Pretoria – Raising a child with a disability can come with additional care responsibilities, the need for specialised support and the challenge of finding appropriate services. Children with disabilities and their families deserve support that responds to these needs to enable every child to grow, develop and participate in society.
As Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) is underway, the Department of Social Development (DSD) is calling for stronger partnerships across government, civil society, service providers and communities to improve the care and support available to children with disabilities and their families.
Guided by the 2026 theme, “Creating Strategic Multisectoral Partnerships for a Disability-Inclusive Society”, DSD is highlighting the importance of a coordinated approach that places children and their families at the centre of service delivery.
The scale of the concern is reflected in the Department of Basic Education's (DBE) 2025 report, Correcting the erroneous statistic that “600 000 children with disabilities are out of school”. The report highlights the importance of using accurate information when assessing the number of children with disabilities who are not accessing education.
The UNICEF Situation Analysis of Children and Adolescents in South Africa (2024) further reports that only 8,641 children with severe to profound intellectual disabilities were receiving support in special care centres in 2022.
The needs of children with disabilities extend beyond education. Some require assistance with everyday activities, developmental support, rehabilitation and specialised care. Limited access to information, negative attitudes and the additional costs of caring for a child with a disability places further demands on families. Parents and caregivers often carry these responsibilities alongside their work and other family commitments.
As custodian of the Children's Act, the department of social development has an important responsibility to promote and protect the rights and wellbeing of all children, including children with disabilities. This includes promoting their right to appropriate care, protection, support and participation in social, cultural and educational activities.
One of DSD's key interventions is the respite care programme, which provides temporary relief to parents and caregivers while ensuring that children continue to receive appropriate care, stimulation, protection and opportunities for development. The programme recognises that caregivers need support too. Having time to rest and attend to other responsibilities is important for those who provide ongoing care to children with disabilities.
The respite care programme is currently being piloted in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape; reaching 220 children and their families. The programme is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen community-based care and support, while gaining experience that can inform the further development of respite care services.
Through its partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), DSD is working to strengthen community-based respite care services, including caregiver training and improved referral arrangements.
The respite care programme is additional to the Care Dependency Grant received from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) for qualifying caregivers of children who require care because of a disability. SASSA currently pays 179,609 CDGs monthly, helping families meet some of the additional needs associated with caring for their disabled children.
Recognising that children's needs often require support from different sectors, DSD is working with the Departments of Basic Education and Health through a joint coordinating committee supported by JICA. The collaboration focuses on early identification, referrals and better coordination of services to help families access appropriate support.
DSD believes that the experiences of children with disabilities and their families must inform the services intended to support them. Their involvement, together with that of organisations representing people with disabilities, is important in ensuring that programmes respond to their actual needs.
During the month long DRAM campaign, DSD is calling on all sectors to strengthen their partnerships and contribute to a society where children with disabilities are included, supported and given opportunities to reach their full potential. Their care and development are a shared responsibility, and families should not have to navigate this journey alone.
ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Media enquiries may be forwarded to: Ms Lumka Oliphant on 083 484 8067.
