1.  Declaration for Persons with
Mental Deficiency (1971)
 Letter of the 80 on Interna-
A “person with a disability” is one who has
an illness, injury or condition that makes it tional Rehabilitation
difficult for that person to do the same  Worldwide Action Program of
“Championing the Rights and Welfare of
things that other people do. They might the Handicapped (1982)
Belizean Children and their Families”
still be able to perform the same tasks, but
 Norms for Equal Opportunities
62 Cleghorn Street Not being able to hear, or see, or being for Persons with Disabilities
Belize City, Belize confined in a wheelchair, or to have diffi- (1992)
Tel: (501) 223-0059 culty learning as compared to many of their  American Convention for the
peers, children with disabilities often feel elimination of all forms of dis-
Fax: (501) 223-1229
that they are not able to exercise and enjoy crimination against the persons
Email: ncfc@btl.net their rights, opportunities and services that
with disabilities (1999).
And specifically related to children:
The Convention on the Rights of
Rights are things that all human beings, in- the Child (1989)
cluding children, need in order to grow to The Convention on the
their fullest potential. Rights of the Child is the
Children with disabilities have the same most widely ratified con-
rights as others, which signify first and fore- vention worldwide. In
1989, world leaders de-
Freetown Road most the right to a full and normal life.
cided that children
Tel: (501) 223 -1150 The rights of persons with disabilities have needed a special conven-
become a priority for international organiza- tion just for them because children
Fax: (501) 223 - 6497 tions, among them United Nations, and and adolescents under 18 years old
Email: spedunit@btl.net there are instruments promoting the rights often need special care and protec-
of this population, for example: tion that adults do not. In 1990, Be-
“Inclusion: Embracing Differences, lize became the fifth country in the
 Universal Declaration of Human
Uniting Strengths” world to ratify the CRC.
Rights (1948)
Why are these instruments

2. exception or discrimination because of
race, sex, religion, political opinion, social
or national origin, economic situation or Rehabilitation
Persons with disabilities, both
any other circumstance. All persons with disabilities children and adults, who are EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:
should be able to obtain and legally incapable, can exercise
The needs of each child is of equal impor-
maintain services which will en- their rights through their representatives.
tance. Children with disabilities are mem-
able them to function well and When an individual cannot satisfy his/her
bers of a society and have the right to
have autonomy and mobility to be able receive necessary support in common ar-
This type of discrimination en-
to participate in daily activities. Rehabili- eas such as education, health care, and
tails an unequally favorable
tation includes basic training to improve cultural and recreational activities and
treatment (without having a
the exercise of an affected function or to Children with disabilities have the right to
welfare character) to those SELF DETERMINATION:
compensate that function, and advice to express themselves and to have their opin-
persons because of their dis- All children with disabilities have the
persons with disabilities and their fami- ions and needs listened to and taken into
ability and can be reflected in all those should be given the opportunity to ex-
measures used to promote the access to consideration on all matters affecting them. press themselves and, based on their ca-
all aspects of the social, economic, politi- Adults should assist children with special pacities, make decisions about their own
cal and cultural life, with the objective of life and actively participate in the society
Children with disabilities
to fully develop their own personality.
have a right to access
education at all levels in NORMALIZATION:
Medical attention should be offered in the public and private Children with disabilities can carry on and
equal conditions and quality through pub- system, in an integrated develop a life similar to what is consid-
lic and private health services, and the The recreational places should have the
environment. Advocacy groups or par- ered habitual in society. Quite often, In-
country’s social security system, necessary adaptations so that children with
ents’ associations and the organizations of clusion takes place to enable the child
disabilities can enjoy them. Libraries should with a disability to be placed in a regular
persons with disabilities should participate
have reading material in the Braille System
Prevention in all levels of the education process. to enable persons who are blind or visually
This includes the adoption of UNIVERSAL ACCESS:
impaired to read. Children who have dis-
measures to avoid deterioration abilities Children with disabilities
in the health of a child, which Public and private areas should be accessi- should be able to access the
should also be
can cause a disability or permanent limita- ble to all persons with disabilities. Public same educational and rec-
integrated
tion. The prevention can include actions facilities should include adequate urban de- reational facilities goods and services as
into courses,
velopment and architectural installations, their peers. Environments should be
like: education in nutrition, vaccination
such as ramps, doors, elevators, handrails, suitably adapted to accommodate all per-
campaigns against transmittable diseases,