Water, sanitation and hygiene

Access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services is important for children with disabilities, but even a basic level of service may not be sufficient to meet their needs and ensure privacy, dignity and safety. WASH services are essential for preventing respiratory and diarrhoeal diseases, which remain leading causes of child deaths. Despite progress, billions of people around the world still lack basic WASH services. Children with disabilities need drinking water, sanitation and handwashing facilities that are specially designed to meet their particular needs and protect their rights. In addition, menstruating girls with disabilities need access to personal care products as well as a private place where they can wash themselves and change.

The accessibility of WASH services can be visualized as a continuum towards meeting the needs of all children