitationservices (Sen & Yurtsever 2007); shortcomings in theservice delivery system (viz. lack of coordination,deficient staffing, and incompetent staff) (Greco et al.2006); inadequate funding (World Health Organization2011 and Sen & Yurtsever 2007); negative attitudes /beliefs / prejudices among the stakeholders such aspolitical leaders and employers (World HealthOrganization 2011 and Sen & Yurtsever 2007); scarcenumber of institutes for differently-abled thus limitingaccessibility (Sen & Yurtsever 2007 and Yousafzai et al.2011); no involvement of disabled persons in decision-making pertaining to matters directly influencing theirlives (World Health Organization 2011); and inadequatedata & evidence (Read et al. 2010); have been identifiedwhich have limited the scope of benefit to disabledchildren. IConcerns disabled child ofaPotential measures1. Increasing number of centers offering services to different types of disabilityAccessibility to health2. Provision of integrated package of services under the same institutecare institutions3. Ensuring uniform geographical distribution of the hospitals / centers4. Advocating structural modifications in facilities to make them user-friendlyAttitude of health careInvolving influential people with disabilities as trainers to improve the attitude and behavior of healthprovidercare professionals1. Development of specific programs and services for children with disabilities2.Creatingenablingenvironment Author ?: Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College & Research Institute, Kancheepuram. e-mail: drshrishri2008@gmail.com Author ?: Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College & Research Institute, Kancheepuram. e-mail: prateekbobhate@gmail.com Author ?: Professor & Head, Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College & Research Institute, Kancheepuram. e-mail: jegadeeshramasamy@gmail.com © 2014 Global Journals Inc. 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