Peer-reviewed article
Priorities for access to early childhood development services for children with disabilities in South Africa
Amani Karisa, Chantal Samuels, Brian Watermeyer, Judith McKenzie, Richard Vergunst ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5This article looks at how South Africa can provide better early childhood development services for children with disabilities. It focuses on a recent government change where responsibility for these services moved from the social services department to the basic education department. The authors reviewed existing South African literature and used a 'nurturing care' framework to identify priorities. They highlight the need to adapt services to local contexts, create better screening and intervention tools, train caregivers and staff, and build partnerships between different groups involved in child care.
Key points
- Responsibility for early childhood development centres shifted from the Department of Social Services to the Department of Basic Education in South Africa.
- Five priority themes were identified: localising services, developing screening/early intervention tools, enhancing caregiver efficacy, staff training and support, and collaboration.
- Early childhood development centres are seen as key settings for delivering nurturing care to large numbers of children.
- The paper argues these centres are well placed to support children with disabilities given the current policy transition.
- Empowering caregivers and professionals is described as necessary to meet the needs of children with disabilities.
Limitations
This is an analytical/literature-based article rather than a study with data, so it does not measure actual outcomes for children or test any intervention's effectiveness.
Abstract
Background: South Africa has migrated the responsibility for early childhood development (ECD) centres from the Department of Social Services to the Department of Basic Education. This functional shift has ushered in consultations and discussions on how best to implement ECD, including opportunities the change may bring.Aim: By anchoring the understanding of ECD services in nurturing care, this study aimed to elucidate the provision of appropriate, inclusive services in early childhood development, including early childhood intervention, for children with disabilities in South Africa against the backdrop of the migration of services from one government ministry to another.Methods: This is an analytical article based on South African literature on ECD services, including interventions, with particular attention to children with disabilities, basing our understanding of these services in nurturing care.Results: We elucidate how the ideals of the Nurturing Care Framework can be achieved in the context of children with disabilities in South Africa using five themes: the need to localise services, developing tools and strategies for screening and early intervention, enhancing the efficacy of caregivers, supporting and training staff and collaborations.Conclusion: It is necessary to empower caregivers and professionals to address early childhood intervention and ECD needs of children with disabilities. Early childhood development centres are an important context for nurturing care, providing opportunities to promote and sustain health amongst a large number of children. Considering the function shift of ECD services in South Africa, these centres are well positioned to further nurturing care to children with disabilities through the provision of supportive environments that promote health and well-being.