Research: children with disabilities are less likely to realize dreams

For example, 69 percent of children without disabilities expect to be able to study in the future, compared to only 34 percent of children with disabilities. And that while 60 percent of the latter group do see it as a dream to go to college.

Live together

When it comes to living together and/or getting married, 58 percent of children with disabilities indicate that they want to, only 24 percent think they can certainly do this. 61 percent of children with a disability indicate that they want to live independently in the future: but 26 percent are convinced that this will work. On the other hand, 86 percent of children without disabilities want to live on their own in the future and 62 percent are sure that this is possible.

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Extra support

Director Henk-Willem Laan of the foundation het Gehandicapte Kind: “When I heard that the research shows that children with a disability are much less positive about their own future, it touched me deeply. 10 years old, who dreams about going to study or living independently later, but believes that it is not possible for him or her. because you have a disability… And that while these children, with all their talents and dreams, can often achieve much more with a little extra support and understanding.”

The Week of the Handicapped Child starts on 15 November in which attention is drawn to the problems of children with disabilities. This year’s theme is Dreams of the Future. More information can be found at gehandicaptekind.nl