South Africa children with disabilities support partnerships, Digi Mart USA News (South Africa): The Department of Social Development (DSD) has called for stronger partnerships across government, civil society and communities to improve care and support for children with disabilities and their families.
The call comes as the country observes Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM), with the department highlighting the need for coordinated services that address the educational, developmental and healthcare needs of children with disabilities.
Guided by the 2026 theme, “Creating Strategic Multisectoral Partnerships for a Disability-Inclusive Society,” the department said families should not have to navigate the challenges of caring for children with disabilities without adequate support.
“Their care and development are a shared responsibility, and families should not have to navigate this journey alone,” the department said in a statement.
The department highlighted the challenges faced by parents and caregivers, including the additional costs of care, limited access to information, negative attitudes and difficulties accessing specialized services. A UNICEF Situation Analysis of Children and Adolescents in South Africa (2024) found that only 8,641 children with severe to profound intellectual disabilities were receiving support in special care centers in 2022.
One of the department’s interventions is its respite care programme, which provides temporary relief to parents and caregivers while ensuring children continue receiving appropriate care, protection, stimulation and developmental support. The programme is currently being piloted in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape, reaching 220 children and their families.
Through a partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the department is also working to strengthen community-based respite care services, including caregiver training and improved referral systems. The intervention complements the Care Dependency Grant administered by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).
SASSA currently pays 179,609 Care Dependency Grants monthly to qualifying caregivers of children who require additional care because of a disability. The department is also working with the departments of Basic Education and Health through a joint coordinating committee supported by JICA to improve early identification, referrals and coordination of services.
DSD stressed the importance of involving children with disabilities, their families and organizations representing people with disabilities in developing programs that respond to their actual needs. It called on all sectors to strengthen their partnerships during Disability Rights Awareness Month and work toward a society where children with disabilities are included, supported and given opportunities to reach their full potential.
