Background

Abstract

It is estimated that there are about 240 million children in the world who suffers from some form of disability, and the prevalence is increasing all the time. A contributing factor to this increasing pervasiveness is that infant mortality has decreased significantly worldwide. Through diligent research efforts in medicine, technology, pharmacology, and care, we today have access to more advanced efforts that can save more and more newborns and premature babies from untimely death, but sometimes with lifelong disabilities as a result. Today, there are also medical opportunities to cure or treat diseases that in the past have meant great suffering and too early death. In addition, the average standard of living has increased significantly, one result of which is that the odds of children with severe diseases and disabilities surviving for a prolonged time have increased significantly. There are also better and more refined instruments available today, which help identify and diagnose disabilities in a more advanced and safe way. Globally, many children with disabilities and their families unfortunately live in poverty, with severely limited opportunities for habilitation, medical care, medicines, and education, as well as limited opportunities to become socially accepted.