Early Childhood Development: The Disability Policy and its implications for occupational therapists

Abstract

The White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities encapsulates the vision not only for persons with disabilities in South Africa, but for every member of a diverse society. This paper discusses the vision of inclusion and mainstreaming contained in the White Paper and critiques the specific provisions for early childhood development, exploring their implications for training and practice of occupational therapists.  Recommendations are made as to how these can be strengthened in achieving the vision of an inclusive society in which young children with disabilities are able to realise their potential.

Key words: children with disabilities, early childhood development, inclusion, mainstreaming, policy