Disability

We are dedicated to addressing the diverse and specialised needs of people with disabilities and fostering understanding in the wider community.

There are no support services for families and children with disabilities living in Dhaka’s slums, and a lack of education and resources leads to significant neglect of these children’s health and well-being. Children with disabilities are often exploited as beggars or left alone for hours at a time with little to no stimulation. Many carers are forced to choose between work and caring for their child. 

Children’s Hope established the Disability Support Centre (DSC) to meet the needs of people living with disabilities in slum communities. The DSC provides crucial Day Care Support services to alleviate stress on families and give each person with a disability proper socialisation and enrichment. We are dedicated to addressing the diverse and specialised needs of people with disabilities and fostering understanding in the wider community.

Our Initiatives

  • THE DISABILITY SUPPORT CENTRE

    The Children's Hope Disability Centre (DSC) was formed to provide support for children with differing or special needs in Dhaka's slums. The DSC was established under two key principles: accessibility to support; and inclusivity. The DSC strives to not only provide financial, nutritional, and medical support, but also provide enrichment activities crucial for each child's social and mental wellbeing.

  • FINANCIAL SUPPORT

    Caring for a disabled child has financial implications for the overall household. To help improve their income, families with disabled children are given a preferential status on sustainable livelihood grants, which are used to set up home-run businesses.

  • AT-HOME SUPPORT

    Regular home visits are made to assess the day-to-day needs of disabled children, which include occupational and continence support. Our support services have provided tailor-made wheelchairs to help children with their mobility and special chairs with a commode facility to aid the children with bowel difficulties.

  • SOCIAL SUPPORT SCHEME

    Caring is a stressful job. Parents and carers are often preoccupied with looking after their disabled children and ignore their own health and well-being. Disabled children and their parents are also home-bound most of their lives. Our Social Support Scheme enables these families to make bi-monthly outdoor trip to various leisure and recreational places.

  • NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT SCHEME

    A healthy diet is essential for the normal growth and development of all children. Due to financial strain, their parents can often ill afford nutritious food such as eggs, milk and fruit. The centre provides necessary nutrition for 30 disabled children, three times a week, throughout the year.

  • FREE MEDICAL SUPPORT

    Most disabled children have never been assessed for their disability and their parents do not have financial means to conduct regular health check-ups with qualified doctors. Children’s Hope hold medical sessions once a week and are the only accessible method of assessing the health and well-being of disabled patients.

Read about how our wide range of activities has created once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for children and families in Dhaka’s slums. 

Featured
My daughter was born severely disabled and I had no choice but to give up my job
DISABILITY
My daughter was born severely disabled and I had no choice but to give up my job
DISABILITY

 “I used to work in handicrafts before the birth of my second child, Moyna. My daughter was born severely disabled and I had no choice but to give up my job and look after her because there was no other way our family could provide her with the appropriate care. Life was difficult before Children’s Hope helped us. I was very down as I could not contribute money towards my families needs, and I was dependent on my husband’s low wages as a driver. I was even unable to spend quality time with my son. The respite care provided by Children’s Hope has renewed my life, allowing me to get back into work and be independent again.  Moyna is now 4 years old and thriving with the extra help and care provided. “ Nazma Begum

DISABILITY
My name is Amena and Respite care has changed all our lives
DISABILITY
My name is Amena and Respite care has changed all our lives
DISABILITY

“My name is Amena. My son is a registered disabled child in Children’s Hope respite care. Now, because he gets this care, I can now go to work as a maid, cooking and cleaning, as I cannot rely on my husband’s earnings because he is ill with diabetes and a heart complaint.  Thanks to Children's Hope, not only does my son receive care and decent nutrition, it also gives me the opportunity to regain more control over what happens to my family by allowing me to save some money for my son and to send my other daughter to school. Respite care has changed all our lives.”

DISABILITY
I leave Sanjita in respite care when I am at work, meaning I worry less.
DISABILITY
I leave Sanjita in respite care when I am at work, meaning I worry less.
DISABILITY

“My daughter is Sanjita, who is now 18-years-old. Her father is not alive. This care facility has been a wonderful help for me. Before, I had to leave Sanjita at home on her own because, as a single parent, I had to go to work at a doctor’s surgery as a support worker. All Sanjita was able to do was watch TV, she couldn’t make friends and felt incredibly lonely.  Of course I still have to work, but leaving Sanjita under respite care while I am at work means I worry less. Sanjita can chat with other children and makes friends. She is a lot happier.”

DISABILITY