UNICEF Intensifies Support for Children With Disabilities

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is ramping up targeted support for children with disabilities affected by Hurricane Melissa.

UNICEF Social Policy Officer, André Miller, explained that children with disabilities were among the hardest hit by the hurricane, facing multiple layers of vulnerability.

“Families with children who have mobility or sensory impairments were [placed] in emergency shelters. Crowded and noisy environments created additional stress for children with autism and developmental challenges,” he told JIS News.

Mr. Miller said that UNICEF has mobilised more than $32 million to support the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) response to Hurricane Melissa.

He noted that UNICEF is also collaborating with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the JCPD to ensure that children with disabilities are fully included in the national disaster recovery response.

“Inclusive education kits, such as School-in-a-Box and Early Childhood Development kits, are being distributed to restore learning for all children, including those with disabilities,” Mr. Miller said.

He highlighted that the My JCPD App is being used to map real-time needs and direct resources to affected families, particularly in the hardest-hit parishes of Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, Hanover, Trelawny, and St. James.

Additionally, caregivers, community organisations, and the private sector can use the app to report needs, track resources, and coordinate support, ensuring timely assistance reaches children with disabilities.

Mr. Miller emphasised that UNICEF is looking beyond immediate relief to build resilience through innovative approaches, including a digital voucher system designed to link with local merchants, allowing families quicker access to food, hygiene items, and assistive devices.

He argued that through these coordinated efforts, UNICEF is addressing immediate barriers, while strengthening systems to ensure children with disabilities can recover and thrive in the future.