Field Note: Supporting Children with Disabilities’ Rights to Education Through Disability Accessible WASH in Guinea-Bissau

In Guinea-Bissau, where children with disabilities face significant barriers to access education, UNICEF is working with the government, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and disability partners to create school environments where children with disabilities can learn, participate and access WASH services at school hygienically and with dignity. To improve WASH facilities in schools at scale, including strengthening disability accessibility, UNICEF supported the government to develop National Standards for WASH in Schools. The National Standards and associated training manual include disability accessible specifications for hand-washing stations, drinking water and latrines in schools. To assist in the implementation, UNICEF trained  approximately 3,000 teachers on the standards. The introduction and implementation of National Standards that include disability accessibility, combined with initiatives in schools such as inclusive hygiene clubs, has helped reduce some of the WASH-related barriers that prevent children with disabilities from enrolling in and attending school.