Belize Is Failing Children With Disabilities

A new UNICEF report has delivered a serious warning. Children with disabilities in Belize are being left behind. The situational analysis, released in partnership with the Ministry of Human Development, shows that discrimination, poor access to services, inadequate financing, and major information gaps continue to block children from the support they need.

The report was released on the anniversary of the Disabilities Act, which became law one year ago. However, those working in the sector say very little has changed.

The report brings attention to the absence of a national disability registry, severe shortage of specialised personnel, gaps in the legal and data frameworks, and major barriers to education and healthcare. UNICEF’s Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Paulette Wade, said the findings expose what families already experience.

“We know that there is a data gap. We know that the country does not have a national registry for persons with disabilities,” she said. She explained that while urban areas may offer some services, children in remote districts still struggle. “Think about the person who lives way down in PG. There isn’t that accessibility. It’s bad road. The buses do not cater to persons with disability.  How would they seek the help that they need?”

Wade said the analysis also shows limited teacher training and a lack of inclusive pedagogy. “Children with disabilities are in the classroom and will be in the classroom because we are promoting inclusive education,” she said. She added that children remain “seldom to the development agenda” despite recent efforts to elevate their voices. “They’re always left behind,” she added.

UNICEF plans to use the findings to support stronger evidence-based policy. Wade said the organisation’s country programme with the Government of Belize prioritises reaching children with disabilities. “If they are furthest behind, then we need to ensure that the programmes and policies that we do support have the conscious effort to include persons with disabilities and ensure that there isn’t a blanket strategy, but strategies are adaptive to those persons who are living with disabilities.”

Meanwhile, advocates say action is overdue. President of the Belize Association for Persons with Diverse Abilities, Francisco Cuellar, said the report points out the years of neglect. “This analysis is a wake-up call for everybody because there are a lot of gaps within the country of Belize,” he said. “Kids are not going to school. They are not respected. They do not have the privilege to certain things.”

Cuellar said the community expected progress under the Disabilities Act. “Today makes one year. Nothing has been done; it’s just a shame for us” he said. He called for accessible buildings, transport, and public facilities. “We have to do more. The government has to do more to see that persons with disability are respected.”

He added that attitudes must shift. “The mindset is two things. Respect and support. Some of us do not have that,” Cuellar said.